One of the great things about the MINI is the ability to customized your car so it is unlike any other on the road. Even if you didn’t get to make all of the choices you wanted in the online configurator before you made your purchase, you can still get many original parts from online sources such as RealOEM and install them yourself or have your local MINI tuner install them at a reasonable cost. Today we’ll look at two projects: Mirror Caps and the On-board Computer. The former just about anyone can do themselves; the latter will need a little help from the right computer.
Mirror Caps:Genuine MINI mirror caps (not covers) are held on to the mirror frame with five clips. The secret to replacing them is to release the tabs without breaking them or your mirror. Here’s how.
Lower your windows, fold in your mirrors, and open your doors. Place a large, thick blanket on the ground and over your door sill. This is so you don’t break your mirror if you accidentally drop it. Work your fingers gently behind the mirror and pull toward you. Try not to flex the mirror — pull straight out. The mirror is held to the frame with four clips. If you have the winter package, you have heated mirrors and they will be retained by the wires once free of the clips. If no mirror heaters, then the mirror will pull free.
Once the mirror is removed, the five tabs you have to free will be very obvious. Start at the bottom of the mirror, release each tab and use a plastic trim tool to start to pry the cap loose. Work your way around the mirror and remember to support the cap so you don’t send it flying. When removed, the mirror frame will look like the photo below.
Clean up any dirt or bugs living in your mirror frame and you’re ready to install your new caps. Press your caps into position and check that the tabs lock. Press your mirror back into place and you’re all set.
OBC: Every wonder what’s in the OBC Retrofit Kit for 2005-2006 MINIs?
The drawing shows the three things you need to retrofit the On-board Computer. The tachometer (which you probably have); the turn signal stock with the OBC button (which you have if you have a MY 05-06 R53; and a box. What’s in the box, you ask? Nothing. It’s so the dealer can charge you for parts you already have and labor to install them. You just need the OBC activated in the body control module. Unfortunately it isn’t something you can activate with your generic scan tool. You need the specialized computer like the one you dealer used to configure your convenience items when your car was new. (The features like daytime running lights, auto door locks, chime when temp drops near freezing, etc.)
You have to navigate to the area where new modules are activated and find the On-board Computer module. Activate it and reset. Then navigate to the instrument control settings module and configure the OBC. For this work your unscrupulous dealer will charge you $214.93 in parts and two hours of labor. If you have a MY 02-04 R53, you actually do need the parts and have to replace the stock, so expect some labor charge (it takes less than 20 minutes to remove a MINI steering wheel and replace a stock). But if you have a later model, you already have the parts and you should be able to schmooze the person with the computer to do it for free.
