Those of you saying I would have pulled carpet up on the sides and dried it with fans or heaters. Eric does these vids. to SHOW US HIS FANS HOW TO REMOVE ALL THIS CRAP INCASE WE HAVE TO DO SUCH WORK. That's why he has this channel and why it's so POPULAR. Pain in the ass YES, done right YES, GOOD JOB SIR.
I had to remove the carpet in my 2008 Mini Cooper S. Once a good portion of the center items were removed, I cut the carpet around a lot of the remaining steel pieces. For the cuts you make, the carpet isn't going to be affected at all. This is a great video of what to look for if your thinking about doing it.
I'd imagine they try to use fasteners that are as small as possible but as large as necessary... the torx holding down the center console obviously cannot be the same size as the torx anchoring the seatbelt.
I finally broke down and bought some plastic trim tools when I did a window motor & regulator in my FIL's Frontier a month or so ago; they are invaluable, and I wish I had bought them a decade ago.
I will never own a mini but for those of you that does this video is for you. Eric another great informative video to help people.Keep those videos coming my friend.
Great video Eric, I really liked the pace.. watching you struggle with awkward bits and bobs reminds me of your old videos that went for ages!! Interesting to see Mini stuff too, I've never been in one or worked on one.
I'm knee deep in r&r the carpet in my R55 Clubman and this video is indispensable! Well done, well explained, and the video production and lighting are all excellent. I'll take a look at your MINI series since this is my first Gen 2 MINI, I'm sure I'll find plenty of useful stuff.
I once had to do this job on one of my cars. I left the windows cracked open while I was at work, and the car was rained on. Mildew growth set in literally overnight. I ended up dismantling the entire interior and hosing everything down with mold killer. What a PITA of a job that was!
Hi Eric, great video. I just got done replacing the carpet on my Ford F250 Super Duty Crewcab. What a PITA, but it sure looks (and Smells) so much better.
Thanks for the video Eric, the panels and plastic on this car is like a hybrid Rubics cube / Lego set from hell. These videos really speed up the DIY maintenance and save me money and headaches of having to replace cracked pieces. cheers
I always like how you pronounce english, really clear and easy to understand you, even when there are more automotive channels that I follow and I don´t understand a few words
Thank you for this, my carpet is soaked from the rain, got a leak in the either stripping somewhere. Looks like we're going full rally/gutted look next :)
hey eric..(fellow viewers feel free to jump in too). i have a 7th gen Accord with the 2.4L 4 cyl. engine. ive had the car for a little over 6 months and it has always been kind of slow to start up compared to my prev. vehicle (vw jetta w. vr6). it seems to be turning over fine, but seems like it takes awhile to fire up(im not sure if thats the right terminology, but basically its the classic " cmon please start...YES!" sound)... i looked over same basic stuff, my battery's positive cable terminal was loose and corroded so i cleaned and replaced that with a new terminal. its not a huge deal, the car never fails to start, but it just feels like i have to turn the key for an awkward amount of time compared to my VW. This is only the second vehicle i have owned so i cant tell if its just a normal difference between the vehicles. since you sort of specialize in working with Hondas I figured you would be the perfect person to ask, and if it is not normal, where should I start looking to get it fixed... I was thinking since its taking awhile to fire up, that might be something with the fuel system and not electrical ? anyway, sorry such a long post for a relatively trivial and simple issue! curious to hear your thoughts. thanks! ps. I am super happy with my Honda, your videos helped me lean that direction after the non stop horror show that was my VW.
Great effort with camera angles! Thanks for the video! I personally would wash the carpet - hit it with a brush, detergent, garden hose and let it dry in sun. It's not much more work, and it's already out! But that's me, you don't wash 'em, you fix 'em :D
Beer is a necessary shop supply when [I] work on my ['07 MCS Mini] .. .. and then jeepers Eric ! Thank you so much for your content as it/they help me understand how my car is put together.. Shit like that is priceless these days.. Like anyone can work on these given time, tools, and space - and fear those resources are just way outside what many/most(?) take into consideration..
