35 replies to this topic

[pikey7]

In a similar vein to the "garages..." thread, I thought it may be worth a go at creating a similar list for places to get the parts for your precious darling. This should provide a guide to the places to go and the places to avoid. Without further ado, the list of suppliers which are recommended ( the Good ) the ones which are not so good, but may provide a satisfactory service, or vice-versa! ( The Bad ) and the ones to avoid at all cost... ( The Ugly > )

When placing an entry please provide the following information, and most importantly a reason why they are good, bad or ugly ( ie, testimony )

Name of supplier :
Type of parts supplied : (panels, composites, engines etc)
Location :
Link to Map or website :
How you placed order : (internet, phone, face 2 face)
Rating: >
Testimony:

This could be quite a tetchy subject, and if there's any undue or unfair comments, then they wil be removed! I'll be watching!

I'll start the ball rolling.

Name of supplier : DSN Classics
Type of parts supplied : Panels
Location : Norfolk
Link to Map or website : www.dsnclassics.co.uk
How you placed order : phone
Rating: good
Testimony: panels arrived in good condition in two days. nice helpful chap on the phone too!

[Steamo]

Name of supplier : Minispares
Type of parts supplied : Panels, seals, lights, rear subframe rebuild parts (mounting bolts, brake hoses etc) suspension parts, exhaust
Location :
Link to Map or website : MINISPARES
How you placed order : initially internet, then over phone
Rating: Good
Testimony: Very good service - first batch of spares arrived very promptly albeit with the wing dented. Phoned and told them - they collected the wing, and sent a new one along with another load of spares with free postage.

Name of supplier : Avonbar
Type of parts supplied : Special wheel nuts, centre caps locking nuts etc.
Location :
Link to Map or website :AVONBAR
How you placed order : over the phone
Rating: Good
Testimony: Parts arrived very promptly and even got 5% internet order discount (that I wasn't even aware of) despite the fact I ordered over the phone.

[pikey7]

Name of supplier : SMB composites
Type of parts supplied : FG panels
Location : Wirral
Link to Map or website : www.smb-composites.co.uk
How you placed order : face 2 face @ Stoneleigh
Rating: Good
Testimony: good quality stuff, and Smudger is very friendly. I got a bootlid home, then realised it was warped. sent it back to him and got a new one PDQ.

Name of supplier : Minisport
Type of parts supplied : Panels, minor engine parts,
Location :
Link to Map or website : www.minisport.com
How you placed order : Internet
Rating: Bad
Testimony: Panels were a nightmare. never had them in, and got the wrong ones a couple of times. Beware when ordering genuine panels on the net as they have them wierdly cross referenced. always call them for panels ordering! Engine parts were OK, but had to wait 9 weeks for an engine steady!

Name of supplier : Minispares
Type of parts supplied : suspension parts, engine parts, panels
Location :
Link to Map or website : www.minispares.com
How you placed order : Internet
Rating: Bad
Testimony: products were fine. in the end! Took a while to get here, and when they did they came in dribs and drabs costing me a fortune in postage.

Name of supplier : Minispeed
Type of parts supplied : Suspension parts
Location :
Link to Map or website : www.minispeed.com
How you placed order : Internet
Rating: Good
Testimony: The parts took a while to arrive from their suppliers, but they kept me in the loop and got things to me as fast as they could.

Name of supplier : Minitrailers
Type of parts supplied : deflex bushes
Location : If I only knew.....
Link to Map or website : www.minitrailers.co.uk
How you placed order : Internet/phone
Rating: Ugly >
Testimony: They don't deliver what they say, they don't answer their phone, and their email does not work. This place is a disaster. I recieved half an order of some of the wrong parts after about 2 months. I had to pester them beyond belief and even threaten them with court action to get some money back. even then, it wasn't the right amount and still took over a month! All this hassle over £30.....

[pikey7]

Name of supplier : Moss Europe
Type of parts supplied : Panels
Location : all over!
Link to Map or website : www.moss-europe.com
How you placed order : face 2 face (@ Stoneleigh)
Rating : Good
Testimony : Their show prices (when I was there anyway) meant no charging VAT or shipping. The parts took a week to get here, but that included a bank holiday. pretty good all in all, and you must get a catalogue at least! Its the most useful bit of paper a mini restorer ever owned!

