How Do You Install Mini Cooper Mud Flaps？

Have you ever been splashed with dirt or mud from a vehicle passing next to you? If you have, you know how infuriating it can be. Now picture doing this to someone else as you drive. The good thing is that you can prevent this from happening by installing mud flaps on your vehicle. Mud flaps are accessories that shield your car and pedestrians from debris and mud splashes. These accessories are usually installed beside the wheels to prevent them from splashing dirt, mud, and other particles while they rotate.

Besides protecting your pedestrians from the flying debris, your vehicle slashes, installing mud flaps can also protect your vehicle. Many people do not realize that the debris thrown into the air by rotating tires can damage their vehicles’ undercarriage and other components. This makes mud flaps even more important. There are various types and designs of mud flaps built for specific vehicle models. Additionally, the installation processes differ depending on the vehicle model. This post focuses specifically on mini cooper mud flaps installation.

Guidelines for installing mini cooper mud flaps

The Mini Copper is one of the most popular vehicle models on the planet. Additionally, there are numerous Mini Copper models. Therefore, thousands of people own this vehicle and would benefit from instructions for mini copper mud flap installation. Below are some step-by-step tips;

Step 1: Test if the mud flaps fit

The first and vital thing you should do before you begin the installation process is to test-fit the mud flaps. Doing this will ensure that the products are compatible with your vehicle model. Here are tips on how you can ensure you have the right mud flaps for your Mini Cooper.

Choose custom over universal mud flaps

Most of the time, vehicle owners go for universal mud flaps because they are presumed to fit all vehicle models. However, this is not always the case. Universal mud flaps can be incompatible with your vehicle, making the installation process more complex than it needs to be. For these reasons, experts recommend going for custom or molded mud flaps. Custom mud flaps are molded to fit a specific vehicle model. Therefore, they eliminate compatibility issues, and you need not worry about whether they fit your tires.

Consider your vehicle’s tire sizes

Something else that’s important is your vehicle’s tire sizes. Mud flaps aim to shield your car and other people from the debris flown by your rotating wheels. Therefore, efficient mud flaps should offer ample coverage. Hence, good mud flaps should match the width of your tires or be designed to the maximum width of your car’s tires.

With the information above, you should be able to acquire the right size of mud flaps. However, you would still benefit from conducting a test-fit before proceeding to the installation process. This way, you can change the products if you make a mistake and make the rest of the processes as smooth as possible.

Besides testing, if your mud flaps fit, you should also ensure that they follow your vehicle’s curves. You can do this by holding the mud flaps to the wheels and assessing if they are the perfect match. Additionally, do this for the entire set.

Step 2: Clean the mounting surface

Once you are sure that you have the right mud flaps for your Mini Cooper, you can begin the installation process by preparing the mounting surface. For instance, start by cleaning the wheel area thoroughly. Next, use a degreaser to do away with all build-up muck.

If your wheel already has mud and other debris stuck to it, the particles are bound to get loose with time and splash against your car’s components. Additionally, the effects will be worse if you install the mud flaps without cleaning off the dirt because instead of splashing, the particles will ricochet. Additionally, the dirt and muck left behind can cause corrosion on your car. Finally, the dirt mounting surface will make the installation process harder. Therefore, this step is vital.

Step 3: Create space for mounting

Without ample mounting space, you cannot install mud flaps on your Mini Cooper. Therefore, the next step is to separate the tire and the wheel to get enough space to mount the mud flaps. You can turn your front wheels to the left if you want to mount the mud flaps on the wheels on the driver’s side. On the other hand, if you want to mount the mud flaps on the passengers’ side, you should turn the wheels to the right. Furthermore, ensure that your car is on a level surface.

Step 4: Locate the mounting holes

Some vehicle brands, including the Mini Cooper, usually have factory-drilled holes where you can mount your mud flaps. Therefore, all you need is to find where the holes are located and remove the screws in them. However, if your vehicle does not have factory-drilled holes, you may have to create them. This process is slightly more complex as you need to know the precise positions to drill. Therefore, you may benefit from the following instructions;

• Use your mud flaps as templates to mark where you need to drill the mounting holes. For instance, place the mud flaps over the mounting area and mark the positions for the holes.
• Then, drill the holes depending on the size of the screws that come with your mud flaps. Again, you need the right drill size for this step.
• Double check the mounting hole positions and move to the next mud flap installation step

Step 5: Attack the mud flaps to the mounting holes

Often, the mounting holes on Mini Coopers will have screws to prevent them from closing up or holding debris and muck. Therefore, the next step is to remove the screws and follow the procedures below;

• Place the mud flap in place (adjust it until the holes are correctly placed)
• Reinstall the screws into the holes with the mud flaps in position. However, do not tighten the screws fully.
• Before fully tightening the screws, check if the mud flaps are parallel to the ground. Then, you can adjust them as needed until they are perfectly positioned.
• Finally, tighten the screws and install other fasteners like nuts or bolts that come with the mud flaps.

Repeat these steps for the other back tire on your vehicle.

Why does your Mini Cooper need mud flaps?

The first section of this post has already covered the most important reason your vehicle should have mud flaps. However, in addition to protecting your car and pedestrians, below are other reasons your Mini Cooper would benefit from a set of mud flaps;

They protect your vehicle’s paint job

Have you ever noticed that the paint on most vehicles usually starts to wear off from the bottom? This is usually a result of the debris from the roads you drive your car. However, a set of mud flaps can protect your Mini Cooper’s paint job by preventing the debris from coming into contact with your car’s surface. Therefore, by doing so, a set of mud flaps can help maintain your car’s appearance.

They enhance your car’s appearance

Besides keeping your car’s paint job in-tack, mud flaps can help enhance its look. The market features a host of mud flap designs and looks you can install on your vehicle for a unique and appealing look.

They protect other drivers and cyclists

The dirt and debris from the road are among drivers’ primary causes of vision problems. For instance, when a vehicle on the same road as you splashes mud on your windows, it can hinder your vision of the road. Unfortunately, as simple as this seems, it may result in collisions and accidents. On the other hand, cyclists do not have similar protection as motorists. Therefore, the splashes will directly hit the riders and increase their chances of losing control of their bicycles on the road. A set of mud flaps can prevent all these issues by preventing your tires from splashing mud and other particles on other vehicles on the road.

Do the front tires on your Mini Cooper also need mud flaps?

Many vehicle owners ask this question because mud flaps seem more beneficial on rear tires. The straightforward answer is yes. Mud flaps on front tires offer similar benefits as those on the rear tires. They also protect your engine from the dirt and particles flung by your tires, especially when reversing. Therefore, if you plan to install mud flaps on your Mini Copper, you should consider doing so for all the wheels.

Conclusion

Installing mud flaps on a Mini Cooper is easy, especially if you have the right product. However, you can always visit a dealer for assistance if you encounter any difficulty or do not feel confident in your skills. In addition to helping you install the mud flaps, a dealer will help you find the perfect mud flaps for your Mini Cooper. For example, most dealers will help you find custom mud flaps for your ride for an extra cost. Whichever route your prefer, the important thing is that your Mini Cooper will enjoy the benefits of mud flaps.