Fitting metal demister vents to 850

[Maddog]

Evening all. I'm about to fit Cooper metal demister vents into my 850 (along with an S type heater). Can anyone possibly tell me whether I should simply remove the small metal brackets from under the 850 top dash rail that retain the dash card trims when I fit the demister vents? I don't recall my old Cooper S having the 850 type metal brackets, but it has been a long time since I pulled the S dash apart.

Cheers, Maddog

[AndyPen]

Hi Chris, I have 64 onwards cars and I don't know of any bits to take out to remove the cards, more a knack of bending them enough to get them out without ripping?

Are you changing the actual vents, or simply putting the covers on the top? If the latter, it can be done using a longer screw on one end to ensure it doesn't drop, but can be 'wriggled'?

[Maddog]

All sorted now thanks. I took out the two small brackets per side that sit under the top dash rail. With the metal Mk1 demister vents fitted it was obvious that the small brackets would not and in fact are redundant. The shape of the vent effectively retains the dash card.
Cheers Maddog (Matt)

[Toby]

Those brackets are in several part lists for the Cooper and S but as you said shouldn't be fitted