16 replies to this topic

[Noah]

Right ho! As much as I want to use all genuine panels, by the time I've saved up all the dough to get them all, neer as makes no difference £800, yes by the time I have saved up, I'll be 18.

So to cut some costs, I'm thinking using some Non-Genuine panels; Obviously there are the no goes that i know of, scuttle and oversills, but any other no goes; I was recommended M-Machine or Mini Machine by one of my College tutors, (No not you Jason) any one got a review of the panels.

Are they even non-genuine stuff? there website is like trying to navigate through a minefield blindfolded; Please do not say to me in your comments, you should only ever use genuine panels, they'll last so much longer or the quality is so much better. No **** sherlock, but some of us cant afford to spend that sort of money and by using some non-gen stuff I can save almost half.

Has anyone got any reviews on Minispares non genuine panels as they are only in potters bar and can borrow my brother-in-law and his van for the day to pick a crap load up.

Many thanks!

Noah

Edited by Noah, 10 November 2012 - 11:41 PM.

[MiniLuke]

You won't go far wrong using m-machine.

I've found their panels and service to be very good, just their website that's not great.

[Noah]

You won't go far wrong using m-machine.

I've found their panels and service to be very good, just their website that's not great.

Thanks for the advice! Yes the website is defiantly shall we say and adventure?.........through the depths of hell.

[mk1leg]

Yes M-Machine are brilliant and they will make a one off panel for you ............otherwise use BMH panels...........

[Noah]

Yes M-Machine are brilliant and they will make a one off panel for you ............otherwise use BMH panels...........

Thanks! Anyone got any reviews on the Minispares no-gen stuff?

[sonikk4]

Minispares non gen stuff will be from Magnum or possibly Hadrian. My views on Magnum are not particularly good and if you do use them remove the awful E coat they cover their panels in. It will wipe off with lots of thinners.

[Carlos W]

The magnum rear valance I fitted took loads of adjusting!

[Jordie]

Magnum rear valence i fitted went superbly.

It depends on the car and whos been at it before hand etc. We put hertiage front end on my friends mini, it took loads of adjusting to get it anywhere near.

[jonny d]

ive built 2 mini front ends with A panels as well and used Hadrian panels and the fit after fettling was very good and last year my car was hit and needed new drivers wing, front panel and bonnet all of which were genuine panels and the body shop had a right pain of a job to fit together, the front panel was the wrong curve to the bonnet completely so it just goes to show there can be problems with both

[mab01uk]

BMH or M-Machine panels are your best bet although even the fit of these is not always as good as the panels that were once produced on the BL factory presses. However the grade and gauge of steel used is also very important for strength and resistance to corrosion and many other cheap pattern type panels are not the correct grade of steel which is not immediately apparent by any visual inspection.

[Wigeon Incognito]

How does the M-Machine metal thickness compare to the BMH panels?

[g-dog]

the thickness of the metal is always an issue. the gen panels are prob thicker but if your doing anything but a 90's mini the old rusty metal you cut out is always thicker than what your replacing it with. the metal got thinner on the bodyshells as the years went on (maybe a factor why the late cars seem to rust much quicker than say a 70's mini)

i used hadrian panels mostly on my pick-up and i found the floor pans were a good fit with the right curved shape to them. i had more trouble with the a panels, wings and front panel but i did expect as much.

the worst panel was prob a door step/bottom side repair that says its for a van/pick-up. it must be for a clubman estate as the door frame is larger so i had to cut a 10 mm section out and weld it back together!

i did fit a gen scuttle panel and that seemed slightly too large! so its not just the pattern stuff that varies!

if your doing the work youself and your not in a hurry you can get good results from pattern panels but if your paying someone else it prob makes sense to go genuine.

the price of heritage stuff is frightening though!

[sonikk4]

How does the M-Machine metal thickness compare to the BMH panels?

I have welded M Machine outer sills to my clubman and they were a good thickness compared to magnum. Unfortunately i have not spent money on Heritage outer sills so cannot compare panels but with M Machine ones being as good as they are then i will keep using them.

The difference between Heritage rear quarters and magnum ones is quite large. We have compared these back to back and there numerous diiferences. The width and finish of the flanges is considerably different. The heritage ones are more uniform while the Magnum ones are larger and poorly formed. There is not as much curve in the upper section of the Magnum panel compared to the heritage one so it going to be interesting trying to make it fit well.

What you have to say to yourself is how much is my budget and what is the best panel i can get for the money. Heritage is not cheap but there are some very good discounts to be had if you shop around.

[mini-luke]

I've fitted M-machine complete floors, the fit is spot on.

[Tamworthbay]

I used magnum a panels and the fit was fine, back to back with heritage there was little if any difference. Minispares doorsteps went in ok but profile is slightly different. Minispares sourced floors went in no problems.