6 replies to this topic

[daniel.weck]

Hi !

I am totally new to the world of Mini. My other (and only) car is a 1996 Lotus Elise, so we do share some Rover genes

I hope you can give me some advice regarding a small renovation project I'd like to start.

It's a standard Rover Mini Cooper 1.3i (1993), currently on the market for £500 but I've negotiated it down to £400.

Mhmmmm



I'm trying to work out the repair and running costs (the Elise is my main car and I'm on a limited budget).

Renovation Costs

The Mini is currently SORN, and has been off the road for a year (inside a clean shed). It is in a pretty good state, thus a "small" renovation project.

It expect the battery to be dead, and the brakes probably need some work. I think the engine is a single injection point, anything I should check ? (apart from the obvious oil leak)

The interior is in a pretty good state (beach-wood, half-leather), with only a few little things to fix and a lot to clean.

The body work is not too bad, but of course there are rusted areas to repair. In particular, there's a large hole in the driver's side sill.

I've contacted the mechanic who did the services when the Mini was still "alive". He welded a few parts on the car at the time (including engine mounts, etc.). I called him today to do an inspection, as I am worried about problems with the subframes (front and rear).

How can I renovate the chrome bumper ? It's picked with rust, but it looks superficial.

I've noticed a few missing/broken parts, but I'm sure there's plenty of used stock on eBay:

- 1x wing mirror
- 1x interior door handle surround
- 1x front chrome grid surround
- 1x additional front headlight
- 4x wheel center caps

Any remark welcome. (y)
Cheers, Daniel.

Edited by daniel.weck, 17 July 2007 - 11:33 AM.

[mini_kev]

I take its the picture isn't actually the car you're getting?

Chrome bumpers can be bought new for about 15 quid so that would probably be cheaper and easier to do than try and repair the old one. The rest of those parts should be easy to pick up.

Sills can be replaced reasonably cheaply, and are not all that difficult for a DIY job if you can weld. Other than that expect to end up doing more to it that you planned.... it always happens!!

Good luck

oh and welcome to mini's and the forum!

[daniel.weck]

I take its the picture isn't actually the car you're getting?

Correct. Nor is the charming lady

Sills can be replaced reasonably cheaply, and are not all that difficult for a DIY job if you can weld.

I don't weld myself, so I'll get a local mechanic to do it.

Other than that expect to end up doing more to it that you planned.... it always happens!!

Yeah, I bet !

Thanks !!
Dan/

[daniel.weck]

Hi again !
A couple of questions:

1) The driver's side window does not wind-down. Is it common ?

2) The flexi-pipe section that connects the exhaust manifold down-pipe has "touched" the ground a bit too hard it seems. It looks nackered. It's very low to the ground, but it seems to be the normal configuration. Is it an easy job to replace the flexi ?


I just talked to the local mechanic / welder. They charge £42.5+VAT per hour for mechanical jobs, but they work on a task-basis for the welding jobs. It's convenient because it's a few hundred meters away from where the Mini is currently parked.

I think I'll just pay extra for the initial work, then when the car is insured, Taxed and MOT'ed, I can go to a cheaper place a few miles further (£30 including VAT).

I've just spent 1 hour in the Mini removing all the carpets, clearing the junk (a lot of it), and inspecting the rusted areas !

So far, no major problems apart from the gaping hole in the driver's foot-well (under the sill) ! It also looks like some stupid guy used the surface as a jacking point !! (there's a bulge in the floor)

The door hinges have no play. I could push and move the car, so the brakes are not seized. The engine lacks oil (some of it is laying on the ground ), but the dip stick looks ok (no mayo). There's clean coolant liquid inside the radiator. The gears are changing fine.

I read the instructions to start the engine (it's been inactive for a full year). I will be careful when the time comes.

Cheers !
Dan.
(Looking forward to start restoring !!)

[M44K TS]

sounds like a nice little project.

For the bumpers, i'd just buy new ones, they only cost about £15, the front one on mine had a few bits where the chrome was pitted on the outside, then when i took it off, i seen what was underneath.....

bit chrome cleaner would do the job i thought...



What was lurking on the underside...


as you can see, they're not worth trying to save in some cases, and that was a new bumper about 6 months before the car was taken off the road.

So the next set i fit will be waxoiled underneath

[daniel.weck]

Hi, thanks for the photos !

Do you guys use AFC-50 for long-lasting rust/corrosion protection ? I use that on my '96 Lotus Elise, and of course lots of WD-40 for undoing rusty components !

I have been doing some research on eBay for parts, and it's good to see that there is choice ! (and all relatively cheap)
I will be able to spread the cost by getting my priorities right and focusing on the essential repairs: rust holes + engine + electrics (so it passes the MOT). I need the Mini taxed and insured ASAP.

My main restoration jobs should be: brake pads and discs, broken wing mirror, broken window mechanism, broken dash mount, seat / foam renovation, broken fog lights (front and rear), missing grill mustache, carpet steam cleaning, seat foam replacement and spring repair, rust-proofing, wheel arch flare repair, bumper renovation / swap, lot of cleaning and polishing...

That's my plan to start the engine and get the car going:

1) Install new battery.
2) Check coolant level (done, looks very clean in the radiator).
3) Clean air filter.
4) Remove spark plugs.
5) Remove HT leads.
6) Add oil inside cylinders (semi-synthetic, not full), undo the oil feed pipe at front left hand side of engine + pour oil to prime the system.
7) Put in first gear and push car to check crank rotation.
8) Turn the ignition on and check dash lights (oil should be on).
9) Check neutral gear, and crank the engine a few times and check the oil pressure (dash light goes off, or 20+PSI on oil pressure gauge).
10) Drain fuel from the tank and circuit (check for rust/C**p).
11) Fill the tank with a couple of liters of new fuel + verify hoses.
12) Clean sparking plugs or fit new ones.
13) Clean the dizzy cap contacts if there's oxidation.
14) Try start engine...if it works: remove radiator cap, and check for coolant circulation (water pump needs to work, otherwise => overheat)
15) Check engine idle and acceleration for a few minutes in static.
16) Check lights (brakes, reverse, indicators, etc.).
17) Check clutch travel distance until bite in first gear (shout "yes!" if the car moves forward ).
18) Drive down the lane for a few meters at slow speed, check for noises and verify brakes.
19) Try second gear and listen for synchromesh noises (whines and crunches).
20) Check reverse and try some maneuver involving steering: listen for clunks and other abnormal noises.
21) Quickly get back in the garage because after all, the car is still SORN !

Any additional thoughts ?

Cheers, Dan/

[daniel.weck]

Well, unfortunately the sale did not complete because of unfortunate events. I will however keep an eye around, and I hope to be back soon in the Mini scene !
Thanks to all for your kind help !
Cheers, Dan/