[Jimmyarm]

Name of supplier : Northwestminis
Type of parts supplied : Shiney Bits
Location : Up north somewhere !
Link to Map or website : northwestminis.co.uk
How you placed order : internet
Rating : Good
Testimony : Service is excellent, have ordered twice and delivery was super speedy both times (2 days max). Prices are competative as well. Only gripe is that some of the bits didnt fit very well but hey, cheap and cheerful

[Jimmyarm]

Name of supplier : Minispares
Type of parts supplied : New fuel cap & K&N Filter/Stub stack
Location :
Link to Map or website :
How you placed order : Phone & INternet
Rating: Not so good !
Testimony: turning to :)Phoned up on thursday last week to order the fuel cap, chap said it would be with me middle of this week. Nothing came so gave them a ring yesterday and apparently they hadnt even tried to debit my card until wednesday and it bounced, in fairness they said they called me (didnt get a message at work) to get alternative payment but why the delay ?

Placed an internet order for the filter and stack yesterday, before 12pm (as stated on their site) and paid for next day delivery b4 noon. Guess what, phoned them earlier as it hadn't come and they hadnt even posted it yet ! Apparently it will turn up tomorrow but I aint holding out much hope

Update - filter and stack arrived sat and filler cap arrived monday Would use them again as the prices are reasonable

[Natalie]

Name of supplier : DSN Classics
Type of parts supplied : HT Leads & Spark Plugs
Location :
Link to Map or website : www.dsnclassics.co.uk
How you placed order : internet
Rating: Very good
Testimony: Ordered the parts on the Wednesday afternoon and they arrived on Friday morning

[1984mini25]

Name of supplier: mini sport
Type of parts supplied: Hi–lows and dampers and then carpets and sound proofing
Location:
Link to Map or website: minisport.com
How you placed order: Internet
Rating: > > >
Testimony: the hi-lows arrived no probs, but the rest took nearly 3 months and when it did finally arrive after loads of phone calls emails etc. half was missing, when I finally got through to someone I was told the part of what I had order didn’t exist (not what it said on the web site) refused refund as the good had been opened, well how the f k are you meant to check them without opening them?


Name of supplier: mini spares
Type of parts supplied: panels, suspension, engine interior the list is endless
Location:
Link to Map or website: minispares.com
How you placed order: Internet
Rating:
Testimony: had no probs what so ever, always bee sent emails of what’s happening. Plus the web site stops you from ordering anything that’s out of stock, unlike some.


Name of supplier: mini-its
Type of parts supplied: clutch and relevant parts
Location:
Link to Map or website: www.mini-its.com
How you placed order: phone
Rating:
Testimony: really good, knew what they were taking about and parts were sent out and arrived next day. Even though I ordered late in the afternoon.

[ryan69]

Name of supplier : P&L Minis
Type of parts supplied : Alloys, brightwork, trim and door handles
Location :
Link to Map or website : https://www.plminishop.com/
How you placed order : Internet
Rating:
Testimony: Items arrived quickly on both occations, the wheels came after 2 days!

[minivanman]

Name of supplier : M-machine
Type of parts supplied : Panels
Location : Darlington
Link to Map or website : http://www.m-machine.co.uk/
How you placed order : Phone
Rating:
Testimony: Very fast service, they know what they're talking about, panels fit perfect

Name of supplier : Midland Wheels
Type of parts supplied : Quickshift
Location : warwickshire
Link to Map or website :
How you placed order : Bingley hall mini show
Rating: : > > >
Testimony: Absolutely awful, couldn't have been worse. I refuse to deal with them now on principle

Name of supplier : Minispares
Type of parts supplied : spax, window channel
Location : potters bar
Link to Map or website : http://www.minispares.com
How you placed order : Phone
Rating:
Testimony: Very fast service needed the bits before I went to MITP and they were here next day.

Name of supplier : Min-its
Type of parts supplied : K&N air filters
Location : Birmingham
Link to Map or website : http://www.min-its.com/
How you placed order : Phone
Rating:
Testimony: Great service, great price, very fast delivery.

Edited by minivanman, 24 September 2006 - 10:41 PM.