Well yes when you assemble a car in a factory the first interior peice to go in is the carpet, and then everything else is bolted in on top of it. It's the most efficient way to do it for the manufacturer but a pain for us
I recently replaced the thermostat assembly in a 2010 Mini Cooper S. I am fortunate that I found a three part series on RUclips that was done really well. The plethora of plastic electrical connectors was especially challenging especially given the numerous release styles. Some we pick, others we lift, some we depress. I wondered as I did the job, why so many different styles? Seems ripe for standardization. I look forward to more of your vids, especially timing chain re and re.
I don't cover that replacement in this series, but with the engine out it's easy to see where everything is. I'm starting on the engine videos after I wrap up the interior videos. You're right though, it's kind of a cluster.
Eric word of advice after working at a a car wash for 3 years your best bet is after you take the carpet out is to pressure wash it then vacuum it that will get all the old water that has molded out and then the water you sprayed on there will be vacuumed up try that next time.
Finally a video with good commentary and visuals. Could you do more videos on the mini please? I have a 2013 countryman (NOT S MODEL) and all the videos about that model are either not very good or for the S model. If there's no difference between the S model and the standard model, then that's great. But so far all the videos I've seen aren't that good.
I had to do this on my 2005 Chevy Colorado when the urethane glue on the back window let go in one corner and it started leaking when it rained. What a mess. After I had a glass shop remove and reseal the back cab window, I was able to get the carpet completely dried out by removing it and laying it out for a few hours out in the summer heat then sprayed it with a product called odoban and put it back in. No further issues from it while I had that truck.
hey eric you should do a video of removing the rear panel to gain access to the driver seat-belt. the r56 has a common wet seat belt after its rains , its usually a gutter seal but i would love to see exactly whats going on behind the panel before i dump a 100 plus on a gutter seal that may have nothing to do with it. thanks in advance and keep up the great work.
Finally you got use of those Torx tools of yours collecting dust :-) Actually, Torx is quite common here in Europe and has been for some time. Take a Volvo from the 90's - you can actually take apart the entire car with only a T20 screwdriver :-) Regarding that handbrake switch connector - I agree it looks odd but it works. However it's far from a new cost-saving thing - they used it already back in 1967 when the BMW 1602 was launched. And it's exactly the same switch in my BMW 323i from 1985 :-) And the same in my BMW 535i 1989 :-) And the same in my BMW 120i 2006 :-) I think it was phased out in the last 5 years or so - but a construction that was unchanged the last 50 years :-)
"Things are plastic and breakable, and they want to break." Plastic parts will literally go out of their way to find ways to break, even when you are gentle with them. Gotta love plastic.
I like how the carpet and underlay is all one piece, its usually the squishy underneath bits that get damp and end up stuck to the floor.. i guess i'm used to working with slightly older cars though.
Good to see you back Eric I think thus one I just would have did the sill plate and such on the driver side jacked up the carpeting and just dried out that side which didn't even look that watery seeing how the passenger side was fine I can't see going through all that work just to dry up a spot of moisture or even try putting a dehumidifier in there for a while would have probably done the trick just my opinion
What I did made a great video that will help a lot of Mini owners. Also, the carpet was VERY wet. That foam was completely soaked through. I'm afraid leaving it in would have made things worse. At least in my opinion.
Wes Brazwell I used to work at a full service car wash in my very early 20’s and the sad part is that all things considered this isn’t even that bad. It’s amazing how nasty some peoples cars are. There are people who basically are driving a trash can with four wheels. You wouldn’t believe the shit you will find once you take the seats out of most cars.
Why not just remove the seats and leave a dehumidifier on full inside and close the doors. I think it would dry out well. But the video is great as always.
12:40 ughh Integras have interior trim panels with clips like those, and on mine a bunch of the slots on the panel itself have broken off. Especially on the rear side trims that go from the doors all the way back to the rear cargo area. Such a pain.
Eric, An acquaintance of mine was dealing with water intrusion in the driver side of his Mini of similar age, ended up being a weather stripping issue up near the windshield. I know you had a window that was down, but there may be more to the story.
Good god. If I did that with my mini I’d probably never put it back together, but that’s me. I had 2” of rain water on the passenger side floor. I popped the floor plugs out, shop vac the carpet, and run the blower, from my dust extraction system in the shop , down under the carpet, for hours and hours, until it dries out.
Hey Eric, I’m working on restoring an r56 for my daughter. Pulled the carpet, then thought might as well beef up the stereo. I noticed the wires in the foam blocks- what are those wires for? Thanks!
