new to classic Mini, little help?

[highway]

Looking for a little help. Dad's inherited a 20k MCS via a relative which he collected last week. It's mint bar a few minor cosmetics.

I've checked out eBay and prices vary wildly for the bits I'm trying to source.

The wooden dash appears to have cracked and lifted. Where's the best/cheapest for a like for like replacement?
I quite like the alloy look for the dash as well, does that come in 'stick on"' or adhesive sections that I could simply place over the cracked bits or do I have to replace the entire dash?

Is removing the dash straightforward?

I'd like to get new headlamp surrounds, chrome bits for the interior and some additional spotlights as well, am I better off sourcing these online in one go from one supplier or is it cheaper to source bits individually via eBay ?

Finally, I like the look of the John Cooper signature over the white bonnet stripes which the car already has, do these go on one stripe only or both for the factory look? If only on one side, then which please.?

Thanks for the help

[chrisj_abz]

the world is your oyster when it comes to accessories for the little mini!

my preferred suppliers are Minispares www.minispares.com and DSN www.dsnclassics.co.uk

firstly the dash, yes you can get either a replacement walnut dash (guessing thats what you have) or a heap of other styles. dashes are normally held in by 3 or 4 C shaped bits of metal which hook over the top and bottom dash rails in the back of the dash. not difficult to change but a bit fiddly, like most jobs on a mini. some of the better dashes will have good instructions.

you can try the above companies for the brightwork and see how they compare with ebay, i like using dsn as they are really helpful and usually very quick delivery (just dont look at the retrosport range, or your wallet will mysteriously empty)

if i remember correctly, the cooper signatures are on both sides..

if you get stuck just post up on here and most importantly... post some Pics up of your mini!

[highway]

Was just about to bid on a dash,as seen on the bay when I noticed it didn't have the headlight level adjuster switch or the cut out for the srs light. What model year dashes fit the 97 model ( other than 97!)

[minipete]

You would maybe best having a go at refurbishing your dash board yourself,as after market dashboards don`t tend to have a headlight level switch,or an airbag light.They aren`t bad to remove,take out the stereo where you can get your hand into the inside of the dash,there will be the middle fixxing going from the back of the dash to the top of the heater area of the lower dash rail.It will be a single 7/16 nut undo this and lift the bar off the thread.Then the dash is held to the lower dashrail under the airvents at each end,same sort of thing applies undo a 7/16 nut and lift the bracket up out of the hole.The dash should now be free the remove,pull it gently forward,and disconnect any extra guages above the radio slot,also the headlight switch will unplug and the three main dails should stay in the car.
The dashboard itself will strip down into three main parts,glovebox lid,clock besel and the main dash.then you can strip repaint or cover with alloy or even carbon fibre sticky back plastic.
Hope this helps,
Pete.

[minipete]

Also join The Mini Forum and Minifinity where you can find out all sorts of helpful tips.

[highway]

Very helpful, taa muchly

[Miniholic]

Wood & Pickett do a choice of dashboards for the MPi.

Walnut
http://www.woodandpickett.com/shop/classic-mini/in...

Carbon
http://www.woodandpickett.com/shop/classic-mini/in...

[highway]

I'm missing one of the Mini Cooper laurel stickers from the rear wing. UK Mini spares has them at around £6 each but there are loads on ebay for half that. What is the correct size I should be seeking? Are they all 145mm by 135 mm or do I have to get the proper sticker steering away from the bay?

Still havent sourced a dash. Its such a shame the laminate on the wood has flaked off. I dont need a new dash but the cracks in the laminate really spoil the look. I assumed some sort of stick over applique would be the answer but I cant see any..

[minipete]

Minispares would probably be the best place to buy the Cooper laurels,and your dash will it not sand back and re varnish?They come apart into 5 or 6 pieces.I stripped one i bought off ebay which is a genuine rover dash and painted it body coloured.

[highway]

Cheers. I'm loathe to pay out for a new dashboard as, from looking at other adverts, it seems the lacquer cracking and peeling on these wooden dashboards is not uncommon. Surely there must be a cheap way to simply get it re- lacquered? Where domi go? The Pickett dashes mentioned are nice, albeit hexy at £199 plus vat. Has anyone reading this knowledge of a company who can strip the peeling lacquer and simply refinish it?

Thanks for the help so far!

[Steffan]

highway said:

Cheers. I'm loathe to pay out for a new dashboard as, from looking at other adverts, it seems the lacquer cracking and peeling on these wooden dashboards is not uncommon. Surely there must be a cheap way to simply get it re- lacquered? Where domi go? The Pickett dashes mentioned are nice, albeit hexy at £199 plus vat. Has anyone reading this knowledge of a company who can strip the peeling lacquer and simply refinish it?

Thanks for the help so far!

You can get it relaquered any decent motor restorere will have contacts for this. Unless it is a Wood and Picket or similar known make it will be much cheaper to buy new. Restoration of woodwork is not cheap.

Minis are huge fun, Generally the replacement costs of parts is not unreasonable but cheaper than refurbishment particularly with specialist trim.

The costs of rebuilding an Alfa Romeo or a Jaguar for example would be much much higher. One of the cheapest and easiest cars to restore the Mini. Size helps, the various roll over systems work brilliantly for rebuilding the floor and so on.

And still an outstanding driving car. Sixty years old now and going strong.

I personally think the Mini is still the best British car ever made. 1,500,000 sold suggest I am right.

But then I am biased I own three Minis and three mini based cars.

Good Luck to you.

[highway]

I drove this back some 50 miles when we bought it. I've had several Lotus Elise's, an M3 and currently a 993 Porsche 911. The Cooper was an engaging car to drive as any I've listed. Not the fastest but I was staggered how involving it was. Pity its so bouncy though!

[FWDRacer]

You need a set of decent dampers and then you can forget all that other "traffic" you've stored in the garage