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Get ready for more bling bling on the MINI. here are some of the first official photos of the chrome hinges that are optional on the convertible. In the US they are available only with the chrome mirror caps on the Cooper and Cooper S ($120). You can see a larger photo here.
<p>aww yeah…</p>
<p>hm… they ditch the anthracite headers and put that on! they must be outside their minds!</p>
<p>I did not appreciate the hinges on the convertible boot when I first saw them and wondered why the could not be integrated under the skin of the boot and bumber cover. I think the design takes away from the MINIs smooth lines of a great looking rear-end.</p>
<p>The hinges have grown on me <strong> a little,</strong> however, I think the chrome caps helps make them look like “bling bling” instead of a <strong>bad</strong> attempt at hiding them with body-color paint.</p>
<p>I agree RobO, Why not underneath. Do we see hinges on the bonnet on the outside? What was MINI thinking? In any case I opted for the bling bling Chrome hinges on the pure silver cooper s convertible I ordered two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Does anyone know hom many cooper and Cooper s convertibles will be shipped to the US in 05?</p>
<p>I think the boot hinges are a nod to the Minis of old, not an attempt to look clunky. To me they look nostalgic, and with the chrome both nostalgic and cool.</p>
<p>Even hardtop classic Minis had fold down boots, rather than hatchbacks. The hatchback was a new thing for MINI, though I appreciate its usefulness over a fold down. </p>
<p>[<a href="http://www.mech.demon.nl/mark/shellmetdeuren.jpg">LINK</a>]</p>
<p>Thanks for putting in a link to a classic boot, complete with hinge!</p>
<p>I love the exposed hinges, even more so with chrome.. It's just such a great throwback to the old classic MINIs.</p>
<p>deborah, the boot hinge does not reflect the original design…they should have and
less prominent. teh orginal design looks better.</p>
<p>I disagree. If things were made less prominent, then our MINIs would be 50% smaller with 10″ tires and 60 hp engines… I'm all for the various supersizing that came with the new design. It is the exaggeration of various features (like the relative magnitude of the wheels to the car) that gives our MINIs their characteristic look.</p>
<p>But I'll agree to disagree with you… : ) I, personally, like the hinges, both old and new. The new ones fit the new car.</p>
<p>I didn't like the hinges in the photos, but I think they look very good in person. Don't know if I'd go for chrome though.</p>
<p>I'm interested in always making coopers a better and
better car over time. I would
like to see good honest engin
eering with convertible cooper
and cooper S. Lets start off
with a little problem with the
hinges on the rear trunk deck.
I didn't see them put hinges
on the hatchback as a nod to
the old cooper, exterior hing
es belong on Jeeps and Hummers
,keep the lines clean on the
cooper. Larger problem this is
the platform stiffness at the
expense of 200 lbs. of metal.
Hey, we are talking about BMW
not some little start up compa
ny that doesn't have resources
to solve issues. The car has d
one great for you $$$$. Redesi
gn new parts using hydorformed
parts that flex less. There's
room for big improvements besi
des where to put the clock!!</p>