6 replies to this topic

[davexdavexdave]

yeah yesterday morning i drove into te back of a transit and completely smashed the front of my mini. i've had a look and it looks like it will be cheaper to fix than buy a new one. i will need basically a new front of a mini. i think the subframe is ok and the distributor is smashed but i think apart from that it may run. so do we think i should just get another mini and use mine as spares or try to fix this one it will take ALOT of work but could probably be done, and i think it will cost about £500ish to fix?

also i thik it would be cheaper to get a flip front rather than all the panels seperately is this true??

any help would be much appreciated!

[pikey7]

not another one!? Last week nicked minis, this week stuffed ones!.

flip fronts are cheaper in a one-off outlay than all the panels (assuming its outer & inner wings, front panel, bonnet, slam panel, etc), but you'll be lucky if you don't have to do a lot of fettling to get it to fit right.

Don't forget to factor in the bracebars and fastenings to the front too, aswell as the probable insurance premium hike!

[davexdavexdave]

what do you think then should i just replace the front with panels or go for the flip front?

and how much are these brace bars and brackets and what not??

[pikey7]

relpacing the front is a personal taste thing IMHO. I'm going flip front 'because mines gonna be half racer half street car. It also depends on what car you're starting with. An early classic, or a late model, i'd be going with metal panels, but a mid '80s rust-bucket, and i'd get a flip on it. But that's just my opinion.

They will affect (lower) the resale price of your car too.

Brace bars are a steel tube that goes from the inner wing to the front of the subby. They are an MOT requirement with a flip front, and cost around £35 a pair. fasteners and everything else depend on taste, and the amout of security you want. each fastener can set you back from £5 each to £40 each!

get some pics up of the crash if you can so we can have a look and see whats been bent! (and get you a second opinion on the subby condition!)

by the way, condolencies dude.

[davexdavexdave]

ok pikey 7 i appreciate your input. thanks!

[minipip]

flip front id say, because in the long run there is less area to rust with that and again less work alls i worry bout is lining it up correct, take your time. shame to hear that happened but it is a very good excuse to do the convert lol people look at accedents like that as a bad thing but there not they may be slightly anoying but handy because you then have reason to better your mini. lol

[davexdavexdave]

yep thats how im trying to look at it at the moment.