I hate that thing. I stopped wearing it shortly after this video. Now I see why my son gave it to me, it's pretty much useless. At least it was for me.
Holy geebuz! That's a lot of work to remove a carpet. On my Miata it's so much easier (albeit most people cut the center to get it under the dash, otherwise it requires unbolting the lower dash supports).
When I had my 1971 510 (first car) I ripped the old carpet out and put black AstroTurf in it. That was after I swapped the AT for a 4spd from a Z. Good times.
if you started the car up without that passenger seat connected, would it just give you warning lights forever? I'm trying to build a sleepable bed in my r56 that stretches the passenger side of the car.
Amazing how much had to be done. I'd be the one pulling the seats and side trim- Peeking under the carpet checking for water damage. If none found- Get one of those huge air dryers used for drying carpets and such. Then give it a good vacuuming with some odorxit to remove smells. That was extreme for disassembly.
Eric I am the owner of an R56 Mini One (it is the base model Cooper here in Europe) 1.4L. I have a base wave CD unit and was wondering if it is possible to retrofit an upgraded OEM unit? Thanks
just got back from replacing the carpet on a Nissan super saloon,, similar to this , except I had to make a cut on the new one to install it,, ain't got no time to remove the dashboard to change a carpet, smh ..
Oh look, wires for what one would assume are the optional electric power seats, and the extra wire in the centre console was probably for another optional extra. Do I feel Eric going searching for power seats to stick in this badboy?
Those of you saying I would have pulled carpet up on the sides and dried it with fans or heaters. Eric does these vids. to SHOW US HIS FANS HOW TO REMOVE ALL THIS CRAP INCASE WE HAVE TO DO SUCH WORK. That's why he has this channel and why it's so POPULAR. Pain in the ass YES, done right YES, GOOD JOB SIR.
Thanks! Honestly, I didn't think this interior removal was that bad.
I had to remove the carpet in my 2008 Mini Cooper S. Once a good portion of the center items were removed, I cut the carpet around a lot of the remaining steel pieces. For the cuts you make, the carpet isn't going to be affected at all. This is a great video of what to look for if your thinking about doing it.
I don't own a Mini, but I really enjoy these "nuts and bolts" videos. Between you and SMA, I probably spend too much time on the computer! :-D
"Let's use every size torx available while we design this car"
-BMW engineer
ADR like if he was doing this job by a normal screwdriver i bet he will become a bodybuilder just from unscrewing bolts xD
I'd imagine they try to use fasteners that are as small as possible but as large as necessary... the torx holding down the center console obviously cannot be the same size as the torx anchoring the seatbelt.
Some wanky German engineer stroking his ego
I finally broke down and bought some plastic trim tools when I did a window motor & regulator in my FIL's Frontier a month or so ago; they are invaluable, and I wish I had bought them a decade ago.
I will never own a mini but for those of you that does this video is for you. Eric another great informative video to help people.Keep those videos coming my friend.
Thank you!
Er... OK don't own one then.
Great video Eric, I really liked the pace.. watching you struggle with awkward bits and bobs reminds me of your old videos that went for ages!! Interesting to see Mini stuff too, I've never been in one or worked on one.
Loving the ‘yay’ at 8:07! A fiddly job. Well done, sir!
I'm knee deep in r&r the carpet in my R55 Clubman and this video is indispensable! Well done, well explained, and the video production and lighting are all excellent. I'll take a look at your MINI series since this is my first Gen 2 MINI, I'm sure I'll find plenty of useful stuff.
I once had to do this job on one of my cars. I left the windows cracked open while I was at work, and the car was rained on. Mildew growth set in literally overnight. I ended up dismantling the entire interior and hosing everything down with mold killer. What a PITA of a job that was!
The way I like Eric The Car Guy. Showing us car repairs and how things are done. Loved it :-)
Hi Eric, great video. I just got done replacing the carpet on my Ford F250 Super Duty Crewcab. What a PITA, but it sure looks (and Smells) so much better.
Thanks for the video Eric, the panels and plastic on this car is like a hybrid Rubics cube / Lego set from hell. These videos really speed up the DIY maintenance and save me money and headaches of having to replace cracked pieces.
cheers
I had such a strong desire to vacuum at 1:30 especially now that I’ve seen the seat removed it seems easier to do
Great video. People do not realize what the effort really is to do this kind of work.
