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Rear Bumper Protector Install Guide - MINI F55/F56/F60

THANK YOU for purchasing the MINI F55/F56/F60 Rear Bumper Protector from CravenSpeed. This product is made from the highest grade materials, and is guaranteed to be free from defects.

You can buy our CravenSpeed Rear Bumper Protector for MINI F55/F56/F60 here

Parts Included:

  • 1x Bumper Protector Decal

Tools Required:

  • Denatured Alcohol (may sub isopropyl)
  • Soft Lint-Free Cloth
  • Squeegee
  • Painters Tape
  • Utility Spray Bottle
  • H2O
  • Dish Soap
  • X-acto Knife or Scissors
  • Tape Measure
  • Writing Implement (pen)

NOTE: Installing vinyl decals may seem like an intimidating task, but we have developed this instructional guide to make the process much easier than it sounds. In the unlikely event your decal application goes awry, we offer one-time $5 mulligan kit on each purchase made directly through the CravenSpeed.com website. Just contact support@cravenspeed.com for help.

Procedure

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Clean Bumper Surface and Surrounding Area

    1. Let’s start by opening up your tailgate and give the bumper of your MINI a thorough cleaning in preparation for the bumper decal. Once the surface is dry, wipe down the area again with some denatured alcohol applied to a soft, lint-free cloth. (Isopropyl alcohol is an acceptable substitute)

    1. Take a utility spray bottle, fill it with water and add a few small drops of dish soap. Shake the bottle and thoroughly mix up your solution.

Prepare the Bumper Decal

    1. If the decal has not been trimmed already, lay it face up on a flat work surface and trim it down to approx .250" (¼") around the perimeter of the decal with your x-acto knife or scissors.

    1. Next, utilize your tape measure to find the center of the decal and make an indication mark with a pen.

    1. Bring the decal over to your rear bumper and lay it upon the top surface to check fitment. Line up the center mark with the latch hole in the plastic surround and set it against the body of the MINI. The ¼" gap you trimmed around the edge of the decal should give you your set distance from the lip of the hatch opening. Temporarily tape the decal into place, step back and visually inspect the fitment. Make any necessary trimming adjustments to the paper backing at this time.

Apply the Bumper Decal

    1. Set the decal aside and wipe down the top surface of the bumper one final time with the soft, lint-free cloth. Peel the decal completely off of it’s backing so that the sticky adhesive is exposed. Take care that nothing bumps into the adhesive side while handling the decal.

    1. Take your utility bottle and spray an even coat of your soap/water solution to both sides of the decal. It doesn’t need to be completely soaked… it just needs enough for you to be able to readjust the decal if you don’t set it down perfectly straight on the first try. Spray some of the soap/water solution onto the top surface of your MINIs bumper as well.

    1. Hold the decal outstretched with your hands on either end and gently set the decal down onto the bumper surface, again lining up the center mark with the center of the bumper. The soap/water solution should give you the ability to either pull the decal up again or slide it around to line it up precisely.

    1. Once you’re pleased with its positioning, start from the middle and gently squeegee the soap/water solution out from under the decal. Use the soft, lint-free cloth to clean up any excess solution while you work the decal down.

    1. Finish the entire topside before you begin to squeegee the decal down the angled part of your bumper. Again, start from the middle and gently work the decal over the edge and down as you squeegee the solution out from under it.

    1. After the decal is completely applied, take a 20 minute break to give the solution time to evaporate a bit and allow the decal adhere to the surface. Coming back to the process, start from one side and begin to peel the paper backing off of it. Pull the paper back upon itself at an extreme angle to minimize the potential of lifting the decal off the surface of your bumper. If it does begin to pull up with the paper.. Don’t be too concerned. Apply the felt squeegee directly onto the decal and press it back down. NOTE: If you are using a plastic-edged squeegee, wrap the edge with a soft cloth so you don’t scratch the vinyl decal.

    1. Once you have the transfer paper completely removed, inspect the decal for any creases or solution bubbles. In all likelihood you’re probably going to have bubbles to some extent that will need attention. Use the microfiber side of the squeegee to work the bubbles to the edge of the decal and then soak up the solution with the soft, lint-free cloth.

    1. For pesky bubbles that don’t want to slide to the edge, try to combine them by pushing them toward one another and then piercing the vinyl with your x-acto knife. You should then be able to squeegee the solution out through this tiny hole. Any minor bubbles or surface imperfections that you can’t seem to eliminate should disappear over the next couple of weeks as the solution evaporates and the vinyl decal shrinks a bit. Leaving the car exposed in the sun will help speed up this process.

    Congratulations… your install is complete! Stand back and admire your handiwork!

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