24 replies to this topic

[danny164]

need new outer sills and wondering what the point of wide outer sills... how are they different to standard? any help would be appreciated thanks

[sonikk4]

They are normally used to cover up rust damge etc, normally known as oversills. Generally hated by all mini owners. Buy the proper sized ones then you know nothing is being hidden.

[mike.]

As above, they're often fitted over the rusty original sills and generally when fitted, means that the old sill and inner sill are underneath them rotting away.

Although they can be fitted properly by removing the original sill and fitting the wider over sill in its place. My car had an oversill fitted on the drivers side, and when it was took off there was no original sill underneath and the inner sill and floor was in good nick.

I don't think oversills are too bad when done properly as long as the metal underneath them is in good condition and then once fitted they can be pumped full of waxoyl or old engine oil to protect them. Although it does mean that the sill box section is effectively sealed off and should any condensation form, it has no way of draining or venting out.

Edited by mike., 26 November 2010 - 12:57 PM.

[minidaves]

in a word do the job properly and no

dave

[danny164]

ordered the standard sills.... not messing around hiding rust its my little project and i think it need doing right only be a bigger problem for me in the future if i take the short cut thanks for the help
Dan

[miniman24]

Not much help now, as youve already ordered, but i went half and half - 4 1/2 inch sills, purely because they were so much cheaper than standard size ones

[minidaves]

how fewer plug welds holding that sill on? and could properly do with a few in the floor to the sill to give the car more strength

dave

[sonikk4]

That could fail the mot, spot welds should as per the manufacturer or at least a minimum of 1" apart.

[Tupers]

It's worth stating that wide sill and cover or over sill are two different things although in some cases they might be used for the same purposes of covering rusted o.g. sills. A wide sill is obviously deeper but still has open vents for ventilation where as a cover sill has sealed vents not allowing any airflow through the sill.

I used wide sills on my Estate as I think the extra width looks a bit nicer to be honest and are fitted in the same way as a genuine sill would be.

[R1mini]

Wide sills can be useful, years ago they were used as a cheap and easy way of scraping through an MOT one more time. I wouldn't entertain spending £500 per side on a heap with a limited life. Anything decent then it wants to be done properly

Cheers
David

[Shifty]

Wide sills can be useful, years ago they were used as a cheap and easy way of scraping through an MOT one more time. I wouldn't entertain spending £500 per side on a heap with a limited life. Anything decent then it wants to be done properly

Cheers
David

A man after my own heart!

Oversills have saved more minis that anything else.

When I get a rusty sack of crap in and end up peeling off 3/4/5 oversills I know that that car has had stay of execution for 5-8 years.

Minis weren't always a cherished classic, they were cheap a-b transport. Having the work done properly would have exceeded the value of the car and hence it would have been scrapped and lost.

I still get asked to fit oversills, I still fit oversills!!

To remove oversills and replace with proper ones is £300 per side min, most owners can't afford a bill like that. Chucking a pair of oversills on is about £175 fot the pair.

Yes they aren't the best idea but they do prolong the life of your car. They aren't as bad as the cover panels availible for the inner sill though.

[IainR]

Not much help now, as youve already ordered, but i went half and half - 4 1/2 inch sills, purely because they were so much cheaper than standard size ones

Tell me you didn't work under the car supported by that pile of wood??!!

Edit: I've noticed that "wood" looks like offcuts of kitchen worktop!!!!

Edited by IainR, 06 December 2010 - 01:00 PM.

[mk3 Cooper S]

Oversills were used to repair mini's that had already had a set of replacement sills or two. The rust would attack the floor where it was welded on , hence the need for a wider sill.

Mini's were repaired in the past and not restored.

If you chop the old sill off and fit an oversill and you car does not become another unfinished project then go for it. Drill somes holes in it and Waxoil it inside.

Edited by mk3 Cooper S, 06 December 2010 - 01:21 PM.

[miniman24]

Not much help now, as youve already ordered, but i went half and half - 4 1/2 inch sills, purely because they were so much cheaper than standard size ones

Tell me you didn't work under the car supported by that pile of wood??!!

Edit: I've noticed that "wood" looks like offcuts of kitchen worktop!!!!

Well, not under it, more to the side of it... the axle stands were under the jeep, and i wanted to get started! And yes, i have heard this before

Yeah, my dads a builder/carpenter, so we get free offcuts for the fire, or for emergancy axlestands!

Edited by miniman24, 06 December 2010 - 07:46 PM.

[Deepender90]

I've told him before. If i did that at work my boss would have my nuts off.