7 replies to this topic

[miketheman2k]

My old drivers door required replacing recently after it got bent backwards

So I have a refurbished door which, now fitted, has the following problems:

- It sits very slightly lower so rubs on the door catch. I know it's possible to put shims in the hinge bolts but the old door fitted fine...



- More worryingly, the shoulder-line of the door sits quite significantly further into the opening (pic shows new door vs original passenger door). But the bottom of the door sticks out quite a bit (see the pic below this one). The passenger door also sticks out a bit at the bottom but the shoulder-line lines up nicely. The door also requires quite a significant slam to close it at the moment. Finally, the window seems to run up the runners fine right until the last 10mm then it doesn't line up at the top properly (seems to stick outwards too much).





I also have a question about the paint finish of the door. I had the bodyshop use the same paint that the car was originally sprayed in approx. 2 years ago, but the door has come out quite a lot brighter. Is this just because it hasn't weathered? Is there anything I can do about this?

Lots of questions, answers much appreciated

[Tommyboy12]

Door needs loosening off, tilting slightly on its y-axis and maybe a few shims putting in the bottom hinge to angle it up. You should be able to do that quite easily. I had a bit of trouble with the fitting of my passenger door. Seems no two doors are the same on a Mini. Mine still catches on the frame to this day no matter how much I adjust it!

[sonikk4]

First things first you need a shim under the lower hinge to raise the door slightly.

Secondly with the door sitting wrong slacken off all four hinge nuts then using some plastic scrapers or thin pieces of wood carefully support the door along the bottom and the push in at the bottom of the door to move it in slightly. tighten the hinge nuts and check the door again. If more adjustment is needed repeat the previous steps until its right.

Ypu can adjust the door catch on the pillar slightly as well. It will take some doing as there is normally a putty like substance behind the catch.

The paint may need to weather as you said especially if the car sits outside all of the time.

Check the window frame to see if its bent at all and also check the rubber runner that the window runs up to see if this is damaged.

Edited by sonikk4, 04 June 2011 - 07:30 PM.

[midridge2]

when fitting a door the first thing to do is remove the catch on the B post, adjusting the door without removing the catch will not align the door as the catch will throw the door out of alignment.

when you have removed the catch, loosen the hinge nuts and align the door in the frame surrounds untill you are happy with the fit, if not happy work out what needs redoing, this may involve using shims but check the door to wing gap and the waist/swage line, only when happy refit the door catch and align this to the door so it goes in straight and readjust so its not to far in or out so the door aligns with the quater panel.
if after all that if you are still not happy check that the hinges are not bent( you said the reason why you replaced the door) or the hinge post is not bent.
good luck.

[Bungle]

no door ever fits as well as the doors that came with the mini

in the factory they used to adjust the door frame to make sure the doors fitted

[new_zealand _minis]

as said . adjust the striker from the b pillar . you can also wind the window down , and have a fiddle twisting it . block of wood anda rag always works aswell

[feybrand]

i bought genuine heritage doors for my car and they are rubbish the passenger door sticks out at the bottom and the drivers door is at such an angle that it doesnt actually line up with the hole the door catch has to lift it up and even then it still touches on the bottom corner and both windows are stiff one doesnt go all the way down by about a cm and the other doesnt go down level
the lesson from this dont waste ur money get the original doors reskinned
i feel better now

[minidaves]

never have real problems fitting doors, noramally a bit of time and normal body shop skills means they fit lovely. a few shims and twisting, and yanking works
always fit a door before painting
dave