25 replies to this topic

[mk=john]

Hi, I have just purchased a stainless steel replacement for the trim part which covers the RH door pillar seam weld. I took the old one off, because the bottom half came undone. I did however make sure the seam weld is sealed up and added new paint in this area. Some of the seam, especially the lower half, is tapered in cross section, not flat as it should be.

Replacing the stainless one can be with new trim clips, but I have found these difficult to use (as the seams are a bit tapered in cross section) for a bulge not to appear in the trim. The other method could be that I attatch the trim in 3 places with silicon and leave it at that.
I am aware however than silicon can trap moisture, but since I am having trouble using the clips i thought of the silicon idea.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Retro_10s]

Is One clip at the top and one at the bottom not strong enough? not sure of a real way around this.... and i definatly wouldn't to the silicone idea

[Retro_10s]

I suppose you *could* put silicone at the top,.... so any water can drip out the bottom.

[Al*]

those original seam clips also scratch the heck out of the paint where they clip on leading to rust underneath the seam cover..... the guy around here that does mini restos uses window uerathane on the whole seam and then puts the cover on.... that way yuo get it sealed completely inside and it won't rust or fall off..... but if you ever have to take it off your up the creek.... i don't really agree with the way he does it and the only reason i know he does it like that is cause i restored a mini at work for him and he insisted we used urethane to hold it on..... as for your situation you are making it sound as though there are only three clips that hold the seams on..... any original seam i've taken off has had at least 5.

Al

[mk=john]

Hi All
I tested RTV silicon sealant, and mechanically it will certainly hole the seam on very well, if `tacked' with the silicon at top, middle and bottom. I tested also removing it when tacked like this and it was not difficult, no panels were stressed or anything like that.

The problem with this is water being trapped.

The probklem I have is not the clips holdong onto the seam, bit the trim holding onto the clips.

What i might consider is this:
1) Apply Waxoyl over the entire seam, all over so everywhere is covered.
2) Put 5 clips (I have the Stainless Steel ones) on the seam itself.
3) Apply a very small amount of silicon to each of the 5 clips
4) Lastly, put on the seam trim (The seam trim is stainless)

Does anyone heve views on this?

Thanks

[koss]

I have just put mine on i used the five clips and a beading of white seam sealer inside. my car is white tho

[mk=john]

Seam Sealer? What is that? Can it act as an adhesive to hold on my seam in a few places?

[koss]

Seam sealer its like silicone but sets harder and you can paint it. most modern cars are held together with it.
you can get it at any paint/body shop supplies

[keithyboy]

Silicone sealant will wreak havoc if you ever try to paint areas it has been near.

The clown who owned my car before me glued them on with glass fibre paste. He silled the trim with the stuff and whacked it on. Unfortunately it meant the the only way to get them off was with the grinder. However, a small amount top and bottom, or something like Araldite should work.

[panelbeaterpeter]

This is the best way to do it in my humble opinion, Brush or spray waxoyl or similiar sealant ( try and get Wurth aerosol wax, it is AWESOME) inside the seams and over the seam lip, don't be shy with the stuff. Fit the seam strip with 5 stainless clips, putting them in the strip itself and then push it on, tapping very lightly with a rubber hammer til its secure. You want to see sealant dripping out of the edges! just wipe it up and you know its well sealed. DON'T USE SILICONE! that stuff is evil on cars. Get it any where near your paint, and you will have difficulty painting the car in the future without it reacting somewhere. If you MUST use sealant, use seam sealer, but only in small areas, don't stuff the strip with it or you will need a pneumatic drill to remove it again!

[DannyTip]

I used about 5 or so double grippers on mine and plenty of wurth bond and seal to keep the water out.

[miniGTS]

An old thread but related question. I bought aftermarket seam strips from MS and stainless steel clips. When the guys at the bodyshop tried to fit the seam strips, they started to kink as if the bends/curves in them are not done well and don't properly line up with the curves on the car's seams. Anyone else had this issue?

 

If so, how do we fit the seam strips without it kinking? Remove the clips and use some spots of Sikaflex maybe? The guy said the clips seem to make it worse.

 

Any ideas? or similar issues with these aftermarket seam strips?

Edited by miniGTS, 05 December 2025 - 11:06 AM.

[Cooperman]

I always use just an RTV-type adhesive-sealer on all my Minis and have done so for over 40 years. It reduces corrosion and holds the trim strips in place with no problems. I run the adhesive all the way down the strip, clamp the strip in place with G-clamps, wipe off the excess adhesive with brake & clutch cleaner.

The strips are painted before fitting, so no further painting is necessary.

[68+86auto]

The cheap seam covers are garbage but the "good" ones aren't great either but are a big improvement.

 

Sadly some "professionals" ruined a perfect set of original ones of mine. The rest of the body needed major work but the seam covers were perfect. I think people worry too much about the clips causing rust. Don't buy the stainless clips.

[evansisgreat]

I always thought about drilling one side of the seam cover and tapping it. Then turning some short grub screws to a point on the lathe and using them to secure the covers. Easily removable, cleanable etc.