15 replies to this topic

[Climber_jim]

Hey all! I'm nearing the end of my epic weldathon and have the doors left to do, the bottoms i will repair using the bottom repair panels but what skins to use I am unsure of?

Does anyone have experience of fitting non genuine mk3 door skins, the ones from Mini Spares. Do they fit well, correct shape etc...?


Thanks in advance, James.

[corrado vr6]

2 words "don't fit"

Well not in my experience but I have seen a couple of build threads where people have successfully fitted them

[danny79]

the magnum panels are ment to fit ok.

i know the mini door company uses them so they can't be all that bad

[ANON]

go with genuine, if mick can get magnum ones to fit it, it's because he's been doing it for about 60 odd years.

how do you know he uses them?

[danny79]

i've gotten doors off them and will get doors off him again as excellent quality and sticker was still on door skins

Edited by danny79, 19 July 2012 - 04:56 PM.

[sonikk4]

I found the Magnum panels to be a poor fit and did not seem as good as the Heritage ones. Certainly from a finish point of view i would and will go Heritage again. Personal choice.

[grahama]

Looks like door skins are hit and miss, personally I have got Magnum ones and the fit is excellent around the frame !!

[Climber_jim]

Just a quick update! I braved it and went for the non genuine panels, the Mangnum ones, they fitted the frame not too badly but when i fitted the doors to the shell I realised why I should have spent the bit extra on genuine! There was a 15mm gap at the back of the doors and only 1mm at the front. Looks terrible! I've tried to unfold the flange at the bottom and re-fold it to level the door skin out as there is nearly 20mm difference in length compared to my mates mini with genuine door skins on! I'll be buying some genuine ones soon.

[Youngowner93]

I used Hadrian ones on my car and the fit is excellent! Are you sure the gap isn't because there are no shims on the hinges?

[1984mini25]

Just build The edges up with weld and grind back down till The door gap is perfect.

[Jordie]

Just done a magnum skin myself, it was my first time, but it fit really well. The edges where spot on and it went on really easily, easier than i imagined.

The only problem i have, which may be down to me and unexperienced is that the window rail rubber thing is slightly bowed. I dont know if this is because i welded the top of the skin to the frame in the wrong place causing the rail bit to 'bow' or if it was the skin.

Saying that, a lass in our mini club just spent £2500 on a restoration and her door is the same. Somehow the garage as fixed it without damaging the paint, so gunna try find out how and hopefully fix mine.

My door follows the line of the car well, and the gap looks right all the way around. I repaired the door frame at the bottom which isnt perfect but ok for a first time reskin.

Jordie

[danny79]

Are you sure the gap isn't because there are no shims on the hinges?

or that they are not the origional doors of the mini.

[sonikk4]

Pattern door hinges can also affect your gaps if they have been replaced. Some of them are different thicknesses to the originals. Git caught with them on Project Erm. If the gaps are huge then use welding rods 3.4mm thick and weld these to the edges.

[Shifty]

I've done loads of messing around with pattern skins and to be honest I really wouldn't bother again. They take way too much effort to get right, genuine ones aren't perfect but do nearly drop on. The price difference doesn't warrent the extra effort.

Jordies, the bowing is a common problem, one way to try and fix is to use a pair of the wide flat welding clamps and bend the top lip in(where the seal sits). Its a bit risky doing it with a painted door though.

[Climber_jim]

The doors are the genuine rover ones which belong to the car as are the hinges. I can get the gap perfectly right all around the window frame part of the door and back edge, It's mainly the bottom of the doors which is causing some headache! The skins are just too long for the frames at the front edge! I think as I've got a gap at the front now by re-forming the flange I'll try the suggesstion to build up the back edge with weld.