22 replies to this topic

[smeg]

i need new sills and have been told spot welding now not allowed on anything structural  like sills and will now cost £200 to weld a pair on 

is this right?

[robminibcy]

eh! thats how they were fitted from the factory! Can you describe exactly what your plans were and what you have discussed with the tester?

Are you trying to patch up sills or use over sills or are you intending on removing and replacing sills. (really from an mot point of view either if done to a good standard should be ok although to give a longlasting and neat repair you must cut and replace sills along with any rust which you find underneath.

Edited by robminibcy, 12 November 2013 - 11:23 PM.

[Artful Dodger]

Weld on how exactly..




Keep on spot welding...

[smeg]

 thanks ,i was planning to replace totally as there are holes front and rear of sill he said they have to weld a full run along both edges,  i asked cant he just spot weld the full length and weld up the ends ?

no as its below a certain height and structural spot welding isnt allowed?

thing is i was planning to put the chrome trim along seam which would cover whatever welding was used eh

[Pigeonto]

I wonder if he's ever tried removing factory fitted spotwelded sills !!!!!

[sonikk4]

Really so is he going to fail all minis that have not had their sills replaced?? If the new sills are fitted as per the manufacturer there should not be an issue.

[TopCatCustom]

Load of rubbish, most cars are still spot welded to my knowledge, I know my new Ford Ranger is spot welded all along the bottom of the tub i.e. the floor to the sides, it's technically the proper way to do it as it's how every one came out of the factory.

[Carlos W]

Make sure he's not planning to fit oversills

[Ethel]

I'm sure someone can quote the tester's manual so it can be explained in simple terms to him. Welds should be the same as the originals, plugs equate to spots. It's only where bits are joined where there wasn't originally a join that it stipulates a continuous seam. You could even argue that only applies to what's considered structural - maybe that's where his confusion comes from, could legally patch up your wings with cornflake box 'n gaffer tape.

[Tamworthbay]

This does come down to interpretation of the rules. Iirc the full version manual says any structural repairs must be fully seem welded. There is a grey area between testers as to whether it counts as a repair if its a direct replacement on an equivalent part, but if you fit an oversill (god forbid) I would expect they may want it seem welded. I think it comes down to definition of repair, is that a patch on the sill? Or the replacement of the panel?

The main thing is to find an MOT tester who understands old motors. I go to a brilliant guy who is very helpful, I stopped going to the last place because they were geared up for modern cars and were not interested.

[Moon'ed]

My normal MOT guy was away last year so went to the garage next door to the local mini-centre. 

 

He failed me for my spot welds on the sills. Said they were too far apart and should be seam welded as its a structural panel. Did not expect that considering it had passed fine in previous years! 

 

So had to add more weld and ruin my professional paint job 

 

Next time I will remember to put the sill trim on!

[1984mini25]

Also, how on earth do you seam weld the vents on normal/factory sills then?

[Tamworthbay]

Also, how on earth do you seam weld the vents on normal/factory sills then?

You don't, you weld the runs in between.

[sonikk4]

Spot welds are normally an inch apart on most cars. Yes some are closer but an inch apart was always considered to be the norm. I have never had a car fail an MOT on spot / plug welds being an inch if less apart. Obviously if you were to weld a patch on a sill then this would need to be seam welded.

[minidaves]

load of tosh if they are correct sills, and welded correctly its a pass end off, all patch repairs do have to be seam welded