40 replies to this topic

[Compdoc]

 

I've never used them, but I heard M Machine panels are very good, especially their door steps.
 
Anyone used them ?

just fitted both door steps from mm to both vans profiles not perfect but waaaaay better than anything else on the market

 

Does anyone know if M Machine are making these in house, as I purchased one a few months ago and they supplied me with a Magnum one which was useless. They did apologise in advance for the poor quality though.

[Daz1968]

M machine supply both magnum panels and also do a doorstep for external hinge cars of their own manufacture, I think internal hinge cars you really need the heritage ones if you want best fit,

[jchomme]

 

 

I've never used them, but I heard M Machine panels are very good, especially their door steps.
 
Anyone used them ?

just fitted both door steps from mm to both vans profiles not perfect but waaaaay better than anything else on the market

 

Does anyone know if M Machine are making these in house, as I purchased one a few months ago and they supplied me with a Magnum one which was useless. They did apologise in advance for the poor quality though.

 

I'm in the US and I order mostly from Somerford Mini.  If they picture it on their website and it is in gray primer, I assume it is from M-machine, if it isn't I assume it is Magnum and genuine panels are pretty obvious.  I think M-machine takes overall takes the pride in their panels, Genuine panels are priced at a premium because of their license and magnum is shamelessly filling the economy void.  

 

From my point of view(being in the US), I think it would be great if M-machine was able to produce every panel.  I could be confident about the quality and it would make buying  so much easier.

[Cooperman]

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

[Ben_O]

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

Same here with MK1 Escort panels.

 

£350 for a Magnum wing...

[jchomme]

 

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

Same here with MK1 Escort panels.

 

£350 for a Magnum wing...

 

Yeah, calling magnum shameless was wrong on my part.   However, I read often that magnum panels are worthless.   Sure, some are not bad, but some are poor.  I just think it is fundamentally wrong when someone who buys a magnum panel and has to trash it because it is crap, or the work to make it fit is just .  When they produce at the lowest cost possible with little regard to quality, it make things hard for companies like m-machine to compete and it drives up cost on quality panels.  Not to mention, it eventually leads heritage to slack on quality, like in "project binky" with the wing repeater hole in the wrong spot.

 

I advocate for better choice and high quality products and believe they cost less overall.  M-machine and heritage have to compete with a price point product and that could have negative effects in the long run.  Its like what has happened to the quality of tools and how the names don't stand for anything anymore( dewalt, stanley, ect) 

[Daz1968]

I think our panel situation is very good, we have budget panels, higher quality panels and genuine panels, something for all budgets, pretty good for a potential 50 year old classic car, the panels are very keenly priced compared to other cars from same period

[sonikk4]

 

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

Same here with MK1 Escort panels.

 

£350 for a Magnum wing...

 

 

Oh and guess where the Magnum escort wings are made.................................................................................. Yup China and there is a long story behind that with one person making things happen to reproduce Mexico wings.

[Ben_O]

 

 

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

Same here with MK1 Escort panels.

 

£350 for a Magnum wing...

 

Yeah, calling magnum shameless was wrong on my part.   However, I read often that magnum panels are worthless.   Sure, some are not bad, but some are poor.  I just think it is fundamentally wrong when someone who buys a magnum panel and has to trash it because it is crap, or the work to make it fit is just .  When they produce at the lowest cost possible with little regard to quality, it make things hard for companies like m-machine to compete and it drives up cost on quality panels.  Not to mention, it eventually leads heritage to slack on quality, like in "project binky" with the wing repeater hole in the wrong spot.

 

I advocate for better choice and high quality products and believe they cost less overall.  M-machine and heritage have to compete with a price point product and that could have negative effects in the long run.  Its like what has happened to the quality of tools and how the names don't stand for anything anymore( dewalt, stanley, ect) 

 

I have fitted a Magnum lower side panel a few days ago to a customers car (the one that is lower 1/4 and step) and didn't know what to expect.

 

It is the first one i have used and have heard many bad comments about the fit and quality.

 

I was pleasantly surprised. The fit was very good, the pressing was acceptable and the steel was of a good gauge.

It went in with zero effort and once it was welded, only needed the seam towards the back trimming back as it was a few mm too wide.

 

 

 

 

I often use their flitch repair panels which are fine.

 

The wings can be hit or miss (top folds not crisp enough to give nice sharp bonnet gaps)7

 

I have had one front panel from them and won't again (sharp edges, parts pulled together using just the spot welder arms causing huge deep dimples and deformation and poor shape)

 

I would use their door skins if i had to but again, the swage lines are not crisp enough for me.

 

I would never use their bonnets or boot lids as they simply do not fit (bonnets too long, bootlids wrong shape + poor finish on the folds)

 

The boot floor repair panels are ok, certainly much quicker to use one of those and modify to fit,than make one up

 

I have used the floor 1/4's and they are absolutely fine.

 

Scuttle's and scuttle corners (especially the corners) are terrible so don't waste your money.

 

So not all Magnum panels are bad news, just pick the ones that will save you money and not waste lots of time making them fit. Avoid the ones that will cause you a headache and go genuine

 

Ben

[jchomme]

Ben, you remind me of a good point.  Being in the US, it isn't like minis are normal drivers.  I see one on the road maybe once in a few years.  Probably influences my view on things.  

 

From your pics, looks like you do pretty good work!

[sledgehammer]

 

We are so lucky that we have a choice.

I was just looking at the prices for Mk.1 and Mk.2 Cortina body panels and they are all pattern ones and cost a small fortune.

Same here with MK1 Escort panels.

 

£350 for a Magnum wing...

Bl**DY H€LL

 

that's a lot of money for a panel 

 

If only I could go back 3 decades , mk1's were 2 a penny , we were scrapping them for the engines