15 replies to this topic

[electricfurnace]

Hi guys

Some idiot driver rolled back into my girlfriends 1999 Mini Cooper this morning, on Llantrisant Road, Llantrisant. Other driver swore blind she didn't, which is bullsh*t.

Damage looks to be dented front grill and two smashed spotlights.

How easy is it to replace the grill and spotlights myself?

Insurance companies have been informed but I'm reluctant to let insurance company deal with repairs etc as if third party do not hold their hands up we'll be looking at a loss of £500 excess and 2 years no claims for what potentially could be a cheap repair.

Any help grateful appreciated!!

Thanks
Alex

[Wright&Wright]

Hi guys

Some idiot driver rolled back into my girlfriends 1999 Mini Cooper this morning, on Llantrisant Road, Llantrisant. Other driver swore blind she didn't, which is bullsh*t.

Damage looks to be dented front grill and two smashed spotlights.

How easy is it to replace the grill and spotlights myself?

Insurance companies have been informed but I'm reluctant to let insurance company deal with repairs etc as if third party do not hold their hands up we'll be looking at a loss of £500 excess and 2 years no claims for what potentially could be a cheap repair.

Any help grateful appreciated!!

Thanks
Alex

Replacing a grille isn't hard at all. Just get one from Mini Spares that matches your year and it should use the old fittings as standard. As for the spots you'll probably find them there too. If it's just the lens and bulb that's gone then that'll be even easier to repair. If you have to replace the whole of the lamp, just match the new lamps to the old wiring and fit them accordingly to the old brackets.

Shouldn't be too hard a fix.

There aren't any ripples, bulges or dents in your bonnet or front end anywhere are there though?

Greg.

[electricfurnace]

Not had a chance to have a good look yet as it happened on her way to work. The third party's bumber hasically pushed the grill and spots in, so I don't think the bonnet or front end have been affected.

I assume the front grill just screws in? Does anything have to come out of the engine bay to get it out and in?

Many thanks for your reply.

[Wright&Wright]

You might have got away okay then.

Yeah it does. I put grille buttons on mine (see my signature) which just screw onto two threaded bolts, much easier to take the grille on and off without any tools.
Mind you I'm always in my engine bay

And I don't see why you'd have to take anything out the bay no.

[mini-man-dan]

Just a few screws going round the top of the grille, (open bonnet and you'll see them) and down the side between the chrome trim and the horizontal slats there should be a couple too. Maybe some at the bottom aswell, but it's a quick and easy swap over. Nothing has to come out of the engine bay

Edited by mini-man-dan, 10 December 2010 - 11:48 AM.

[Juju]

My MPi grille has been reversed into many times now. I just keep taking it off & bending it back into shape. You might get away with that too.

That nice man Simon from minispares send me a replacement spot, and you just bolt it on & plug it into the loom.

Simples.

[electricfurnace]

Righto, any ideas where I can get replacement glass covers for the spots? All lights work fine. Minispares apparently dont have the glass covers

Pic of the damage



ps. white marks on bonnet is ice not paint chips! And excuse the filthiness!

[Juju]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!

That's filthier'en mine!!

If they're standard rover fitments (which they look like to me - black plastic backs to the lams?) then you've smashed a fog light & a spot light (fogs are the two inners, spots are the outers?...I think...). They're sealed units & you can't buy the glass separately, unfortunately.

Try minispares: www.minispares.com part # XBJ100280 for fogs, and XBN10008 for spots.

[electricfurnace]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!

That's filthier'en mine!!

If they're standard rover fitments (which they look like to me - black plastic backs to the lams?) then you've smashed a fog light & a spot light (fogs are the two inners, spots are the outers?...I think...). They're sealed units & you can't buy the glass separately, unfortunately.

Try minispares: www.minispares.com part # XBJ100280 for fogs, and XBN10008 for spots.

Haha, yep, this winter weather is terrible for keeping her clean! Car is used every day without fail too so sees some mileage!

Your right about the lights, its one spot and one fog. Pity I cant get the glass as the lights work fine.

Damn expensive for replacements too

Cheers for the part numbers dude

[electricfurnace]

Oh, and the fogs never get used, so could I get away with fitting four spots to the front? Would this be ok/would it look standard. LA1009 part no on minispares

Genuine fog and spot are not in stock and for the two I'd be looking at over £150!!

[GraemeC]

You could easily replace with spot/driving lamps. However you can't use driving pattern lamps as fog lamps, the beam pattern is incorrect and would be illegal. For them to work as driving/spot lights you will need to do some re-wiring.

Alternatively fit the cheaper replacements and just don't plug them in, that way the car will look pretty again (after a wash ) but you won't need to delve into the depths of the electrical wizadry.

[electricfurnace]

You could easily replace with spot/driving lamps. However you can't use driving pattern lamps as fog lamps, the beam pattern is incorrect and would be illegal. For them to work as driving/spot lights you will need to do some re-wiring.

Alternatively fit the cheaper replacements and just don't plug them in, that way the car will look pretty again (after a wash ) but you won't need to delve into the depths of the electrical wizadry.

How difficult is the rewiring?

The best bet does seem to fit replacement ones if I can't find genuine ones, and leave em unplugged.

After I repair her she will be having a good wash and polish, I promise

Really appreciate the replies to the thread, thanks all

[GraemeC]

How difficult is the rewiring?

To be honest, not that difficult. You would need to cut one wire at the fog light relay and then join it to a wire on the driving lamp relay.

[electricfurnace]

to take the grill off, are the screws on the front? had a quick look but cant see which screws to remove!

[87 NIC]

mis-read the last post

Edited by 87 NIC, 10 December 2010 - 08:08 PM.