30 replies to this topic

[VadGTI]

For context, I'm in sunny California, so I basically have zero concept of this thing you (well, most of you) in the UK call "rust" .

 

I'm looking into buying a Mini from a private party in Japan through a friend.  Did an inspection over Zoom last week with the car on a lift.  Virtually zero underbody rust.  None.  Looks like a brand new car underneath.  The same with the bottoms of the doors, with the exception of a tiny spot where it may have once rubbed while misaligned.  Just a bit of surface rust.

 

However, various spots around the front and rear had bubbling, as well as the leading edge of the hood.  I don't have any actual understanding of how bad this is in general ( ) but, more crucially, how bad this is in Mini terms.

 

This is the rust I'm talking about:

 

Leading edge of the hood, seemingly discolored with rust but not actually rusty when you open it.

 

 202643765_398213428298654_1262842400242059961_n.jpg   45.59K   9 downloads

 

Rust popping through where the fender attaches:

 

 211510075_834035970547792_7598774675718305159_n.jpg   24.52K   7 downloads

 

Rust under both headlights on the seams:

 

 211510093_938831940008933_8558458906337570840_n.jpg   41.27K   9 downloads

 

Near the cowl again, and one spot bubbling by the windshield seal, which was recently replaced (also, note the cloudiness of the windshield around the edges, is it delaminating?)

 

 211546608_790004391712882_2958283587458960109_n.jpg   34.22K   8 downloads

 

 212666676_268929608340100_4821239876409510573_n.jpg   26.87K   5 downloads

 

Rear:

 

 213546763_1504249926579477_5975002426019731178_n.jpg   36.32K   4 downloads

 

 211839106_295901695400942_7233077425116633893_n.jpg   37.34K   20 downloads

 

Sills, no rust:

 

 211500797_841261653491557_1192780281801571441_n.jpg   27.25K   27 downloads

 

Doors, no rust:

 

 213595603_320283969819462_4873040665235791117_n.jpg   38.03K   19 downloads

 

 

So, just how bad is this and will it get much worse or can I live with it if it's garaged in sunny California and only driven on sunny days?  Is this a sign of terrible things underneath the paint?  I'd be going way over budget on this car and don't want to get stuck with $$$$ in rust repairs.

 

The car:

 

 Mini1.jpg   53.58K   9 downloads

 

 Mini2.jpg   64.24K   7 downloads

[Mini Waco]

Answering is like a loaded gun.. while the pics do look quite nice, it's tough to help determine the condition of a any car via pictures.  Japan is an Island just like the UK, therefore there is bound to be rust although I have heard reports of very clean Minis coming out of Japan at times.  All the pictures you have shown shows Rust in all the typical places.  The brownish spots along the bonnet (hood) may actually not be rust(?).  There may be or most likely is far more rust.  Have you looked at the floor board under the carpet in both driver and passenger feet areas?  Have you looked at the boot floor from the inside?  If there is a sprayed on undercoating, you won't have a clue what's really there.  In the end, it all depends on you.  Like you, I was willing to have a little rust, but one small patch job led to an entire restoration (still in work).  At least you have a friend over there.. ask your friend to take a weak (not strong) magnet and go around the car with it.  A weak magnet will not hold on to spots that have been filled with body filler and painted over....  all in all, your potential mini looks good from the pics..  Good Luck with your decision...

[VadGTI]

Answering is like a loaded gun.. while the pics do look quite nice, it's tough to help determine the condition of a any car via pictures.  Japan is an Island just like the UK, therefore there is bound to be rust although I have heard reports of very clean Minis coming out of Japan at times.  All the pictures you have shown shows Rust in all the typical places.  The brownish spots along the bonnet (hood) may actually not be rust(?).  There may be or most likely is far more rust.  Have you looked at the floor board under the carpet in both driver and passenger feet areas?  Have you looked at the boot floor from the inside?  If there is a sprayed on undercoating, you won't have a clue what's really there.  In the end, it all depends on you.  Like you, I was willing to have a little rust, but one small patch job led to an entire restoration (still in work).  At least you have a friend over there.. ask your friend to take a weak (not strong) magnet and go around the car with it.  A weak magnet will not hold on to spots that have been filled with body filler and painted over....  all in all, your potential mini looks good from the pics..  Good Luck with your decision...

 

During the Zoom inspection, we looked in the boot floor area.  Bare metal there, no rust.  Didn't pull the interior carpets up, but underneath, on the lift, the suspension points, floor and battery box area had zero rust.  Unfortunately, my friend is 250 miles (and many expensive tolls) away from the car, so he simply acted as a translator via Zoom.

Edited by VadGTI, 26 July 2021 - 12:42 AM.

[Mini Waco]

Awesome!! Sounds like a clean mini!!

[RooBoonix]

I'm by no means a professional bodyworker, but from experience repairing my own Mini this is my view...

