To the knowledgeable people,

Backstory: About a year ago, I was sitting at a stoplight on a completely sunny, non-windy day. A tree branch (around 15 ft in length, about 2 in thick) fell on my car...car was not totaled, but both top glass panels, front windshield, headliner, roof, etc had to be replaced.

I have spent the last year or so continually fixing the absolutely terrible, pathetic and unacceptable job the Brian Harris body shop (not affiliated with Brian Harris Mini, except by same owner...body shop was actually part of their Chevrolet dealership). I actually sent it to go back in twice when they called me to pick it up. Eventually, it was as fixed as I needed it...supposed to be completely fixed according to them, but I let a lot slide at the time just because it had already taken them 7 weeks and I was in school and busy with my job at the time. I was just grateful to have it back.

Present: Noticing a lot of fittment problems with my car...rear B & C-Pillar upper panels not fitted correctly with where it's supposed to meet the rear seat side panels/armrests, headliner not meeting up with front windshield correctly (can actually see above the headliner from the front), headliner not meeting up correctly with rear moonroof, etc. I have an appointment with Brian Harris Mini themselves on the 17th, but I've gotten to the point where I'm so bothered but these aesthetic problems that I want them fixed, and fixed right (i.e. by me or someone with some kind of attention to detail; god knows no one attentive worked on it the first time).

On that note, I was wondering if anyone knew how to take off the rear B & C-Pillar panels (where the seatbelts retract into), as well as the interior panels below the glass to the sides of where the rear seats/passengers are? Understand I won't have the Bentley manual until this Christmas...if this is honestly too detailed a job to do without the manual, just let me know upfront.

- Matt

Edit: I know that there is a stock problem/issue forum...not sure if this would be more appropriate there or not - this is not a stock issue, but does involve nothing more than stock parts.

 

the rear panels come off fairly easy, but i will warm you that you will need almost all new clips to re install since they all seem to break whne you take everything apart.

TO start removed the center section buy the trunk lathc there are a few pin clips (push the center section in) and just pull that piece off. The remove the screws in the side panels and start pulling.

if you want more detailed info let me know.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

I came to the same conclusion about potential damage after going through pages after pages of searches...I reached page 5 where I think Dr. Obnxs was going over his installation of the G-Tech Pro RR and someone mentioned Pelican Parts...which lead me to RealOEM...which led me to lots of printing and lots of profane muttering.

At least I am now reassured that Brian Harris will have my car for around a couple of days, instead of the week + half I was expecting. I would do the work myself, but like you mentioned (and I found as well), parts would end up breaking. Besides, BH can have them ordered and delivered cheaper and faster than I could.

- Matt

 

Did you go through insurance? If you did and have given the body shop several chances to repair the car correctly already and they did not do a good job you should contact your insurance company about it and having another shop make the corrections and redo the repair as needed.

Many years ago I had a similar problem with a car repaired after an accident and the shop just was bad; I finally recontacted the insurance company about the repeated problems and they paid to have another shop completely re-evaluate the repairs and re-fix everything. If this is applicable it might be worth investigating then submit the car to the same poor quality shop again. (And since it is their fault you will not have use of the car again I'd see about them covering a rental too if you need it..)

 

Insurance covered it all (yay comprehensive), but rentals aren't covered under our policy. BMW/Mini here does have loaner cars available, but they are available on a limited basis (and only on advance appoint...they need about a 2-3 week lead time).

I figure the interior work can be done, parts in hard, in right around 2 hours. I'll see about insurance reimbursement at that time, but if it doesn't come to pass I'll just deal with it. Considering the dealer themselves was/were(?) the first place on the lists to take the car for work, I would assume that a written statement from them would be good enough for State Farm. Realistically though, I can't imagine them doing much after a year. $2xx in charges doesn't bother me...it does bother me, but at this point it doesn't.

Edit: If you head to RealOEM.com, stick a 04/2003 build in there...follow it to 51 Interior Trim -> 51 55 Interior Body Trim Panel & 51 50 Door Trim Panels...it's diagrams:

INTERIOR TRIM PANEL A-/ B-/ D-COLUMN
HEADLIN./HANDLE LIFT-UP&SLIDE-BACK SUNR.
LATERAL TRIM PANEL REAR

Basically, A, B, and D upper panels need to be refitted to lateral trim panels on both sides. Headliner also needs to be refitted around sunroof switch mounts, rear moonroof, and front windshield. Sums that up

- Matt