22 replies to this topic

[Pavel]

Brace bars are there to BRACE the car, but yeah a fibreglass front isn't the ultimate road-safety mod.

HAVING SAID THAT, the mini's steel wings and front panel don't offer much protection either (wings buckle VERY easily, and front panel all it does is push the subby into your feet and the steering wheel into your face..)

[Jordie]

Right,

From my point of view....

You could buy hertiage panels, as said above, but THEY WILL NOT FIT. Loads of people think they just slot together, but most of time they can be a poor fit as 3rd party panels.

The brace bars are there to provide strength to subframe (keeping it where it shud be) and in case of impact.

I think no matter what front you have in a mini, in a big accident its not gunna matter.....(I would dread a side impact as doors are waffer thin)

Good points

Dont rust
No welding required
Looks cool
Many people doing em now.

Bad points

Could be easily damaged
Takes abit to line up right at 1st.

[Pavel]

Another thing you might want to consider is the lack of provision for a bumper lip on most glass fronts...

[Jordie]

de-seam back, it looks cool that way

[frostie]

yeah i totally agree lads!

i was thinkin...obviously a roll cage is to give strength if the car rolls....but how would it help wiv a full cage....and then weld(or bolt wiv clamps) 2 door bars, but slightly lower than standard door bars(so u can still get in the back), and then strengthen them wiv a bar runnin across the car just behind the seats???

any ideas? because as u say the doors r worryingly thin!lol

[gsms]

Add an extra set of door cards to double the thickness of the doors!

[lostininglewood]

Where did you get that front end from??? Its brilliant!

I saw it on another mini a while ago and have been looking for it ever since!

thanks for the compliments.

the front end came when I bought the car in pieces. It had a few holes in it, cracking etc. I fixed these and molded the sport pack arches right onto the fiberglass front with the arches connected fully. I never cut them, so when I slide the front off they come too.

I think it's just a plain old fiberglass front end. It fits perfect. and the arches help make it look more complete and in place.

I also have a new bumper with nudge bars/overriders for it, that I will be putting on soon. :grin:

I don't see a problem with going to fiberglass, and once you work on a mini with the complete front removed, it's heaven. everything is so accesible.

[miniman5]

i dout that its safer than steel