11 replies to this topic

[Garethrees]

My mini is going to need alot of welding i,e sills, door pilars, back end and floor pans, i really want all the work done but im worried about costs getting over the top, just wondering what these jobs can end up costing and what you think a sensible price would be, thanks in adance for any info i get 😃

[Carlos W]

Have you thought about doing it yourself?

[Garethrees]

Yes but im thinking if i can get it done in a garage correctly would it be more cost effective and save alot of time? Thanks

[Garethrees]

Yes but im thinking if i can get it done in a garage correctly would it be more cost effective and save alot of time? Thanks

[spiguy]

Hi there.

 

Even without knowing exactly what you need done, a rough guess ( and it is a guess) based on what you mentioned, you could be looking at anywhere between 1 and 3 thousand. Could well be more. That's just a ballpark so that you realise it is not going to be a few hundred. For example, if you needed two new sills, and the almost guaranteed repairs to what's under them once they are off, I would guess at about 600 - 1000 for that alone, depending on how bad it is underneath.

 

There's no doubt that doing your own welding is massively cost effective. Time, well that's a different issue - yes paying someone to do it for you saves *you* alot of time, but the downside is that you need to pay them anywhere between £30 and £60 for each hour of their time

 

In general terms, any mini that needs extensive welding is likely to end up costing more than the cost of buying another one which is already in much better shape. Eg if you end up spending 3k for welding, 1.5k for paint, then at 4.5k you could probably have gone out and bought a really solid car that someone has already undertaken this work on. You are also unlikely to ever be able to sell the car for the amount of money it has cost you.

 

In the end it comes down to - do you have the money? Are you happy to spend it? Do you have reasons to want to keep the car badly enough regardless of having to throw all that money at it? On the other hand, if you weld it yourself then yes, you have the cost of the welder and panels, but you will save a fortune on the labour. Plus you learn how to do something that you will be able to call on for future repairs.

 

One other thing is that if you were going to pay to have it done, then take your time choosing who to use - a standard 'garage' is likely to be fine at patching up to 'MOT standard' but they are unlikely to be experienced and skilled at panel replacement on a mini. You would want someone who has alot of experience with mini bodywork.

 

If you have more info, or better - pictures, then maybe people can give a better estimate.

 

Cheers

Craig

[Cooperman]

If the car needs what the OP has listed, then it will most probably also need front wings, A-panels, screen scuttle and possibly a front panel. Then there might well be inner wing repairs.

At a very rough guess that will be 40+ hours of work which includes cutting off the old parts, lining up the new ones, preparing the mating surfaces, welding, grinding back, filling and seam sealing. That would be around £2000. Then allow another £600+ for painting and maybe £350 for panels and materials.

So,  yes, allow around £3000 for a proper job. But that assumes a Mini restoration specialist will be doing the work, not a body-shop more used to modern cars.

That is why most classic car owners either do the work themselves or have a lot of spare cash so that these costs are not an issue. There is a choice with all classic cars. DIY or PAL (Pay A Lot).

[Dzmarc]

Like both Cooperman and CarLukeMini has said, you will be far better doing it yourself like I have started to do.

 

Admittedly I did get someone I know to redo the sills on the current mini, but then I had reasons because I was away, and either when I know them its going to cost me a pretty penny. 

 

I picked a welder up of a forum for just over £200 with a bottle of gas and accessories. Panels on a mini are relatively cheap, (although if you are to replace them, I would go with Heritage or M Machine ones if you can), so if you do make a mistake its not vastly digging into your pocket.

MIG welding is fairly easy to pick up watching some video on Youtube and reading articles, although if you know anyone with any experience if they could show you the ropes for a day and check over your first bit of work it would be of benefit. 

 

In the end it is your call. Which ever one you make good luck.

[Ben_O]

I wouldn't like to have anyone else but me do my welding unless i could watch them all the way through.

 

some garages/repair people are very good and will always do a proper job but alot of garages will make the repairs look pretty but hide bodges underneath. I've seen it all to many times.

 

It will be expensive at a garage because of their overheads etc so have you considered someone into Mini's that works from home? There are a few members on here that undertake restoration work.

 

I do agree with the others, if you are handy with tools then perhaps look into doing it yourself. Many of the restoration threads that i follow on here are done by people that had never previously used a welder or a grinder and turned out fantastic results.

It will work out much cheaper for you but obviously your personal circumstances might prevent you from being able to.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Ben

[Garethrees]

Wow up to three thousand pound! Im now starting to realise that there's alot more work involved than i was thinking. Thanks for all the information guys really appreciate it, ill let you know how i get it done 😬

[Carlos W]

I'd never used a welder or a grinder.

I maybe should've practiced on some scraps before starting on the car though

[Ben_O]

I'd never used a welder or a grinder.

I maybe should've practiced on some scraps before starting on the car though

You did well with yours mate.

[sonikk4]

Everybody starts from nothing, some are taught others like myself are self taught so nothing is impossible. I showed my lad some very basic techniques and once we got around the right handed dad teaching the left handed son he started to produce some reasonable welds within a very short period of time.

 

The cost unfortunately is not the panels but the preparation and welding time that costs the money.