96 Rover Mini Cooper 35 - Fascia and Instrument Bezel

[Snoop]

Hello,

The fascia in my Cooper is in a bad state with cracks, lifting veneer and faded sections over the fascia. The instrument bezel in also faded as well. I have found somebody locally who can refurbish these parts, however to help me, can anyone provide me some good quality photos of the original dark walnut finish of the Rover Mini Cooper fascia and bezel so that I can show the chap what these items should look like - many thanks.

[jayare]

Can't help with a photo of the dashboard but there may well have been one in the sales brochure (which would also be a nice addition to the car). There's a few on eBay - this one seems like the best value: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363890143880?

JR

[Snoop]

Thanks, I'll check it out

[timmy201]

There’s a scanned copy here:
http://www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rove ... 201996.pdf

[Peter Laidler]

But it still doesn't show the dashboard that Snoops wants to see........

Snoops, if I were you I'd email John Parnell at the Mini Cooper Register and ask if he can scan a brochure that has the dashboard you want to see.

[robanzac]

Is this the sort of thing that you are after?
This is a photo of the dash in my '97 Cooper taken in February 2005 (so the car wasn't that old at the time)
It isn't a '96 35 edition though - were they something special in the dash department ?
I can take and post more photos if required - or maybe send higher res. direct

[timmy201]

There’s a scanned copy here:
http://www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rove ... 201996.pdf

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[Snoop]

Thanks everyone for the info and photos. My dash is a dark walnut with faded lighter spots, however the instrument bezel unit is a light walnut colour. I found the attached photo of a 96 Rover Mini Cooper 35 for sale in NZ and it shows both the fascia and instrument bezel unit all with a light walnut finish so I think this is what I need to go with. cheers

[Peter Laidler]

Just a thought Snoopy but while the dash board assembly is out of the car, would it be worth carefully taking out the air-con complete and reverting it back to UK/home spec - which is probably the same as NZ export spec!

Sell on the A/C stuff for a profit. More space to work with, less cramped cabin space, cleaner lines and less to go wrong too.

Better still, your Kiwi workman who's going to restore the dash panel has some absolutely magnificent NZ woods to work with.

Pete the Pom, ('68 Wahini survivor)

[Snoop]

Thanks for your comments Pete - will have to think about that option.

Not sure what to do about the dash as I can get a new fascia and instrument bezel unit from Somerford Mini in the UK delivered cheaper to NZ than the cost to get the parts refurbished locally. The problem with the UK parts is that they are dark walnut which is not right as the walnut colour for the model.

Never forgotten the Wahini disaster which was a terrible day and I'm sure you haven't as a survivor. My wife's aunt was also on board that day and she also survived - cheers