[discodavor]

Name of supplier : classic mini interiors
Type of parts supplied : dashboard, consol, parcel shelf, speakerboard
Location : liecester
Link to Map or website : www.classicminiinteriors.co.uk
How you placed order : erm maybe phone defo web
Rating: the worst mini shop in the country by a mile
Testimony: paid for goods in beginning of june, not delivered middle of oct despite an unbelievable amount of phone calls, answer phone messages and emails, he has used every ezxcuse under sun and still not delivered goods, and it isnt just me either : http://www.minifinit...P...pic&t=48182

STAY WELL CLEAR!!!

[*DJH*]

Name of supplier : DSN Classics
Type of parts supplied : 90% Of Replacement Mini Parts
Location : Norfolk
Link to Map or website : http://www.dsnclassics.co.uk
How you placed order : In Person, Phone, E-mail
Rating:
Testimony: Everything I Have Bought For My Mini Has Been Correct, Richard Nash Offers Great Advice On Parts.
And He's Super Hyper, Like He's On Drugs Very Nice People To Deal With.

Name of supplier : www.theminiforum.co.uk
Type of parts supplied : 5% Of Replacement Mini Parts
Location : Internet
Link to Map or website : http://www.theminiforum.co.uk
How you placed order : Via PM Function / In Person
Rating:
Testimony: The People Who I've Delt With Are Friendly, Also Go Out Of Their Way To Help Find You Spare Parts That They May Have

[mayfair_man]

Name of supplier : Mini Technique
Type of parts supplied : EVERYTHING!!!!!!
Location : Pilling (lancashire)
Link to Map or website : www.minitech.co.uk, [email protected], 01253 790189
How you placed order : went to yard after ringing up
Rating: Amazing
Testimony: Nice guy pretty much endless supply of parts and got his own work shop to do work aswell.

[spike]

Name of supplier : SC Parts
Type of parts supplied : everything you need
Location : Crawley, West Sussex
Link to Map or website : www.scparts.co.uk
How you placed order : internet and phone
Rating: depends, when they are good they are good, when not they are very bad.
Testimony: Has been times when I have ordered things and they have arrived the next day, other times I have ordered items and they have taken up to four months to arrive.

[Senile Old Git]

MY EXPERIENCE WITH A FORUM MEMBER!

I retained MiniDaves now also known as Adautobits during summer 2006.

I paid him £1500, for which I was told I was getting the engine and gearbox of my Mini totally refurbished.

I collected my car with the engine fitted, it made 5 miles when the fuel pipe come off the carburettor spraying petrol over the exhaust. In fairness he did come out and fit a fuel pipe clip for me by the roadside. I asked why one was not fitted; he told me he did not have one at the time he built the engine.

Around 120 miles later the clutch was slipping, I said to him that I thought all 1275cc units had a clutch housing breather fitted, he stated that this was correct but he did not have one so supplied the car back to me without one and the hole covered over!

He agreed to replace the clutch, within two / three weeks, that was no use to me as I needed the car for my holiday so I fitted the clutch myself. The car was then jumping out of gear and he advised me I to leave it. He then came to my house to fit another engine in one of my other cars and took the car with his rebuilt engine away.

He called me the next day from his mobile phone and said the car was fine as I could hear it screaming up the road. Ten minutes later he called again and stated I had not tightened up the clutch centre bolt, and the clutch assembly had came away from the crank. I paid for a new clutch and crankshaft and the car was returned again.

The car was then dripping oil from both the crankcase and the transfer case and smoking heavily through the power range. At that point I had the engine disassembled by a respected doctor on TMF, his prognosis was as follows:

Head – Recessed valves
Pistons – Unmatched markings
Bores – Pistons visually rocked in the bores
Gearbox – Required rebuilding

He also commented the engine looked at as if had done 70,000 miles NOT 1,700 miles

All the components were returned to MiniDaves and they currently remain in his workshop. His suppliers were unable to offer any assistance as the components had been tampered with (By a respected TMF Doctor) - I do not consider this to be tampering more like a qualified inspection.

Therefore may I suggest to you all think long and hard before employing this member to work on your car, I would however, still recommend him as a used Mini parts supplier!

This matter has been written up with the agreement of a member of the Admin team after he had in-depth discussions with the TMF Doctor who under took the inspection and seen photographic evidence.


See the video and the stills HERE!