did you install covers or replace the handle as OC is talking about?

 

I am talking about replacing them not covers

 

Perhaps I should be hiring you to work in my bodyshop...

I have no idea how you were able to replace the door handle without pulling the housing that holds the glass... and you can't remove the housing without pulling the glass.



Perhaps I'm missing something...


Mark

 

A lot of people think that the glass should be removed, even my dealer told me they had to be removed before I attempted to replace them myself.

Very briefly I'll describe what I did:

I had the windows full up.
1. Remove with a trim removal tool the cover of the inner handle and the upper speaker and pull the color line trim.
2. You then pull and remove the c shaped door card.
3. After that you can see that there are around 12 torx screws (might be more it's been a while since I did it) that have to be removed.
4. Remove the speakers and I think you have to unclip some of the cables going to the leds of mood lighting and mirror switch.
5. Then you have to pull the remaining panel that is in the middle of the door while facing the underside of the door upwards , you will see two screws that need to be removed. After you remove those two, the panel pulls more freely but there are 2 or 3 more screws holding it from the top. And that is probably the hardest part, you have to reach with your hand inside to the top of the panel and remove those screws (I think they were torx) with the use of a small torque wrench.
After that you can remove the panel and finally access the back of the door handle.

The handle is fixed by 2 alen bolts and the pull latch.
6. You can remove the one on the inside with a small torque wrench. Real PITA for people with big hands like me...
7. The one next to the lock is real easy if you know that there is a hole right across it behind that black rubber cover. Just pull it out and it will unclip. You have to use a very long alen key to reach to the screw.
After that unclip the pull cable and your handle is free!

 

I am glad it is all back together. BTW when it was apart one of the first pictures you showed with out the spoiler or anything on it your MINI look a lot like a classic. Even though the paint color isn't a classic color with the black top it just screamed classic Mini. You need to paint mine but I got little monies so that might be a problem. Are you going to the Dragon next year becuase if so I really I mean really want to sit in your seats because I want them worse then a heroin addict looking for a fix.

 

Oh, I didn't doubt you, I just don't remember being able to access the handle with the glass up.

Tell ya one thing... I ain't pulling it apart to find out...



Thanks bud... I should be at the Dragon next year. Every year I want to go and every year it falls on a track day.

Of course, I never remember it till I'm at the track. I'd really like to do the Dragon next year.

And yes, the seats are like sex...

 

what? sloppy and wet?

 

OMG, I started that post and got interupted and forgot to finish it...

I meant to say the seats are like sex, it keeps you coming back for more.

Mark

 

I like my version better.

 

Me too...

 

Do like this thread, it's a beauty Mark, nice work .

 

GTX: By the way, I had one of those at one time, the most fun car I've ever had, until Lil Guy came along. Beat the crap out of it, and it never once complained or broke anything. It was a 67 GTX.

I'm hoping that you are right about the carbon door handle installation. The place that is going to do this, I will definately tell them, NOT to REMOVE or move the door glass. I've heard from Mark, and others, that this cannot be done. I've never been inside a Mini door, like they have, but I just can't understand why the window has to be moved around. Anyway, I'm going to give Willis the job of doing this, and I will gell them if they have to remove the window, stop and put everything back together. And, forget it.

 

The car is incredible. superb job.

 

Thanks man, much appreciated.... still got a few things to do but almost there.


Mark

 

Hey Mark, did you ever give anymore thought to side graphics? I like it as it is very much, but its been awhile since we have seen any new pictures and I wondered if you had done any more (I actually hope not, but I'm always open to new ideas -- but, I have to admit, I'm not in love with the rear wing thing).

I really like that little car, though, and this thread has been an education unto itself.

Thanks again.

John

 

We want updated pics of your sweet Mini!

 

Thanks John,

I did give it some thought but honestly, less is more and I'm just leaving it the way it is.

I've got to finish up the rear diffuser issue but it's almost there.


Mark

 

Wow, I hadn't been on NAM for a while and I completely missed both the wreck and the rebirth!

Looks incredible.

 

I've never really been a fan of blacking out a MINI… and not to criticize what's an excellent rebuild… but those headlights really stand out. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

 

Orangecrush:

Great job on the re-build. Mine needs it now too
='(
Not that bad. But could be between 7-10,000+ in damages.
How much did that cost to re-build?

And on a positive note, NICE MINI! Looks great. I love the spoiler. How much?

 

Sorry to hear that... it's hard to add up cost because I own the shop and we happen to get slow for a couple of weeks so I figured why not.

I've got 5K in parts and another 4-5K in aftermarket parts. (clutch, LSD, coilovers, mounts, rear seats, etc, etc..)

I wouldn't have gone through all this if we had been busy or I hadn't wrecked the car but it just seemed like the right time to do everything.

As far as the spoiler, I can't give you a price since I made the spoiler myself. (I did get the carbon part from another spoiler, I made the ends and molded them on to the base piece of a non s spoiler.

Hope you get your car fixed soon. (don't go through an insurance company's "pro shop".... find an independent)


Mark

 

Yeah me too. I love my MINI. I'm just hoping it's not totaled. I really hope not.

So you don't think you would have bothered to fix it up had you not had the time? Hmm, that doesn't sound too bad considering the damage it looked like you did.

Oh okay. You couldn't give a price if I would like one made for my MINI? Or least, guess how much it might cost to make one in general (at a good body shop)? Yeah I hope so too. The auto shop it's at said probably two-three weeks. It's a private place that's really good, I wouldn't leave my baby in any old place lol.

 

I'm sorry, I misunderstood you, you meant a price for the spoiler...
I thought you meant the repair.

The spoiler took me about a couple of weeks working on it a few hours a day. It was my second one so I kind of had an idea what I was getting into.

Money wise, I'd say if you were to have one made at a bodyshop, you'd spend probably 600-800'ish bucks at a shop at least to have one made. The cost isn't so much parts or materials as much as it's time consuming. Definitely not cost effective to mass produce them.

As far as the car, absolutely I would have fixed it, I was saying if we were busy, I wouldn't have done the color change and remove and install the engine.... I would have just repaired what was damaged and moved on.

Mark

 

Good thing you weren't busy, because I would be less of a human being if i hadn't seen this MINI as it is now. Only thing that could make it better, Body Color (or black) Driving Lights. Would be amazing.

If I ever get my MINI majorly damaged I'm hauling it the 800 miles to you to get it fixed.

 

Man, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to do the joey mod but honestly, I'm afraid it might be too much. Perhaps I should try it just to see....


Mark