I've seen detrimmed Mini's and paint cutoff marks are on the pillars

 

That's actually a pretty decent price.

FIgure about 4 hours plus clearcoat for roof. approx. 160-175 bucks.

Materials approx. 120 bucks.

Detrimming roof trim, easy couple hours. 80 bucks.

R&I'ing the sunroof and cassette is about a 3-4 hour job. (dealer charges 10-12 hours @ $130 per hour) figure roughly 160 bucks.

an hour or so repair on the scratches another 40 bucks.

Point is, it's not a far stretch when you consider the dealer charges well over a thousand dollars to R&I the sunroof cassette.

Mark

 

Just to give you an idea of the prices for body shops these days, I had a minor parking lot accident with my Mini that slightly damaged the left rear quarter panel and trim, as well as a minor scratch to the left door when somebody backed out into me. It really was not very noticeable, but I was really upset about it. I took it to several body shops most of which quoted around $1,000 to fix it. I was shocked. So I took it to the local Mini dealer where I bought it (Braman of Miami). They fixed it for a cost of $1252.00. Luckily the other guy's insurance paid for it, but if I had to do it over again, and I had to pay for it, that is still the place that I would take it. They did a perfect job. I plan to keep the car a long time, and I wanted it right. They redid the entire left door and left rear quarter panel and trim. They know the cars and how to finish them right. So $750 to do the whole roof right doesn't sound so bad. It is in the ballpark.

 

My neighbor feeds the strays, So he would notice if one went missing. So I went to the hardware store and picked-up some Ro-Pel animal repellent granules and put down a perimeter around the Mini, no lie 5 minutes later the cat is sitting under the car, I honestly think he liked the smell of it! It’s time for me to get a dog!

I try to support local businesses, I guess that time it backfired on me. live and learn.

That’s good to know, I do feel better knowing a Mini dealer is going to do the work.
Just wish I had a garage to keep the Mini safe from the evil cats!

 

With all the work that has to be done, do I run a higher risk of them damaging something In the process just to fix a spot? I am paranoid

Last year I had the entire bonnet and front bumper covered with that clear bra material. The shop was installing it on a Porsche 911 GT3 and covering the entire car with it. Would you recommend doing the roof with this material? and if so how long should I wait after the car gets fixed?

 

I had the 3M clear bra on my Turbo New Beetle when I bought it new in 2006. I would NEVER get it on another car ever again. In my experience, you STILL get stone chips, and when you do, it slightly tears the clear bra, still chips the paint underneath, but now you can't get to the chip to sand it and paint it because the clear bra is on your car.

I really do believe in protecting our beautiful MINI's, but condomizing it with plastic is not the answer.

I do my best to avoid highway driving. Best stone chip protection ever!

 

No, I don't recommend doing the entire roof. To me (IMO) that's too ****, too overly cautious. If you're that paranoid of it getting damaged, put the car in a plastic bubble and park it in the garage....

I disagree with Carlisle about the effectiveness of a good clear bra. Though it's not impervious to all stones, it will stop 99% of stone chips. I think not having a clear bra on the front end is just daft.

Mark

 

I’m way to paranoid Think I take after my Italian grandmother who use to cover her furniture in plastic... I like the plastic bubble idea, j/k

 

Oh Mark. Mark Mark Mark. *sigh. I totally and utterly disagree with you and will arm wrestle you to decide who is right.

Throwing out that 99% statistic? Hmmmm... Let me throw 100 jagged rocks that I collect from the highway (which given the fact that the car I am throwing them at is stationary and I can't throw as fast as the rocks travel when they are litterally SHOT at your car from transport trucks....) and we will see if only ONE of them screws up the clear bra AND damages the paint underneath.

I guess you have different experiences with clear bras, invisible shields, etc., but using the MOHS hardness scale... with my fingernail being a 2.5 hardness, I don't think the clear bra is more durable than my own fingernail. Having said that... I wouldn't trust something with the durability of my finger nail to protect the car either.

Clear bra is for peace of mind. If I get a chip on the hood-- I want to be able to repair it.

And another thing-- are you inferring my clear bra was... an inferior product?!?!?! hahahahaha Okay okay... I concede to protecting the metal portions of your car. Perhaps. But paying to put it on the plastic bumper is silly.

 

LOL, we can agree to disagree but here's a few thoughts...

I've been in the bodyshop business for 25 years, I'm SURE I've seen more stone chipped front ends than most people. I've also seen the benefits of having the paint protected with a clear bra.

And yes, there are different quality bras. I've seen companies sell clear bras that are 2-3mm thick and 3M's bra at 7-8mm's thick.

A HUGE difference.

Like I said, we can agree to disagree but I'll still arm wrestle ya anyways... I don't mind buying a beer.

 

Bahahaha. You're too funny. I'm starting to agree with you now... I hate it when that happens. Ugh. (And it's not because I fear the arm wrestle) hehe