 

They look like oversills to me, the picture is a bit dark but if they're not vented sills as per original, then that's a tell-tale sign of problems in the past which have been covered up with an oversill. If it's been done properly, it may not be so bad (but still not ideal), if it's been fitted incorrectly and the original sill wasn't removed then it's a recipe for disaster. The only way of telling is to remove the sill.

 

As Mini Waco has said, it's all the typical areas for a mini to rust and unfortunately most of those places are on or near seams, and you can almost guarantee that the rust has started within a seam and has spread outwards meaning it's not just a case of sanding back and cleaning the rust you can see, you need to split the seams apart and repair or replace from there. 

 

Hopefully someone with more experience in repairing cars like this can advise further, but all I can say is Minis like to rust from the inside out, so when you start seeing signs on the outside it's often a sign of deeper rot within a seam or box section.

[mab01uk]

Even if the rust spots prove to be local and can be cleaned back to clean metal the Mini will likely need a total respray to be mint after the work.

Bonnet/hood may have rusted since the later grille support flange was removed to fit the Mk1 grille and then not been painted correctly. However bonnet is not a major problem as replacement with a new bonnet/hood panel is easy to do unless panel gaps are way out....

 

What is the Minis history/spec being sold as......it is a Mk4 onwards shell going by roof gutters with Mk1 rear light conversion and front grille, UK registration plate is 1960's era but just show plates as the car is registered in Japan.

 

My laminated windscreen is also misting around the edges but it was bought in the 1980's, it will probably get worse with age so replacement is really the only cure/option in long term.

Edited by mab01uk, 26 July 2021 - 10:50 AM.

[GraemeC]

I'd guess that with the side repeaters and wide windscreen seal it is later than a mk4

The 'UK reg' is certainly just a show plate - GRX555D being a fairly well known ex-works registration (although no doubt more than one of the 'genuine' car exists these days!)

[Icey]

Looks like a Mini that was restored a few years ago and is starting to show age again. My alarm bells are ringing at the oversills. You need to look under the carpets and inside the compartment bins to see if it's a patchwork of repairs or if someone fitted wide sills because that's all that was available (as per the other thread, they aren't bad by default, it depends why they were used).

 

My initial reaction is that this car is hiding rot behind a nice paint job. You see them a lot at shows. Someone paid for a cheap restore job 5-10 years ago and it's getting to the point of needing to be redone. But I could be doing it a great disservice!

Edited by Icey, 26 July 2021 - 11:14 AM.

[sonscar]

Just the little bubble under the screen could be the start of a £2k job to repair it.It also could be an isolated rust blister.With a Mini it is prudent to expect galloping rot and be pleasantly surprised than think of it being only surface rust and be disappointed.Steve..

[some1158]

The sills are definitely a worry, as are the blisters below the headlights and also the yellow staining where the scuttle meets the wings. Minis rot from the inside out...by the time you can see it, the rust tends to be advancing rapidly behind the scenes.

 

Ultimately what you might do depends on the price: if the MIni seems reasonably priced, and if you can budget for bodywork replacement in the future (and want a project), it might appeal to you. If you want an easy life, though, I'd avoid.

[Dusky]

Impossible to say. If this is it's original paint it's a good car. If it isn't, I wonder what is lurking under the paint.
I know it's not easy buying overseas, I've the same problem buying corvettes in the USA, I would be inclined to bite the bullet. Worst case there's always a maaco close to you.

[Mini Waco]

Sounds like all these guys have experience and they seem spot on. My first import (to USA) was beautiful in the pics, but was far from it in reality. Because it was my first mini, I didn’t care as much because I had planned for a
Full restoration. If you are expecting little work with minimal budget, you could be disappointed. If you have a love for the classic mini, then your wallet and the actual condition may not matter as much. With all that said and depending on the sale & shipping price, it could be a very good deal relatively speaking. Please let us your decision and definitely pics if/when you get it.

[VadGTI]

Well, I've learned something new today.  I had no understanding of oversills before this thread so thank you, everyone, for a valuable lesson.  As far as I understand it, the oversill has no opening in those bulging squares while the correct sill does, right?  And, from what I recall via the virtual Zoom viewing and that pic, these were closed bulging squares.

 

So, now that we know they are oversills, what do I do to check?  Will pulling interior carpets above them show me any terrible hidden rust or am I just left guessing?

[VadGTI]

As far as cost, this thing will definitely be north of $11k USD before shipping, customs duty and registration.  I'm guessing $15-16k all in?

Edited by VadGTI, 26 July 2021 - 06:04 PM.

[Mini Waco]

For that price, you might wish to look in the uK. There are always nice restored minis going up for sale that have been restored to some level. FYI… if you have never imported a vehicle, I can help you with details if you like. If so, shoot me an email and I can let you know every import and export fee to expect. [email protected]