You are one of those who make a REALLY GOOD instruction video
Thank you
if you want to add sirius/XM radio the pink connector under the passenger seat is the factory antenna that you can connect to.
Good to know. Thanks!
I always like how you pronounce english, really clear and easy to understand you, even when there are more automotive channels that I follow and I don´t understand a few words
The quality video with step by step intructions is the best! Thank you for taking the time to make such an informitive video! 8)
Looked like a shaggy dog owned it, or the owner was shedding. No turning back, now.
Eric, you are the best. Your videos are off the chart. Great work man! Thank you for such awesome videos!
Best video in a while :)
Welcome back Eric!
Thank you for the video. You gave me the courage to buy a torx set to check air filter for 2011 mini countrymen.
Awesome! I love comments like this. #StayDirty
AutoZone has a decent selection of plastic clips for the ones that will be inevitably broken in this job.
I didn't break anything that wasn't already broken. Also, I keep a stock of plastic clips for just such an occasion.
That is a lot of work!
Somehow you keep having videos that address my exact needs! Haha I have this exact car, even the color. Thanks so much for sharing this process!
Thank you for this, my carpet is soaked from the rain, got a leak in the either stripping somewhere. Looks like we're going full rally/gutted look next :)
Was looking how to remove my seats to vacuum under them better but I watched the whole video instead 👍🏼
As always, thanks for the videos Eric! I am super excited for this series because I have an R55 haha.
hey eric..(fellow viewers feel free to jump in too). i have a 7th gen Accord with the 2.4L 4 cyl. engine. ive had the car for a little over 6 months and it has always been kind of slow to start up compared to my prev. vehicle (vw jetta w. vr6). it seems to be turning over fine, but seems like it takes awhile to fire up(im not sure if thats the right terminology, but basically its the classic " cmon please start...YES!" sound)... i looked over same basic stuff, my battery's positive cable terminal was loose and corroded so i cleaned and replaced that with a new terminal. its not a huge deal, the car never fails to start, but it just feels like i have to turn the key for an awkward amount of time compared to my VW. This is only the second vehicle i have owned so i cant tell if its just a normal difference between the vehicles.
since you sort of specialize in working with Hondas I figured you would be the perfect person to ask, and if it is not normal, where should I start looking to get it fixed... I was thinking since its taking awhile to fire up, that might be something with the fuel system and not electrical ? anyway, sorry such a long post for a relatively trivial and simple issue! curious to hear your thoughts. thanks!
ps. I am super happy with my Honda, your videos helped me lean that direction after the non stop horror show that was my VW.
Great effort with camera angles! Thanks for the video! I personally would wash the carpet - hit it with a brush, detergent, garden hose and let it dry in sun. It's not much more work, and it's already out! But that's me, you don't wash 'em, you fix 'em :D
Thanks. I just removed the carpet in my 2010 mini following your video..
Nicely done Eric!
It looks like something hairy lived in there for a while..
Wow, such a battle, thats half a day, 4 knuckles and 15 plasters, yuk! Good job ETCG
Great tutorial glad to see you back making videos 👍
I love it when a plan comes apart
Beer is a necessary shop supply when [I] work on my ['07 MCS Mini] ..
.. and then jeepers Eric ! Thank you so much for your content as it/they help me understand how my car is put together.. Shit like that is priceless these days..
Like anyone can work on these given time, tools, and space - and fear those resources are just way outside what many/most(?) take into consideration..
I drive a 98 saturn and will never need to know how to remove a Mini's carpet, but I sat and watched this whole thing anyway.
Looks like they built the car around the carpet??
That's the way German cars are built.
All cars are built around the Heater Core.
It’s how they keep the carpet nice and taught over its life.
Well yes when you assemble a car in a factory the first interior peice to go in is the carpet, and then everything else is bolted in on top of it. It's the most efficient way to do it for the manufacturer but a pain for us
I recently replaced the thermostat assembly in a 2010 Mini Cooper S. I am fortunate that I found a three part series on RUclips that was done really well. The plethora of plastic electrical connectors was especially challenging especially given the numerous release styles. Some we pick, others we lift, some we depress. I wondered as I did the job, why so many different styles? Seems ripe for standardization. I look forward to more of your vids, especially timing chain re and re.
