10 replies to this topic

[karl & his cooper]

I have 2 quotes from local mini specialists and I doubt I will be able to get the work done due to my loan providers, bank of mum and dad rejecting me due to my credit history, Here are the quotes...

1st place-

Work to be done

Fit door and spray it to match as close as possible
Remove drivers side A panel, supply and fit a new one, spray to match.
Remove front wing and supply/fit a new 1 and spray to match
Remove front end and supply/fit a new one and spray to match
All of the above £800
For a complete respray + £1000

Pros +
Mini specialist

Cons -
Expensive
Not long established compare to Mini Bitz
No work to scuttle panel not replacing other damaged wing.
No work to blend the passenger’s door to rest of paint work


2nd place–

Work to be done

Remove both front wings and both A panels
Remove front end

Supply & fit 2 new front wings and A panels plus a front end.
Weld areas adjacent to both rear wheel arches to remove defects

Repair scuttle panel fully buy removing window screen and repairing any rust, refit of window screen with a new thicker water tight seal.
Properly seal scuttle panel to new front wings to ensure a “show room” finish look.

Prepare existing paint work on car and respray the entire Mini including the newly fitted panels and existing faded passenger door and bonnet (except white roof) in flame red to protect car and to ensure all the new panels and existing panels match fully as well, polish and buff to a perfect shine.

£1500


My questions are

1) Am I being ripped off?
2) Would a normal garage be cheaper?
3) My neighbour can weld and work on modern cars and has sprayed smallish size areas, how hard would it be to help me replace the entire front of the car??

Many Thanks

Karl

[Retro_10s]

Replacing the front end on a Mini is not too bad... scuttle etc can be harder but if you measure twice and cut once you'll be fine.

The second place sounds a pretty reasonable quote to me, but if you can get the panel work done yourself,... it'll knock a few coconuts off the price for sure,...

[karl & his cooper]

Thanks for your feedback, I don't intend to replace the scuttle because it is in good condition. But I am not sure how you go about replacing the front end and both wings and A panels..is there a tutorial on TMF? I have just brought a book from Amazon by HAYNES called Mini Restoration and I think this may help? Would it be easier to buy a complete fibreglass front to replace all that metal? or would it be best to stick to metal? Pro's and cons please if anyone would like to advise me. Also is this sort of work capable with a MIG Welder?

Regards

Karl

[Retro_10s]

MIG is ideal. Stick with a Steel front end mate. less fannying around involved (if you'll excuse the term)

I believe there mat be a 'how to fit an A-panel guide' in the FAQ section, though i'm not certain. plenty of people on here who have done it though. check out the project pages too for people who have replaced their wings etc.

[karl & his cooper]

Thanks ) don't worry about the term thats what my parents think of me when I said I aint taking it to a garage!! This shoudnt be hard body work wise. It is just the finishing with the paint I am more worried about. Cannot afford to take it to a mini specialist they want lots £££ (figured b'because they only work on mini's there is less custom generally than a normal repsray shop thus they need to charge more for their work plus they can charge more.) I know you rollered your paint on but I do not think I am capable of rolling mine on or spraying...anyone on here want some cash in hand work,beer and paint supplied?!

[karl & his cooper]

mig welder and spot welder same thing right?

[karl & his cooper]

Good news a friend of a friend who works for a big body work shop in my town that does a lot of insurance work, is allowed to use the facilities at the weekend and will under take my mini ) he wants £600 on completion if I ain't happy I dont pay.(I supply the panels) New front end fitted, 2 new wings fitted, new scuttle fitted and my drivers A panel and some repair to blemishes near the back and a paint job (paint supplied by him,well they have mixing and matching facilites!! Not bad eh? He has had experience with minis which was also good. The facilities are top notch compared to some of the other places I have got quotes from.

My problem is I already have an A panel. Where can I get a CHEAP door for my drivers side (Internal hinges) and a front end and wings and a scuttle. I don't wana pay the earth for them either if possible.

Will be willing to buy an okish door of sumone on here

Please reply thankyou everyone

Karl

[karl & his cooper]

anyone...please need to get hold of the panels before work can start!

[taffy1967]

I got all the front end panels and A'panel's (plus the scuttle) for my Mini from Mini Spares. They were all genuine and either came with the Rover hologram or British Motor Heritage stickers. That way they fit and look much better too.

Maybe one of these companies can help you out with a door: -

Minidoors.com link
The Minidoor Company link

[mini_kev]

yer minispares panels are probably the best oprion. To be honest there not too expensive and cheap ones never fit to great either!

[karl & his cooper]

Ow I already have a non genuine A panel here ( will it be okay? I am not the 1 fitting the parts by the way a bodyshop is. what front end do I need?

Many Mini Thanks
Karl