12 replies to this topic

[Ozymandias]

I think I have just experienced just about all the wildly differing emotions of Mini ownership in the course of 24 hours and one "relatively easy" job...

PRIDE
Extracting and re-fitting rear screen with new seal, alone and unaided. In the dark. Without breaking anything.

WORRY
The anticipation of having to fit a new front screen (the old one was delaminating) the next day - again by myself, in the short time afforded by toddler's lunchtime nap.

INDESCRIBABLE JOY
Taking out the old screen to discover only a TINY bit of rust on the scuttle panel. No, really, tiny!

STRESS
Trying to get the rubber seal to stay put in the frame while I get the screen into position.

HOPE
Rubber in, screen within 2mm of popping neatly into place - just need to give the seal a bit of a shove from the inside to re-position...

HORROR
Watching the screen topple gently forward towards the bonnet....

WOE
...shattering into a million pieces and taking a great gouge out of the paintwork on the bonnet.

FRUSTRATION
Not being able to scream furious, rock-melting obscenities because of the presence of 4-year-old son who is saying "Oh dear, Daddy, now you'll have to buy a new one." In a really patronising way.

Having to settle with saying "Oh." Followed by "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

ANGER
A lot.

HUMILIATION
Having to admit to Mrs what all the shouting was about.

IGNOMINY (IGNO-MINI?)
Phoning Autoglass so they can laugh at the amateur.

SMUGNESS
Watching them take two and a bit hours to do what I very nearly did in half an hour (save smashing the screen, obviously). To their credit, they were impressed that I'd tried it myself and didn't mock at all.

RESIGNATION
Knowing that, despite all the above, I adore that little car and will suffer a lot worse in the course of being her owner...

[bunch1980]

Know the feeling the mini makes me want to try all the jobs myself when some shouldnt try, for sure be calling autoglass if i need a new screen fitted!

[mike_mini_mad]

Haha! Fantastic and so true, you have my sympathy!

[Ozymandias]

Haha! Fantastic and so true, you have my sympathy!

On a positive note, over the weekend I also managed to get the heater working properly and installed a horn that instead of producing a very quiet, derisory little "merp" will make cyclists do vertical take-off from 50 yards away.

[Stevee]

just a good little tip

rub Petrolum jelly (vasline) on the wind screen rubbers! it stops them cracking and srinking

you have to do it every other month if i remember rightly

[xBR4DLEY]

just a good little tip

rub Petrolum jelly (vasline) on the wind screen rubbers! it stops them cracking and srinking

you have to do it every other month if i remember rightly

Vaseline rots rubber mate?

[Stevee]

just a good little tip

rub Petrolum jelly (vasline) on the wind screen rubbers! it stops them cracking and srinking

you have to do it every other month if i remember rightly

Vaseline rots rubber mate?

its never rotted my mates ones down on his mini and they still look new.

[panelbeaterpeter]

front screens can be an absolute male chicken to fit. I use rubber and nylon lubricant

[Miniature]

Ah mate, I can feel your pain! That must have been a veryr frustrating 24 hours. At least at the end of it you can go back to being happy as you get to drive your newly re-glassed mini around. Well done for the attempts though, I dont think I would even try that.

[clovus]

Great post! I bet that few seconds as the screen toppled forward went really slowly.

[mike_mini_mad]

Haha! Fantastic and so true, you have my sympathy!

On a positive note, over the weekend I also managed to get the heater working properly and installed a horn that instead of producing a very quiet, derisory little "merp" will make cyclists do vertical take-off from 50 yards away.

Now that's something I could do with! Haha

[Ozymandias]

Great post! I bet that few seconds as the screen toppled forward went really slowly.

VERY slowly...!

[Ozymandias]

Haha! Fantastic and so true, you have my sympathy!

On a positive note, over the weekend I also managed to get the heater working properly and installed a horn that instead of producing a very quiet, derisory little "merp" will make cyclists do vertical take-off from 50 yards away.

Now that's something I could do with! Haha

The one I've got is a Stebel Nautilus Compact - you can get them for about £30. It's a little bigger than the standard horn so I had to bodge an old Ford Fiesta bracket to get it to fit (my Mini's a Jap import with an A/C unit, so there's ZERO space under the bonnet!!) but it hasn't fallen off so far...