28 replies to this topic

[Big Sam]

Hi,

Ive had my mini for a while now and one thing that's really bothering me is the sunroof. Is there an easy way of getting rid of it? Ive got three ideas to what i should do:

• Replace the roof, steel or carbon fibre etc
• Fill the gap in
• Fit a webasto

Basically i don't want to do anything too drastic and expensive so would filling the gap in work? I don't really want to have a webasto because my cats love to sit on the roof (cover on!) and with them jumping about on it it would probably weaken over time.

Is filling the gap in with a sheet of metal such a wise idea?

Thanks,

Sam.

[pikey7]

no reason not to weld it shut. just depends on the time you have (i'd be very wary of leaving the interior in with lots of sparks flying around), and how much "skill" you have to get the finish right!

[Big Sam]

Thanks, i suppose if i accidently left the interior in my mother would have to buy me a new one

[jack_marshall]

I plan to weld mine up.

Cut a sheet thats around 1 inch bigger around the edges.

Seam weld around the corners, then do 1 inch welds on the rest, to stop major warping.

Skimming it up and getting it into shape I fear will be hard!

[1984mini25]

You can weld it up but might have to chop the bit you want from a scrapper to get the shape right.

The whole interior would need to come out though as one stay spark and by, by car in a huge fireball.

One thing you can't do (so I’ve been told) is you can't use fill on the roof as if flexes and would eventually crack

You can replace the entire roof but for that you will have to brace the inside of the shell it stop it collapsing once the roof is off.

[Billy]

I'll be changeing the roof skin on mine when I find a decent donor as my british open roof has shrunk badly
I dont rekon it will be too bad of a job just time consumeing cleaning up all the welds from the roofs
I plan to attack the donor roof from the underneath of the gutters and my roof from ontop so hopefully I'll be able to plug weld it on tidily

[1984mini25]

I thought you had found one billy? could always give that one in MK a ring

[Billy]

so did I but Chris has disappeard but I might have a lead on another but it means going to so someone I dont like Lol

[Woody]

Has anyone thought about bonding a new roof skin on ? ,
leave about 25mm rim of the old roof , clean ,prime, and bond on the new (used) roof , if done coectly it should be stronger than welding (they bond plane wings on )
And NO , NO MORE NAILS IS NOT GOOD FOR THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bam]

I want to get rid of my sun roof, i am going to just put a plate on the outside of the car and rivet it on, but you could use the seal and put a sheet of metal in instead of the glass.

[paulrockliffe]

Would it not be as easy to get the roof from a scrapper and do the transplant from a couple of inches down the pilars upwards? So no complicated welding, just re-weld the pillars, or am I missing something important?

[Big Sam]

Ive been offered a full length glass sun roof from a new mini dirt cheap aswell. I might consider that if i can get my head around how the hell i would do it.

[Billy]

Would it not be as easy to get the roof from a scrapper and do the transplant from a couple of inches down the pilars upwards? So no complicated welding, just re-weld the pillars, or am I missing something important?

I have considered that way myself but my main concern is if it goes wrong its a big hassle ie windscreen holes too big or small Lol
there is also the advantage of not haveing to worry about sealing it that way but I dunno


I would'nt even consider plateing a mini roof due to the shape perhaps a golf or somat like that with a flat roof no probs Lol

[Big Sam]

Ive decided on the glass mini roof. Im sure if i can get my head round it, it should work :S.

[Guess-Works.com]

I'm just about to dismember a mini, do you need a roof panel ?