Classic Mini Door Cards

This installation guide is a recommended guideline only and it is designed as a guide for fitting Optimise Automotive products.
 

Front door cards

• This front door card fitting guide is for fitting front door cards to the following variants of the Classic Mini:

MK3 (Onwards) Saloons & Clubmans
 

• This guide includes a fitting guide for door cards and the door card accessories, this includes:

Front door cards
Front door cappings
 

Installation

1. Remove the driver door lock latch casing, window winder handle, door opening handle.
    
2. Remove the driver door card.
   
   Tip: We recommend that you use a door card removal tool to remove the trim-clips from the holes in the door
    
3. Pierce the required holes for the door handle through the trimming, using the correct holes that are pre-cut on the door card as a guide. For reference, depending on the door handle set/type you are installing you have different options to choose from and all of the original options are pre-cut on the door cards.
    
4. Fit the trim-clips to the new door cards (9 on each front door card).
   
   Tip: We recommend using new after-market trim-clips (as photographed below) as they have a wider locking mechanism shaft than the originals. This will ensure that the trim-clips remain located and do not spring out.
   
   
   Alternatively, if you are having problems lining the trim-clips up with the holes on the door (it can be difficult to see in and behind the door card during installation) we recommend using 9mm (hole size) x 16mm (shaft length) trim-clips (as photographed below). Please make sure the shaft length of the tree-clip does not exceed 20mm to avoid contact with the window glass.
   
   Tree clips have a longer shaft and are easier to line up and install. However, they are more difficult to remove (as they break easily during removal) and you will likely need to replace them every time you remove/install your front door cards.
   
    
5. Fit the new door cards. Simply slip the top of the door card under the retaining lip and line the trim-clips up with the holes. Starting in the top corner (next to the door opening handle) work your way around the door card - pushing each of the trim-clips into the holes.
    
6. Fit the door opening handle, window winder handle and lock latch casing.
    
7. Fit the door cappings.

We recommend that you use the 4x1/2" pan head self tapping screws and washers provided to install our door cappings.

Please Note To install the items in this way (as we recommend) you will be required to drill holes through the top door sill.

Tools needed (recommended):

Pencil (or pen)
Cordless drill
3.0 metal drill bit
Ph2 cross-head screwdriver (or Ph2 cross-head drill bit)

1. Locate the screw holes that are already drilled through the door cappings and make a hole in the trimming.
    
2. Thrn place the door capping on the door and make a mark through each of the three holes, onto the surface that you are fitting the capping to.
    
3. Move the capping out the way and drill holes, using a 3.0 HSS (metal) drill bit, where you have just made marks. Be very careful to only drill the inner door sill skin, do not drill through the window glass.
    
4. Place the door capping back in the installation location and line up the holes on the capping with the holes you have just drilled.
    
5. Finally, using the pan head self tapping screws and washers provided, screw the door capping to the door/rear quarter panels.
    

Repeat again to install the passenger side door card.
 

Back door card (rear quarter panel)

• This back door card fitting guide is for fitting back door cards to the following variants of the Classic Mini:

MK3 (Onwards) Saloons & Clubmans
 

• This guide includes a fitting guide for door cards and the door card accessories, this includes:

Rear quarter panel door cards
Rear quarter panel cappings
 

Installation

1. Remove (in this order) the existing pocket liner, existing back door card (rear quarter panel) and rear wheel arch cover from the driver side rear quarter area.
    
2. Fit the new rear wheel arch cover. Please see 'Fitting Guide (Wheel Arch Covers)' for a detailed fitting guide.
    
3. Insert the new back door card panel into the pocket and locate it fully downwards (at the bottom of the companion bin) and also fully located against the wheel arch. At this stage the panel should lie outside (and also slightly above) the retaining lip.
    
4. Now apply pressure along the horizontal plane. Push the panel at the top, this will bend the panel inwards and reduce it's height. By reducing the panels height it will pass under the top retaining lip and sit flat against the outer rear quarter panel.
    
5. Fit the new pocket liner. Please see 'Fitting Guide (Pocket Liners)' for a detailed fitting guide.
    
6. Fit the door cappings.

We recommend that you use the 4.0x1" pan head self tapping screws and washers provided to install our door cappings.

Please Note To install the items in this way (as we recommend) you will be required to drill holes through the top door sill.

Tools needed (recommended):
Pencil (or pen)
Cordless drill
3.0 metal drill bit
Ph2 cross-head screwdriver (or Ph2 cross-head drill bit)
 

1. Locate the screw holes that are already drilled on the door cappings and make a hole in the covering.
    
2. Place the door capping on the door and make a mark through each of the three holes, onto the surface that you are fitting the capping to.
    
3. Move the capping out the way and drill holes, using a 3.0 HSS (metal) drill bit, where you have just made marks.
    
4. Place the door capping back in the installation location and line up the holes on the capping with the holes you have just drilled.
    
5. Using the pan head self tapping screws and washers provided screw the door capping to the door.
    

Repeat again to install the passenger side door card.
 

Final checks

Now that your items are fitted test to ensure that they are securely fastened before you drive your vehicle.