10 replies to this topic

[MrJamJar]

Hi all,

 

I was just wondering whether anybody has any pictures of a dash but without the bottom rail trim? I was looking at mine yesterday (after getting angry while stripping it and ripping the trim) and, because im tight, thought, "Ah, maybe it will look good without the trim!"

 

So im just wondering how it looks and if it raises any problems?

 

Thanks!

[rally515]

Apart from the possible lack of paint below its a very good idea and is how minis originaly came, the centre switch panel will be raised out a little on its brackets though although a small cosmetic thing that can easily be altered to suit

[MrJamJar]

Apart from the possible lack of paint below its a very good idea and is how minis originaly came, the centre switch panel will be raised out a little on its brackets though although a small cosmetic thing that can easily be altered to suit

I plan on having it all resprayed inside and out soon anyway, so hopefully it will look ok. Thanks!

[Spaceibiza]

I think they look nice without the lower dash rail trim! Once you have it all painted, it will look smart!

[rally515]

Heres one of mine in the summer i've found:

 

 

[james962]

This is mine. Replaced the switches and made a new mounting plate:

 

[HarrysMini]

I like the bottom dash rail, but they always look better without the top. 

 

You won't believe how much more spacious it feels if you remove the top rail.

[tiger99]

The padding was added to satisfy safety regulations, so you should check if it was needed at the time your Mini was made, and also inform your insurance company if you remove it, as it has a significant effect on risk. Having said that, my first two Minis had painted metal, and I do think it looks better.

[domdee]

The padding was added to satisfy safety regulations, so you should check if it was needed at the time your Mini was made, and also inform your insurance company if you remove it, as it has a significant effect on risk. Having said that, my first two Minis had painted metal, and I do think it looks better.

who in the right mind would ring their insurers about something like that?!

i think your head will go out the windscreen before it hits the rails, especially the bottom!

 

 

 

 

Get it painted up! will look great, like above!

[AVV IT]

 

The padding was added to satisfy safety regulations, so you should check if it was needed at the time your Mini was made, and also inform your insurance company if you remove it, as it has a significant effect on risk. Having said that, my first two Minis had painted metal, and I do think it looks better.

who in the right mind would ring their insurers about something like that?!

i think your head will go out the windscreen before it hits the rails, especially the bottom!

 

 

 

 

Get it painted up! will look great, like above!

 

 

Someone who doesn't want their policy invalidated in the event of a third party personal injury claim? If any of your passengers were to strike themselves against the lower dash rail in a collision, and cause say a knee ligament injury, a fractured femur, or even a serious pelvic injury, they would be entitled to make a personal injury claim for many thousands. If you have modified the lower dash without declaring it, then your insurer could well refuse to pay out on such a claim, leaving you personally liable.

 

At the end of the day you are required to declare any modification from standard spec and disclose all material facts to your insurer, and removing padding to expose bare metal is a modification from standard spec. Insurers are notorious for trying anything to wriggle out of paying out on a claim, so by not declaring something like this, you really are playing straight into their hands. Which really is a daft thing to do for the sake of a phone call, or email, especially as these sorts of mods rarely attract any increase in premium anyway.

[domdee]

well i bet there are 100's of minis out there without the padding on, not declared as a modification... you'd but put a warning out to them