15 replies to this topic

[BernardMini]

Hello, I have a 1988 MK5 saloon (city E) and I would like to retrofit a switch panel from MK3: https://s-can.co.uk/...tch-panel-mk3/.

 

has anyone done it? it the size of the surround is the same? 

 

Thank you!

[nicklouse]

They will fit. But you will have switches that don’t have anywhere to go.

[BernardMini]

you mean my original mk5 switches? i'm okay with losing them

[gaspen]

Originality is the value

[beardylondon]

Agreed, why corrupt a mk5 with mk3 switches, its kinda pointless, as you’ll loose switches. Aside from creating a mk3 “look”, why do it? Seems like a backwards step.

Originality is the value

[Tupers]

It’s just a switch panel people. I’m sure he can swap it back if MK5 Mini suddenly become amazingly desirable.

[Midas Mk1]

Agreed, why corrupt a mk5 with mk3 switches, its kinda pointless, as you’ll loose switches. Aside from creating a mk3 “look”, why do it? Seems like a backwards step.

Originality is the value

Owners car. Can do what he wants?

My opinion, you can’t take it with you, on your last moments are you really gonna say I wish I hadn’t made my Mini how I wanted it, orrrrrrr wish i’d drove it less?

Food for thought, it’s not corrupting at all, weird phrase.

[beardylondon]

Not weird, factually correct, everyone wants OEM, not some bitsa.

Agreed, why corrupt a mk5 with mk3 switches, its kinda pointless, as you’ll loose switches. Aside from creating a mk3 “look”, why do it? Seems like a backwards step.

Originality is the value

Owners car. Can do what he wants?

My opinion, you can’t take it with you, on your last moments are you really gonna say I wish I hadn’t made my Mini how I wanted it, orrrrrrr wish i’d drove it less?

Food for thought, it’s not corrupting at all, weird phrase.

[KTS]

I don't understand; How can an opinion be factually correct ?

[Midas Mk1]

Not weird, factually correct, everyone wants OEM, not some bitsa.

Agreed, why corrupt a mk5 with mk3 switches, its kinda pointless, as you’ll loose switches. Aside from creating a mk3 “look”, why do it? Seems like a backwards step.

Originality is the value

Owners car. Can do what he wants?

My opinion, you can’t take it with you, on your last moments are you really gonna say I wish I hadn’t made my Mini how I wanted it, orrrrrrr wish i’d drove it less?

Food for thought, it’s not corrupting at all, weird phrase.

to be honest i’ve ’corrupted’ my genuine factory 99 sportspack, mk1 front and rear, ruined it with spraying it a BMW individual colour.

Do I worry about your ‘opinion’ - which isn’t factually correct?
by the way, used all year round in the winter, snow, salt, smiles


Back to the op (where I believe you can do what you want), mk3 switch panel will fit, using wiring diagram you’ll be able to pin out the connectors to connect up early switchgear. Any of the other switches can then be fitted out of sight, maybe the brake level switch mounted discretely with a led hidden tell tail.

If you look at japan mini photos, it’s done regularly in the scene over there, backdating isn’t just a Mini thing, 90’s 911’s get the treatment even more these days. Shame it triggers the selfish in some people

[beardylondon]

I don’t understand either. Time for my medication

I don't understand; How can an opinion be factually correct ?

[I hate Brian]

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[mini-mad-mark]

Not weird, factually correct, everyone wants OEM, not some bitsa.

 

Rather a sweeping statement with which I must disagree and I'm (reasonably) sure I can't be the only one. 

 

I don't want OEM. I'm happy for my minis to have as much modification as I feel necessary/desirable/can afford/have time to apply/think suits the particular car.

 

But I understand there are those people that only OEM will satisfy and I am interested in seeing those cars to appreciate the work that has gone into them - probably as difficult to "make" an OEM mini as modifying one these days but overall I prefer to see modified minis I think

 

I realise that there may be a higher number of people now (but not everyone!) to whom OEM is attractive than there used to be because stock minis I would guess are rarer now than when they were still in production.

Tasteful (personal opinion varies here) and well executed modifications still work for me and plenty of other people

 

Back to the  OP subject:

 

I would be interested to understand how the OP intends to "lose" the switches (HRW is pretty useful - brake test switch I wouldn't be so bothered about losing but it IS supposed to be there - Rear fog ??? nice to have? -  maybe keeping that one on the little plastic panel by the door but it would look way out of place I would say if you did change to Mark 3 switches - maybe deleting the rear fog light (naughty!) and going to a Mark 3 look at the rear?)

 

Anyone who had a Mk3b back in the day will remember that the HRW was a toggle switch with a separate warning light on a little metal bracket in the same place as the little plastic panel is on a Mk5 (no fog light or brake test light back then of course)

 

 

Fortunately we are not all the same

[Ethel]

It'd be quite a lot of work for the difference it makes.

 

On a Mk3 there'd be a light & wiper switch with a manual screen washer pump. So you'd have hazard, brake test & heated rear screen to rehome too. I reckon the Mk3 rockers are nicer switches, but the connections are different so you'd have to doctor every terminal.

 

You'd likely be able to replace the  screen wash with a generic pull/push hazard switch and find another switch to take the place of the wipers as MGs used the same pattern of switch (for longer). Though it appears the MG hazard rocker would fit the your Mini's loom..... 

[coopertaz]

this debate of OEM versus modified is always a contentous debate but comes down to personal tastes and both sides will never agree and have their own opinions. To put in my own opinion i always modify my car to my tastes, but my 30 has got mods that are reversible but people will say back to OEM spec. but not 'Original', whereas my HL not so (cutting the roof off did for that) as mini owners we are an eclectic mix and imo all the better for it. How crap would shows be if we were all the same