This installation guide is designed as a guide for removing & installing Classic Mini padded dash rails. You will need to remove the padded dash rails from your Mini and send them to us, so we can retrim them for you.

Tools Needed (Recommended):

• Ratchet handle (1/4”)

• Flexi socket extension (1/4")

• 7/16 socket (1/4”)

• Ph2 cross-head screwdriver

• Contact spray adhesive (high temperature resistant)

If you have ordered dash rail covers (not retrims), you will also need the following:

• Clean lint free cloth

• Grease removal cleaning agent

• Contact spray adhesive (high temperature resistant)

• Marker pen

• Brush on adhesive (high temperature resistant)

• 1” glue brush

• Sharp knife

Removal - Top Padded Dash Rail:

The top dash rail is held in place by 3 or 4 bolts (depending on your model).

To remove the top dash rail remove the bolts using a 7/16 socket:

• On models with 3 bolts you will find one bolt either side and one in the middle. To remove the bolt in the middle you will need to remove the ash tray.

• On models with 4 bolts you will find one bolt either side and then two bolts roughly 15cm off centre, either side of the centre.

Once you have removed the bolts lift the dash rail upwards to remove it.

For reference, you do not need to remove the front windscreen to remove the top padded dash rail, but removing the front windscreen does make the job of removing the top dash rail a lot easier.

Removal - Lower Padded Dash Rail:

The lower padded dash rail is held in place by glue and metal clips.

To remove the lower dash rail, first of all you will need to drop the heater unit and release the switch panel.

• To drop the heater unit remove the screws that hold the heater up at the front (the 2 little brackets behind the switch panel) and pivot the heater (so it falls at the front).

• After you have dropped the heater you can gain access to the nuts that hold the switch panel in place (one either side). Remove the nuts using a 7/16 socket attached to a flexi socket extension.

• To release the switch panel, pull the switch panel forward so it protrudes out of the dash rail.

With the heater unit dropped and the switch panel released you can remove the lower dash rail:

• First of all remove the trim-clips along the bottom edge and then simply pull the dash rail out (it is held into place with glue and it may take some force, but be careful not to damage the dash rail).

• To get it over the switch panel, twist it to change the angle (which will make the switch panel fit through the hole).

With the dash rails removed from your Mini, if you have ordered dash rail covers (not retrims), you can now install your new covers to the dash rails:

Pre-Installation - Dash Rail Covers:

1. On the top dash rail, using a sharp knife cut to away the original plastic padded dash rail cover, from around the air-vents and all around the edge. Essentially, removing the original thickness of material all around the edge of the rail, to allow for the new thickness of the new cover.

2. On the lower rail, using scissors, tidy up the top rear edge, so it run straight (in a continuous curve) from side-to-side.

Before progressing with your new cover installation, using a clean lint free cloth and a grease removal cleaning agent clean a dash rails. Allow the cleaning agent to dry and/or evaporate naturally.

Installation - Dash Rail Covers:

1. Completely cover the top surface of your dash rail and the rear of the piece of foam in the spray adhesive.
   Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

2. Glue the foam to the dash rail, ensuring you pull the foam tight and that it is stuck directly to the dash rail, in and around all the shapes.

3. Using a sharp knife cut the foam off around the edge of your dash rail, do not wrap the foam around the dash rail.

4. With the foam installed, using a marker pen, draw on the dash rail where the seam will sit - on the top rail it follows the leading edge and on the lower rail it follows the lower edge (there is a slight crease on the original lower dash rail that you can follow).

5. Now completely cover the top surface of your dash rail (the foam you have installed) and the rear of the new cover in the spray adhesive.
   Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

6. Install the cover to the dash rail, ensuring you pull the cover tight and that is is stuck directly to the dash rail, in and around all the shapes. Also ensure that the seam is straight, following your line as a guide.

7. Using scissors, cut off any excess, so you have around 1.5cm of the cover running all the way around.

8. Now layer up the brush on adhesive using a 1” glue brush to the rear of the rail and also to the rear of the cover (the 1.5cm overlap, that you have left). Or in other words, brush the glue where the cover will be stuck to the rear of the dash rail.
   Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

9. Wrap the cover around the edge of the dash rail and stick it in place.

10. Next up, with the dash rail installed, you can tackle the ash tray (on the top rail) and the switch panel (on the lower rail). Layer up the brush on adhesive using a 1” glue brush to the rear of the rail and also to the rear of the cover. Or in other words, brush the glue where the cover will be stuck to the rear of the dash rail.
    Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

11. To trim the ash tray (top rail), using a shape pierce through the cover and make a cut from the centre into each corner. Then wrap the cover around, sticking it to the rear of the rail.

12. To trim the switch panel (lower rail), using a shape pierce through the cover and make a cut from one side to the other, stopping around 1.5cm from the edge. Then wrap the cover around, sticking it to the rear of the rail.
    Tip try heating the leatherette with a hair dryer, it will make it more malleable and easier to stretch in and around the hole for the switch panel.

Installation - Top Padded Dash Rail:

The top dash rail is held in place by 3 or 4 bolts (depending on your model).

For reference, you do not need to remove the front windscreen to install the top padded dash rail, but removing the front windscreen does make the job of installing the top dash rail a lot easier.

To install the top dash rail place the dash rail in place, feeding the bolts through the holes fit bolts using a 7/16 socket:

• On models with 3 bolts you will find one bolt either side and one in the middle. To install the bolt in the middle you will need to remove the ash tray.

• On models with 4 bolts you will find one bolt either side and then two bolts roughly 15cm off centre, either side of the centre.

Installation - Lower Padded Dash Rail:

The lower padded dash rail is held in place by glue and metal clips.

To install the lower dash rail, ensure that the heater unit is dropped and the switch panel is released:

• Before installing the rail, spray contact spray adhesive to the inside of your padded dash rail and also onto the lower dash rail (in the Mini).
  Please Note It is vitally important that you wait for the spray glue to go touch dry before attempting to stick the covers in place. If you do not wait for the glue to be touch dry the covers will not stick correctly.

• Next step is to install the dash rail in place, to get it over the switch panel, twist it to change the angle (which will make the switch panel fit through the slice in the trimming). For reference, once pulled through, the switch panel will trap the trimming behind it and create a neat edge.

• Once located apply pressure across the entire dash rail (rub your hand from side-to-side) to ensure that the glue adheres.

• You can then install the trim-clips along the bottom edge.

With the dash rail installed you can reinstall the switch panel.

• To install the switch panel, push the switch panel backwards so it sits in the dash rail.

• Using a 7/16 socket attached to a flexi socket extension install the two nuts that hold the switch panel in place (one either side).

And with the switch panel installed you can reinstall the heater unit:

• To reinstall the heater unit pivot the heater up (so it sits under the dash rail) and install the screws that hold the unit up at the front (the 2 little brackets behind the switch panel).