44 replies to this topic

[midridge2]

To repair properly, you're talking about an inner wing, flitch panel, wing, door post, A-panel and possibly scuttle and closing panels too. In order to do all that and make good afterwards,

A inner wing includes the flitch panel.

[mini-luke]

£1600 to do it properly is a good price for a garage. £1600 to plate it is not and is a bodge. Take it somewhere it can be done properly

[sonikk4]

Shame as i have moved down south as i would have done that for you apart from the paint.

As everyone has said that is a lot of work and not a simple plate job either. It looks like some of the supporting structure behind the inner wing has gone as well.
If there is a hole behind the shock mount then the plate behind would need to be replaced as well as not all of the inner wings come with that fitted.

It is a can of worms with possibly more stuff hidden. What is the rest of the car like ie front panel and l/h wing.

[cliche]

To repair properly, you're talking about an inner wing, flitch panel, wing, door post, A-panel and possibly scuttle and closing panels too. In order to do all that and make good afterwards, I'd say £1,600 is fairly reasonable. Which is why owning a classic mini is always going to get very expensive at some point, if you're not able to weld, or the type of person who is prepared to learn how to weld yourself. Also given that level of corrosion, I'd be really surprised if there weren't other areas of the car that needed attention too..

Faced with an £1,800 repair bill, I'd probably be considering selling the car on as a project and buying another that's in a better state of repair instead. You could probably get around the £500 mark back for it if you were to sell and with the market as it is at the moment, you can pick up a very nice example with a full MOT for around the £2k mark.

I'd agree. Mine ended up costing thousands more than I anticipated once it was stripped even though it look mint and very close examination (until it was stripped)

[Lancaster]

The front left wing has little bits of rust where it meets the front panel and the weld seam has a little bit of rust which continues underneath the wheel arch

[sonikk4]

The front left wing has little bits of rust where it meets the front panel and the weld seam has a little bit of rust which continues underneath the wheel arch

Well judging by that and the fact rust always starts within the seam then i would say you will need a new wing and front panel.

This makes it a little easier to replace the inner wing as well. Not what you wanted to hear but if and its a big if you are prepared to spend the money then by changing those panels along with the r/h inner wing and A post then the front of the car will be good for a long time.

I would seriously consider your options here. To do this job properly is going to exceed £2k but that includes the front panel and wing. So is the car worth it to you. Are you prepared to learn to weld and if so then it will cost an awful lot less.

You have options here so well worth checking out Sleaford and Rutland to get quotes from them.

[Lancaster]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

[mini-luke]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

All done up nice it won't be worth much more than £2500, you'll easily spend more than it's worth

[Carlos W]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

All done up nice it won't be worth much more than £2500, you'll easily spend more than it's worth

But, done up right and looked after once it's done it will be fine for some years to come!

[mini-luke]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

All done up nice it won't be worth much more than £2500, you'll easily spend more than it's worth

But, done up right and looked after once it's done it will be fine for some years to come!

Indeed - and of course better the devil you know

[tiger99]

I would suggest learning to weld. It is not all that difficult. Professional repairs of that nature will never be economic in relation to the value of the car.

[AVV IT]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

I think we're all probably quite attached to our cars, but when it comes to spending more on repairing them than it does to replace them, then you have you decide which you're more attached to; "your car", or "your senses"!

[Carlos W]

Well I'm not sure on the resale value of a mini mayfair. Also don't know if it's worth selling as a project and buying a new mini.

I'm attached to my car :L

I think we're all probably quite attached to our cars, but when it comes to spending more on repairing them than it does to replace them, then you have you decide which you're more attached to; "your car", or "your senses"!

In a lot of cases our cars

[CHUNKY365]

My concern would be - why has the inner wing been cut and lowered down.

Look at the front half from the shock mount forwards.

A lot of them go here, starts with a stress crack and then rusts, so to be repaired here is not uncommon. BUT seeing that the front half appear to be lower could indicate that the front panel is sitting too low as well, which could then give issues lining up the wing.

Truth is, for the money you have been quoted I would say go for it. BUT you should be ablt to negotiate the price.

Fitting a complete inner wing and flitch is a lot easier and therefore less time consuming than trying to patch it all up. And so the panel cost might be dearer, but labour should be a bit cheaper.

So buying the panel yourself and using any TMF+ discounts might work out cheaper.

Or how about joining a local Club, someone there may be able to do the job for you at a cheaper cost.

Or just try another repairer and negotiate the cost, ie if you offer to strip the mechanical parts from the work area, buy the panels yourself, even offer to help at the garage\workshop and do all the time consuming grotty jobs on your car for free - thus reducing labour costs.

[rally515]

is this guy a mini specialist ?