June 3, 2004:

Improving the look of your vents

If you have an ‘03 or earlier MINI, you probably have the same vent grilles as GBMINI, with a foam/gauze piece which collects and clings to dirt, insects and everything else that hits it.
Ever since I saw that the ‘04 MINIs had an improved vent grille, I have planned to replace mine - but for a long time buying the vent grille meant buying the old part and not the new part.
But finally I have the new vent grilles installed on GBMINI - and they are massively better looking!
The old vent grille:

The new vent grille:

This is a low cost mod and gives a good looking result; the parts cost me less than $25 at MINI Peabody (including MA tax). The part numbers you need are: 51-13-7-122-505 and 51-13-7-122-506. Make sure you are getting the new design!

Posted by GBMINI at 05:57 pm | GBMINI#2, Purchases
Comments: 5 (post new comment)

  1. Ryan (2004/06/06 @ 7:37 pm)

    Ian,
    I heard that Mini owners can get this replaced under warrenty if their screening is falling apart - as is mine. Did you check into this?

  2. Ian C. (2004/06/06 @ 8:27 pm)

    I am sure that would be correct - I think Scott mentioned that to me; but my old ones were perfectly serviceable, just ugly!
    Anyway, $25 is a small price to pay to make GBMINI better ;)

  3. Steven Diver (2004/06/07 @ 9:23 am)

    Are we positive that those grille vents are ‘04? I have a June ‘03 build, and my MCS has the “updated” grille vents…no foam!

  4. Ian C. (2004/06/07 @ 9:02 pm)

    Steven
    I was being a little lazy about the cut-in date and did not bother to try and find an EXACT date. You can see on this MINI2 discussion that “next year” features slip in early sometimes …

  5. yellocooper (2004/06/09 @ 11:09 am)

    Gary replaced mine for zip, zero, nada.
    I’m suprised they charged you with your car
    still under warranty.

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