Underbody panelling

[ducks]

On my 08 r56 MCS I have smooth underbody panel but I have seen other MCS's with no smooth underbody panel. Does anybody know why? Is it a US vs EU spec thing?

I'll be making pictures tomorrow of the underside of my car. You can see in the m7 diffuser manual that that car doesn't have the smooth underbody panel: http://www.m7tuning.com/techinfo/ins...sertunnels.pdf

[glnr13]

smooth underside is good

[Deviant]

I know with the R53s the GPs had smooth underbody-panels, so maybe it's something unique to the JCW package in the R56s?

[ducks]

But I don't have a factory JCW. Don't think it's part of the aero package

[Konstantinos]

the m7 diffuser is so sexy I wish there was one for the R53

coincidentally, I was day dreaming earlier today about a smooth belly mod for my R53

[COOUUPERS]

There is one for the R53. You do have to do an straight exhaust to make the diffuser fit.

[Konstantinos]

.. which also means the battery needs to be relocated, correct? what are the options for relocating the battery?

[Deviant]

Back in 03 Sport Compact Car had an R53 "project car" (they only did a few installments) where they put in one of those smaller batteries, and notched the battery box to allow a straight-through exhaust. I probably still have the article somewhere back home, I'll scan it if I can remember.
edit: Found a link: http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/pr...r_s/index.html

As for the R56 underbody (OP) I missread and thought you originally said JCW where you said MCS, in that case I'd think its some Euro thing since there's an increased potential of higher legal speeds on many European roads.

[midnitecoop]

I've been trying to find info about the GP under body panels.
I'm wondering what they look like and how the fit is...
If those could be obtained or replicated, you could keep the battery in place and run your current exhaust.
I tend to find the M7 rear funnel design to be a bit much on a street driven mini...

[Deviant]

NAM to the rescue.
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...side-pics.html

[Blainestang]

Originally Posted by ducks

Don't think it's part of the aero package

Well, yes and no.

Per THIS THREAD, it seems that:

- All Euro MINI's have the underbody panels ("meadbar" has a non-Aero Cooper w/ them)
- For US-spec MINI's, only the Aero Kit equipped MINI's have the panels

So, for you, it doesn't matter whether you have the Aero Kit or not, but in the US, it does.

Again, this is based on the thread above and the small sample size considered therein. I'd like to hear from more non-Aero EU owners to confirm the first point, as well as more Aero and non-Aero US owners for the second.

[rlnewby]

US non-aero here. I have no sweet underbody panels. But I am drooling over the possiblity

[Blainestang]

Originally Posted by rlnewby

US non-aero here. I have no sweet underbody panels. But I am drooling over the possiblity

Yeah, I don't have any, either... but I think someone in that thread said they could be had for ~$150 or so.

It would be interesting to know how much they improve drag coefficient/downforce/etc.

[midnitecoop]

I'm all ears!!

Originally Posted by Blainestang

I think someone in that thread said they could be had for ~$150 or so.

[rlnewby]

Originally Posted by midnitecoop

I'm all ears!!

I think the he is talking about for the r56.