21 replies to this topic

[orcadian]

I bought my first Minivan in 1967 - it was 4 years old and already needed wings patching and a new rear subframe - gen BL frame was £6 7s 6d and a saloon bodyshell minus closures was £80!! We re-shelled my mates Minivan in 1972 and a new van shell was then £178 minus closures, again in primer. He 'spit roasted' it and hand painted everywhere with Bondaprimer and filled all cavities with wax - that van went on to do 300,000 miles as his 'joiners works van' and was never welded anywhere when he sold it in 2007.
I've had over 30 Minis and re-shelled a dozen or so and the quality certainly went down gradually as the pressing dies deteriorated. The last saloon I did cost £1100 for a new shell in about 1985/6.
I built my MPI engined Clubman estate from a VERY LIGHTLY damaged shell which I bought and stored for well over 20 years before putting all of the necessary parts from a crashed 2000 John Cooper LE with 5000 miles and only one winter on it. There was very little paint on that car I broke and lots of clips and brackets already well rusted and rust in the seam where the rear valence meets the boot floor - no paint there either.
My Estate shell is now well over 40 years old and apart from the windscreen pillar area - which wrote the shell off in the first place, has never been welded and still has all wings, sills, valences and panels untouched. The only corrosion is one blister on the notorious '1/2 inch up' on the drivers door which came from the MPI and was drenched in cavity wax by me - on investigation the Rover applied wax in the door has bridged the corner where the skin meets the doorframe, allowing water to creep under and do its stuff. The other door is still perfect - that came from a 1980's car.

[Bruiser]

No classic mini was ever great on the rust protection, however I worked at Longbridge in the early 90's as the range became all 1300's and SPI were introduced. Although far from perfect, we were trying hard under the influence of Honda to get quality better across the range. Then BMW took over, and it all turned to custard, as they didn't care about anything other than getting hold of the Mini name and 4x4 technology from Land-Rover. Only my opinion, although I knew many who shared it !

 

I subsequently bought a 2000 MPI and although only just over 10 years old then, it was riddled. I had to have inner and outer sills, boot floor, both front floors, 2 wings and scuttle panel all replaced. Thanks BMW - thanks for NOTHING !

[pete l]

Seeing as you were there, please tell us what BMW changed on the production line that made them worse.

[Bruiser]

Unfortunately, I couldn't bear seeing all the hard work that I had seen go in over the previous 10 years being undermined by short-sighted short term cost cutting, so I left - for this and other reasons. I can't confirm what was changed aside from my 1991 SPI was a far better metal quality than my 2000 MPI. Yep, the both rusted, but the MPI was like a sieve!

There were still a lot of things that could have been done better in the early 90's, but it was a great time to be working with new mini models. Italian Job, Factory fit 'British Open' Webasto roof  with walnut dash and the 13" 175 tyred Silverstone to name a few. Anyone who now has factory wide wheels has that project to thank for them being available.

Unfortunately, the Jack Knight 5 speed Cooper never happened, but the prototype was fun! We did get O.E fitment of Air conditioning down the production line when a host of people said it wasn't possible, so from 94' onwards every Japan spec Mini had A/C as standard.

I just wish my MPI had a factory roof, but its still great.

[bogstandard]

THE BEST COMES LAST. CLASSIC MINIS 2000.

Quote:- Finale:
"The classic Mini was never more beautiful and more coveted than in the grand finale. Designers at BMW had long since realised the treasure that had been entrusted to their stewardship. And this is why the Mini was developed further. Side-impact protection, airbag in the steering wheel, comprehensive corrosion protection with a 6-year guarantee."  https://www.bmwgroup...ition-2000.html

Not sure many long term MPi owners/restorers would agree with the "comprehensive corrosion protection"......

 

Rust buckets and for my sins own one. Just had the rear subby replaced though there was not much to attach it to. Though it looks good on the outside I was told it was terminal and I should enjoy it while I can. Choice endless welding keeping it going for now or new shell. Gutted especially as the engine was rebuilt last year to 1340 and new Specialist Components Sports Head and Throttle body ECU. 

Edited by bogstandard, 29 September 2020 - 08:34 PM.

[sonscar]

So they go rusty,bad because they go rusty but good because that and their following has ensured a massive supply of parts and panels.If you are half handy and inspired enough they are easy to repair and relatively cheap too.The original Curates Egg,good and bad in parts.Keep them running and enjoy.Steve..

[Ethel]

I don't think you can make direct comparisons. The further back you go, the more Minis will have been regular transport, out in all weathers and some years will have seen far more salt on the roads than others.

 

It would still be interesting to be able to pin dates on various production changes: rotadip, different paints, underseal & stonechip even the steel supply.