I don't cover that replacement in this series, but with the engine out it's easy to see where everything is. I'm starting on the engine videos after I wrap up the interior videos. You're right though, it's kind of a cluster.
Cant wait to see the re-installation of that. You will need a gallon sealer or ice cream bucket as the swear jar.
Next week.
That bare wire clip behind the e-brake handle is called a fahnestock clip. Very common in old electronics; hadn't seen one in years.
Eric word of advice after working at a a car wash for 3 years your best bet is after you take the carpet out is to pressure wash it then vacuum it that will get all the old water that has molded out and then the water you sprayed on there will be vacuumed up try that next time.
Finally a video with good commentary and visuals. Could you do more videos on the mini please? I have a 2013 countryman (NOT S MODEL) and all the videos about that model are either not very good or for the S model. If there's no difference between the S model and the standard model, then that's great. But so far all the videos I've seen aren't that good.
I had to do this on my 2005 Chevy Colorado when the urethane glue on the back window let go in one corner and it started leaking when it rained. What a mess. After I had a glass shop remove and reseal the back cab window, I was able to get the carpet completely dried out by removing it and laying it out for a few hours out in the summer heat then sprayed it with a product called odoban and put it back in. No further issues from it while I had that truck.
hey eric you should do a video of removing the rear panel to gain access to the driver seat-belt. the r56 has a common wet seat belt after its rains , its usually a gutter seal but i would love to see exactly whats going on behind the panel before i dump a 100 plus on a gutter seal that may have nothing to do with it. thanks in advance and keep up the great work.
Sempre que dá tempo eu dou uma olhada aqui no canal parabéns pelo vídeo amigo Valeu fica com Deus tá tchau
I will likely never own a mini but I find myself watching anyway...
Thank you!
Finally you got use of those Torx tools of yours collecting dust :-) Actually, Torx is quite common here in Europe and has been for some time. Take a Volvo from the 90's - you can actually take apart the entire car with only a T20 screwdriver :-)
Regarding that handbrake switch connector - I agree it looks odd but it works.
However it's far from a new cost-saving thing - they used it already back in 1967 when the BMW 1602 was launched.
And it's exactly the same switch in my BMW 323i from 1985 :-)
And the same in my BMW 535i 1989 :-)
And the same in my BMW 120i 2006 :-)
I think it was phased out in the last 5 years or so - but a construction that was unchanged the last 50 years :-)
Really appreciate this series. Thank you!
I used some Tide detergent and a nylon scrub brush (and plenty of hose water of course) to scrub out my carpet when it got wet. worked great!
Don't stop now! Continue gutting that interior & make a purpose built track car. Street legal go-kart for the win!
+
Exactly what im doing
"Things are plastic and breakable, and they want to break." Plastic parts will literally go out of their way to find ways to break, even when you are gentle with them. Gotta love plastic.
That's gonna be one clean carpet!
I like how the carpet and underlay is all one piece, its usually the squishy underneath bits that get damp and end up stuck to the floor.. i guess i'm used to working with slightly older cars though.
Yea, I think it's a good design too.
a nice long video 👌👍👍👊
Never thought you would have to remove so much to remove the carpet, I guess I’m spoiled with my Wrangler.
Another good reason to disconnect the battery is to avoid triggering the airbag codes when unplugging the seats.
P
As Lqqx
Good morning Eric !!!!
Good morning!
Wow I learned a lot, again. That would have taken me an entire week 😳
Good to see you back Eric I think thus one I just would have did the sill plate and such on the driver side jacked up the carpeting and just dried out that side which didn't even look that watery seeing how the passenger side was fine I can't see going through all that work just to dry up a spot of moisture or even try putting a dehumidifier in there for a while would have probably done the trick just my opinion
What I did made a great video that will help a lot of Mini owners. Also, the carpet was VERY wet. That foam was completely soaked through. I'm afraid leaving it in would have made things worse. At least in my opinion.
Never had this much trouble with my 66 Cooper S Lol
Glad to see you back. This is a super nasty interior. Was glad I wasn’t eating when you did the close ups of the carpet.
