Help! my minis in need of a resto!

[danni432]

My mini (Grodon) will be coming off the road this winter hopefully if i can find a place whcih will do all the new panel work on my car...
as i know of hes in need of:
Two new wings
Front Panel
Skuttle
A Panels ( theyre ok but not welded right )
Sills.
Lower half of the back panel.
rear valence.
rear floors. the front was welded for the last mot but the back is leaking.

i know its alot of work thats why ive been advised a normal welder wouldnt do this .. it needs to go to a panel beater...
can anyone advise a place which will be able to do this work?or does anytone know of someone whos willing to do this? how long would it take for all of this to be done ?
after he will need a resrpray so im also looking to have that done after.
im not sure how much i need saved.. so i also need advice on that?
the minis mot is due on oct so im thinking ill just take him off the road then as he failed his last one and had to have alot of welding done then on the arches to pass it.

People are saying its probably not worth getting it done and spending so much money but i know one all the body works done itll last. and i really dont want to have to sell him . Ive been working on it since i bought it and itd be a waste.

i live nearer to cardiff but i mean im willing to take the car some distance to have the car finished at a decent price.

if anyone can help or give advice on anything else please do

Danni

[danni432]

gave mike a email going out to take some photos of the affected areas now. i just have no idea who to save and i got a bad feeling people think im wasting my money

[danni432]

i know but no one seesm to realise that .. loli love my mini to bits n would be gutted to sell it . its not in a terrible state either it just needs the typical things replaced.

[jc1380s]

Sounds like its decision time for Gordon Danni!

You have to decide if you want to bite the bullet and spend out on the panels and welding and respray - don't be tempted to do it all on the cheap cos that will only come back and bite you in the bum again in a year or so down the line!

Or you call it a day and look at spending what you intend to spend on Gordon on a newer Mini or better Mini.

I know of a very good body shop in Ammanford but that might be a bit far away for you - Not a cheap experience but the work is absolutely spot on!

Its so good that its the ONLY place I will ever take jc!!!!!

In the end its a decision only you can make though!

jc

[ljonez]

the big problem is as soon as you start removing panels etc you always find more things that need to be sorted, which taks more time and costs more.

personaly i'd get it sorted properly and you should have many more years enjoyment out of it

[danni432]

i knwo i just need a little help on deciding really , i mean ive spent so much on him already do i stop now and buy another mini just to go through the same things again...
or do i spend the money on gordon and keep him for as many years as i can?

i bought him in ammanford so i wouldnt mind stravelling that far to get him sorted,

can u suggest how much all that work would be as a estimate? :\

[janetthompson]

Jc, who and where in Ammanford ? I'll need 2 new wings soon (not me personally lol )

[sebz]

It is a tough decision to make! We decided to do Coedy's Roxie the year before last - it didnt appear too bad when we started, but when she was totally stripped back it was only the rust that was holding the body together We had previously suggested a 'reshell' but he said if we did that it wouldnt be Roxie (which we had to agree with) In short, the floor & roof survived - most other panels were replaced with wherever possible genuine panels (cos they fit better & are better quality) We are now confident that Roxie will last! ;D ;D ;D - and he filled her with waxoyl before we had her back. Sad part of this story is that the sprayer is not at all well at the moment - we were hoping to take our other son's mini to him but he isnt well enough - so can :(t pass his details onto you sorry!!!

[jc1380s]

Aug 6, 2008 19:30:41 GMT 1 @janetthompson said:

Jc, who and where in Ammanford ? I'll need 2 new wings soon (not me personally lol )

The guys I use Janet are Ammanford Motorbody Repairs, Dyffryn Garage, Duffryn Road, Tirydail, Ammanford SA18 3SU
Tel [phone]

Don't be put off by their workshop, ( they also build boats!) and their workmanship is supurb!
As I said, not the cheapest, but I won't take jc anywhere else!!!!

jc

[janetthompson]

Thanks Jc, I'll give them a ring in the next few weeks

[biker]

i,ve seen that there work on jc and the workshop(which i did,nt think was that bad) not sure about the prices but the end product is to a very high standard even the gay blue colour. ;D ;D

if money was no problem i would just take buttons there and say give it back to me once its all done.

[ger2008]

My Mini is off to Mike when he is ready for it.

[coedy]

personally i think that even though my mini cost an arm and a leg to sort out, now its safe to drive. and its still MY mini . and id rather still have my first mini than a colourfull car history when i look back in 10years or so and wish i hadnt gotten rid.

[danni432]

meh tought choices im waiting for a reply from mike and ill make a choice then. was looking at other minsi for sale on ebay and i just dont knwo what to do , i love gordon to bits

[dohboy78]

Keep him and fix him! I regret getting my first mini crushed! Did loads of work on him - 1275 MG engine swap etc etc then ran out of time. He stood in my grans driveway for 2 years and just rotted away. This thread has made me realise that I should have made more effort.

[minimiglia0]

what you have to think is do i spend the money on the car i have that is already mine and know the car mechanically or do i buy another car that may well be better than it and take a chance
as we all know people have different ideas of what a perfect car is
the choice really is yours but if you put the time and effort in now you will know exactly the standard that the car is at and any issues that may arise in the future a new car is going back into the unknown

[sebz]

Good point! You know Gordon now & are aware of any mechanical problems (if any) If you had him repaired - you could ask the garage if they would be willing to take photos as they went along or if they could call you to do it so you could make up a diary of the resto (Coedy has a photo album he takes to shows of b4 & after) This also gives you confidence in the repair (if you need it). If you bought a new mini you could be back to square one or even worse - having one repaired with paper & filler - apparently they do exist!!

[ger2008]

Thats true. As the saying goes, stick to what you know. My Mini is off to Mike next week. Few reasons it is going to Mike is that he is big into Minis, knows his Minis inside out, does a real good job and unlike a lot of places that would say to you thats its an old Mini and not worth bothering, Mike would get it sorted properly and not a botch up like many. Mike, you owe my a fiver for saying that lot lol.

[minimiglia0]

ill take it off the bill lol
sorry about earlier the battery died on my phone lol
monday night will be fine bud
sorry for spamming the link

[danni432]

meh such a tough choice im so confused with whatt to do. i just need a price to convice me really with what to do . if i did buy another car id know what to look for and id have to buy one whrre all the body work is pristine.... well in mini terms anyways.
and maybe keep gord as another project but it would cost to much...