20 replies to this topic

[minidaves]

i think the mot is right about scuttle panels being rotten, it is important on airbag minis as its what the screen relies on to hold it in place. also its withing 30cm of subframe mounts

[samsfern]

I wouldnt have bothered advising the scuttle.

[paul_s]

Thanks for all your replies, as always some really helpful thoughts and answers!

To summarise: I'm pretty sure I'll have to sell up, unless I store her and buy a cheap run around (need to work on the wife for that one!)

I'm under no illusions that it is a quick fix. I know I'll be finding a whole lots more rust than I can see. If I'm going to do it I'd have to do it properly, it would be a false economy to patch it and hope. Also the longer I leave it the worse it'll get!

What it boils down is whether its worth me selling now. To answer that I'll need to know what it's worth so will take some photos later and ask the experts. I'll probably keep it till London 2 Birghton and maybe whack a for sale sign on it then.. I'll then just need to find a solid replacement I think (will likely work out cheaper in the long run!)

Samsfern, interesting you say that, I assume it was structural (at least that's what the auto glass ads have led me to believe?)

[Guess-Works.com]

The 30cm rule is being enforced a little more harshly from what I've seen recently... and with a mini, there's not much of the car which is not within 30cm's of a subframe mount, Suspension mount, seatbelt anchorage or other mounting point.

Technically, the part of the scuttle in front of the driver and passenger is within 30cm's of the top subframe mount, and if excessive, could cause a failure.... Usually scuttles rot from the middle ( where the join is in the seal ) which is outside of this 30cm sphere.

I think the following picture may make you think a little

 Rot Zones.jpg   42.99K   20 downloads

Each hotspot is a 30cm radius from a mounting or anchorage.

[tiger99]

Nice diagrams, and very useful, but I think you missed one point in the plan view, where the front seatbelts mount to the floor in the centre. It doesn't leave much on a Mini that is not considered to be essential!

[nev_payne]

Got 2 choices - sell, or buy a shopping cart to tide you over while at the same time getting that rust and serviceable suspension parts replaced. If you're going to sell, sell now - you've got an MOT this time - next time I'd bet you won't be nearly as fortunate.

'97-'98 MPIs are renound for worse rust than other MPIs due to particularly low-quality steel panels through those years. I'd imagine there's other pending work to be done underneath - while you're at it on the rear subframe, beef up the underbody protection and with the scuttle needing replacing, see how the rest of the front end is fairing.

Edited by nev_payne, 07 April 2013 - 02:39 PM.