[Evlkarl]

I so wish Mini and other Automakers would get away with all there cheap outer Plastic on there Cars. I so understand every Gram/Ounce helps to safe Fuel but no matter how often you clean it use special Products on it after a Year it looks faded and ugly. 6 Month here in Arizona. I do not understand why Automakers at least color match the Wheel Arches. I would be glad to pay extra for color matched outer Plastic Parts so I do not have to look at faded ugly Parts after 6 Month.

Sad that the real Wheel Arches are gone.:|

 

[kenl]

These Are a big part of the MINI look.

There are so many threads around which advise how to look after your exterior trim. You might want to try and revise it with a plastic trim product (or even peanut oil) and then protect it with something 303 aerospace protectant spray.

 

[rix]

More prep admittedly but a decent bodyshop should also be able to deal with colour coding those parts also

 

[BikerBob]

All good replies to the original post however why should we have to? Having spent 1000's on a new car should we have to devote excessive time, energy and cost to maintaining the look of the external plastics? The bodywork itself does not require the same level of attention.

MINI's plastics in this respect seem particularly poor and weather badly, I have seen better on other makes.

Nevertheless all part of the charm and character of MINI ownership ..........ha, ha!

Regards Bob

 

[jeremybingham]

As someone else has said I like the plastics and don't feel they really need a lot of care-I also like the fact they prevent the wheel arches sills and other vulnerable areas from stone chipping-every other car I have had has always started to rust around these areas due to the paint being chipped and I have always kept a close eye on these areas which I then treated and painted . In Minis defence have done nothing to mine since sept or the wifes roadster s for a year-and they both look fine-just given them both their first treatment in the same way you would treat paint but with the bumper care stuff to sharpen up the looks but I didn't really need to . I too feel they are a feature of the car, and each to their own but a colleague had hers sprayed and I felt it didn't really help the look of the car at all; but respect your point of view and if you like the look of it.......

 

[BikerBob]

The outgoing Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo has black trim in a similar location to the MINI however this appears to be a gloss black plastic rather the cheap & cheerful stuff used on ours.

IMHO the Skoda approach compliments the look of the car but is arguably of better quality.

Regards Bob

 

[Balypu]

These Are a big part of the MINI look.

There are so many threads around which advise how to look after your exterior trim. You might want to try and revise it with a plastic trim product (or even peanut oil) and then protect it with something 303 aerospace protectant spray.

I agree with you, I like the look of the mini with the black plastic, it was another reason I did not go for the JCW body kit as you loose the black skirt under the doors. I went for a two tone black and red look. My old r53 mCS plastc still looked fresh after 2 years, I just used some back to black.

 

[jeremybingham]

I have to say Skoda are really on the up these days; the looks don't do much for me generally although I do like the look of the new bonnet-the superb is a big improvement on the old one and the new fabia looks ok for a run of the mill hatch; in terms of quality of course it's vw stuff although they seem to do better than vw in the satisfaction surveys; good cars!
We have a Dacia Duster and the plastic lower bumpers and side sills are very similar but lighter grey in colour to the Mini stuff. It doesn't feel like a cheap car (but it is, VERY)

 

[Firsttimeminiownertobe]

I just happen to be changing my old shape Fabia Monte Carlo for the mini. The main reason for the change was to switch back to a petrol engine and something that not only looked sporty but could give a little performance to.

I must say though although the exterior plastics maybe better quality, the interior certainly is not better quality.saying that the Fabia is very reliable and well built.

 

[BikerBob]

I just happen to be changing my old shape Fabia Monte Carlo for the mini. The main reason for the change was to switch back to a petrol engine and something that not only looked sporty but could give a little performance to.

I must say though although the exterior plastics maybe better quality, the interior certainly is not better quality.saying that the Fabia is very reliable and well built.

Apologies for the thread hijack by the way

I've had a number of Fabia's and really like the car; IMHO Skoda are really missing a trick with the new one by only putting some rather mundane engines in it. the new Monte Carlo isn't up to much and they've stated their intention not to make another VRS.

Regards Bob

 

[jeremybingham]

Agreed, wonder if they are being restricted by parent company VW ; they're certainly doing some toe treading and them may well not be allowed to have the upper tier engines, mind you they've let seat have them in the leon for eg-it would be interesting to hear from them but I don't suppose you'd necessarily get the real answer but the corporate one!

 

[opal]

black plastic trim

I agree with you, I like the look of the mini with the black plastic, it was another reason I did not go for the JCW body kit as you loose the black skirt under the doors. I went for a two tone black and red look. My old r53 mCS plastc still looked fresh after 2 years, I just used some back to black.

I agree that the black plastic looks good as a contrast especially if like me you have black wheels roof, mirrors and darkened rear glass.

The reason for the black plastic in the first place is that the sills and wheelarches are vunerable to stonechips and parking dents in the case of the wheelarches. Being at the bottom of the car they also attract more dirt and also most owners probably maintain them less than the paintwork which is often polished regularly but little or no attention is paid to maintaining the black plastic parts.

The other option is to have a black car. My wife has a black Countryman and I occasionally use autoglym wipes which has kept the black plastic looking good for 2 years