16 replies to this topic

[brum,brum,mike]

Hi guys!

Our mini is now out of M.O.T, and in need of repair after Dad was let loose with a screw drive while i cleaned behind the arches

My question is - should we look into spending the extra money on genuine panels rather than non genuine with possible fitment issues?

the panels we need are both rear quaters, both door steps, rear boot hinge repair panel, boot floor, both wings and front panel - possibly A panels depending on condition when we start stripping.

all panels if genuine we will get from mini spares - but as they don't ston non genuine rear qtrs i was looking at these from classic car parts direct - http://www.classicca...:38KEY:1340PAR:
and
http://www.classicca...:39KEY:1341PAR:

Any tips on what i should go for?
Thanks alot - Mike

[zebidee]

I have a very similar situation panel wise, and I've been trying to decide the same thing! As far as I can see after reading many build threads is that the pattern panels certainly take more work. It seems that it's recommended with panels like the scuttle to definitely go genuine for the right fitment. Personally I'm going all genuine, since I've not played around with bodywork before I don't feel confident enough to also have to bend and beat panels to get a factory look, I think I would get into a mess! Check out some of the build threads by Shifty and Sonikk, they have used some pattern panels in some of theirs and you can see the quality of fit!

[brum,brum,mike]

thanks zebidee - i will have a quick look now

[brum,brum,mike]

any more opinions on non-genuine panels? just added the prices up, think i may have to go with non genuine panels!!

[Fatsam]

to be honest, I had to replace My front end and I bought them all Genuine pannels and when I lined them up with my bonned and inner wings, they were miles off from each other, and when I moved them tio fit with one another they were miles off at the A pannel and inner wings, Sometimes the genuine pannels can be just as bad as The pepro, but in my case when I sent these pannels back as frankl;y they were horrific (From Minisport) I orderd some reproduction pannels from a place in birminghamand to be fair to them, they were pretty spot on! Only a few minor issues but with a bit of tweaking were soprted out Really well and it looks straight and true! So Id be carefull for what you do choose as some genuine can be worse than the repro and your paying tripple the price

[davej]

I bought some non genuine wings and scuttle, they are still in the garage while genuine panels are on the car. I just could not get them to line up at all so I would say definitely go for genuine for the wings. I replaced both rear quarter panels and they were non genuine panels and they fitted pretty well apart from they needed a bit of work where it lips into the door pillar.

Its up to you and depends on what you can afford, like Fatsam said even the fit on the genuine panels can be dodgy.

[ANON]

go with genuine. have seen some awful spurious panels. think sonik had a rear quarter that was about 1/2" to long

[gretzky38]

Certainly, go for genuine if changing a scuttle panel, but some pattern panels can be as good as genuine depending on who made them and where you buy them from!

At the end of the day what you buy will be determined by your budget.

I am in the process in restoring 2 Minis, one with mostly genuine and the other with pattern apart from the scuttle. With the latter, it initially looked like the wings were going to be miles out, but once I started putting panels on in the order recommended by a friend, things actually came together ok. All my pattern panels either came from M-Machines or Mini Spares, and I think repro techniques are much better than they were 10 or 15 years ago. Let's put it this way, if they didn't work no-one would buy them.

I found that a lot of the gaps, especially the joins between the wings and front panel, closed pretty well with the assistance of mole grips so don't get downhearted if you initially offer the panels up and they look miles out. A bit of patience and method will make a lot of difference.

Unfotunately my build thread is on the Scottish Mini Forum so can't point you in a relevant direction on here

[sonikk4]

I would say go genuine but also have a look at M Machine as they do make a lot of panels which are very good quality, 1/2 floors outer sills, jacking point etc.

I did have issues with the rear quarters on one side but this could have been down to previous impact damage not the actual panel itself. Door skins, scuttle, complete boot floor, inner wings, rear heel board plus various close out panels i would get Genuine/Heritage.

The overall finish is much much better especially the E coat.

[jimnali]

I have limited experience of body repairs but have successfully completed a major rebuild on my mini using entirely pattern parts. I found the fit has been acceptable and encountered few significant problems. The final fit of the front panels and wings is not totally perfect but this is probably due to my inexperience. I am sure that I could get narrower gaps if I was to do it again.

"Genuine" panels may fit better and I suspect may be made from a thicker guage of steel but they are also significantly more expensive. Prices are increasing so pattern panels to offer a way of achieving a good standard of repair while keeping costs down. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Good luck!

[sonikk4]

The one thing to take into consideration here is not so much the price difference but as to how long the panels will last.

Pattern panels can be made to fit well but if for arguments sake you left on the original E coat without checking it then yes nice fit but rust appearing quite quickly. Also some do appear to be thinner metal, not all but there are some out there.

Yes some of the Genuine panels can be a poor fit but this can sometimes be attributed to the vehicle itself having had previous accident damage or some poor repairs interfering with the new panel fit.

Its really down to you and what you can afford. If you are going to keep the car for sometime then try to get Heritage etc panels.
If not then buy pattern but as said previously you will have to make them fit.

A friend of mine on here is in the process of putting the front end back on his car, he bought a non gen scuttle and its rubbish so that will go, also he has a non gen front panel and the outer wing mounting lips apart from looking like a series of waves will need the lip extending in places as there is less than 1/4" of lip so quite a bit to do before fit for purpose.

[PaulColeman]

How are you supposed to get the e coat off? Thinners doesn't seem to touch it.

I've bought all pattern panels - I'll let you know if I regret it when I get the shell back from the blasters!

Paul.

Edited by PaulColeman, 10 November 2011 - 01:13 PM.

[sonikk4]

The easiest way to check to see if the e coat is any good is to give it a quick hit with a wire cup in a grinder. If it flakes off straight away then remove all of it using the wire cup.

[PaulColeman]

Okay cheers.

Paul.

[Mini 360]

Ive got a full front end of genuine panels. Guy who welded them on for me did the same job a month beore with non gen. Took him 15-20hrs labour to fit the non gen. Took him 3-4 to fit the genuine ones. Thats all positioning and final welding. Say no more. Genuine are much better than non gen. Cost more yes but quality and ease of fitment are far superior.