Wes Brazwell I used to work at a full service car wash in my very early 20’s and the sad part is that all things considered this isn’t even that bad. It’s amazing how nasty some peoples cars are. There are people who basically are driving a trash can with four wheels. You wouldn’t believe the shit you will find once you take the seats out of most cars.
Eric's new track car
Fair play for taking that on
Excellent video. Was invaluable. Thanks!
thank you sir, very helpful. I am not removing the carpet, but trying to figure out how to get to the AC drain.
Why not just remove the seats and leave a dehumidifier on full inside and close the doors. I think it would dry out well. But the video is great as always.
12:40 ughh Integras have interior trim panels with clips like those, and on mine a bunch of the slots on the panel itself have broken off. Especially on the rear side trims that go from the doors all the way back to the rear cargo area. Such a pain.
Thanks Eric, this was very helpful when removing the carpet in a car with a family of mice living under it.
This is very interesting stuff
Eric,
An acquaintance of mine was dealing with water intrusion in the driver side of his Mini of similar age, ended up being a weather stripping issue up near the windshield. I know you had a window that was down, but there may be more to the story.
I hope not. That would suck. I've sunk enough money into this car and I don't pay myself labor.
I know exactly the feeling...
Good god. If I did that with my mini I’d probably never put it back together, but that’s me.
I had 2” of rain water on the passenger side floor. I popped the floor plugs out, shop vac the carpet, and run the blower, from my dust extraction system in the shop , down under the carpet, for hours and hours, until it dries out.
Love all these videos Eric you make it look so easy on one of your other videos ile be doing the turbo oil feed and return pipes
Withe carpet out I would give it a good vacuum followed by a proper wash and leave it to dry outside.
Exceptional video - very helpful! Thank you!
That cars gonna look amazing after erics done with it.
Hey Eric, I’m working on restoring an r56 for my daughter. Pulled the carpet, then thought might as well beef up the stereo. I noticed the wires in the foam blocks- what are those wires for? Thanks!
Thank you for this videos! It help me so much
Eric I'm glad to see you have an Apple Watch
I hate that thing. I stopped wearing it shortly after this video. Now I see why my son gave it to me, it's pretty much useless. At least it was for me.
Holy geebuz! That's a lot of work to remove a carpet. On my Miata it's so much easier (albeit most people cut the center to get it under the dash, otherwise it requires unbolting the lower dash supports).
Great video thanks for posting it.
I bet that took forever to edit. Love this kind of video though! 👍
Is Brian still around these days? Also, plastic trim tool...I‘m impressed. :)
Brian is in Nepal.
When I had my 1971 510 (first car) I ripped the old carpet out and put black AstroTurf in it. That was after I swapped the AT for a 4spd from a Z. Good times.
Do these have the same poorly sealed sunroofs with terrible windnoise like the Clubman? A video on how to adjust that would be great
Well, it doesn't have a sunroof.
Eric great job, I have to put a clutch in one lol
if you started the car up without that passenger seat connected, would it just give you warning lights forever? I'm trying to build a sleepable bed in my r56 that stretches the passenger side of the car.
Hey do you need to recode the seats when refitting?
Really informative video!
Super helpful! Thank you!
Amazing how much had to be done. I'd be the one pulling the seats and side trim- Peeking under the carpet checking for water damage. If none found- Get one of those huge air dryers used for drying carpets and such. Then give it a good vacuuming with some odorxit to remove smells. That was extreme for disassembly.
Good Video Eric, both quality and sound!
You are out of breath quickly, but on the other hand it is a rotten job.
Can you explain how you take off the yellow connector
Eric I am the owner of an R56 Mini One (it is the base model Cooper here in Europe) 1.4L. I have a base wave CD unit and was wondering if it is possible to retrofit an upgraded OEM unit? Thanks
just got back from replacing the carpet on a Nissan super saloon,, similar to this , except I had to make a cut on the new one to install it,, ain't got no time to remove the dashboard to change a carpet, smh ..
Loving this series! Please tell me you will be doing a video on clutch replacement. Ps enjoy the cost of a dual mass flywheel.
The video on clutch replacement has already been shot so yes.
And a couple days to reassemble. How do get mold off the foam?
Thanks for your video, it is wery helpfool.
Oh look, wires for what one would assume are the optional electric power seats, and the extra wire in the centre console was probably for another optional extra. Do I feel Eric going searching for power seats to stick in this badboy?