MINI2

MIN 18 · Feb 28th, 2007, 02:51 PM

Guys, help please. I've read about the gap in the fenders as one of the defects in the new MINI. I just ordered my unit from a parallel importer in my country and he sent me the actual pics of the car that he'll be getting. Could you guys tell me if the pic below has the fender gap problem?

Paul · Feb 28th, 2007, 02:52 PM

VERY hard to tell from that shot to be honest. The gap doesn't look great, but you really need a shot (or several) that show the part where it meets the a-panel (including the chrome trim etc.) and a proper side-on shot of the arch area. Also, one side could be fine, the other quite bad (seen this a few times).

MINIAC · Feb 28th, 2007, 02:53 PM

Yes ... look where the hood meets the A-pillar panel above the arch.

MIN 18 · Feb 28th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC (original)

Yes ... look where the hood meets the A-pillar panel above the arch.

Can the dealer remedy this problem?

SteveBrass · Feb 28th, 2007, 04:09 PM

should be able to - just a fiddly job with the bonnet fixing brackets.

Great looking car.

MIN 18 · Feb 28th, 2007, 04:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SteveBrass (original)

should be able to - just a fiddly job with the bonnet fixing brackets.

Great looking car.

Thanks! I'll inform the importer to tell his guy to get it fixed before it gets shipped

Does anyone know how much the installed cost of the illuminated door sills ? The importer is charging me 500 USD!

adamsmini · Feb 28th, 2007, 04:45 PM

sadily this is a normaly problem with the new style mini as i work for them and it how it is made....

popey · Feb 28th, 2007, 05:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original)

Thanks! I'll inform the importer to tell his guy to get it fixed before it gets shipped

Does anyone know how much the installed cost of the illuminated door sills ? The importer is charging me 500 USD!

£135 - £165 Depending on what you have + fitting

Restyle · Feb 28th, 2007, 07:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by adamsmini (original)

Sadly this is a normal problem with the new style mini as i work for them and it how it is made....

Was wondering when one of the quality control team would come on here
Joking

Hi Adamsmini, & Welcome to MINI2.
Can I just ask you a little more about that statement.
Considering production of the R56 has been underway for well over 5 months now, would you agree that to have an uneven gap like that shown above is not what the customer should be expecting in a new car, especially one from MINI.
We have seen that the gaps can be made smaller with a consistant width on some cars from the production line, but for the rest it is generally up to the dealers mechanics to put things right ONLY upon customer request.
Sorry to have a bit of a rant, but I cant believe they are still turning out cars with this problem & calling them "Normal"

steeve · Mar 1st, 2007, 06:56 AM

Looking just at the picture, it looks OK to me!

MIN 18 · Mar 1st, 2007, 10:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by steeve (original)

Looking just at the picture, it looks OK to me!

I can see a gap but i don't know if it's normal or not hehe. Ill tell they guy to take a closer picture so that the ealer can have it adjusted in case there is a problem

steeve · Mar 1st, 2007, 12:15 PM

You will have a gap over the wheel arch for the bonnet as this is seperate on the R56 the wheel arch stays in place as the bonnet opens. The gap should be not too large and should be even around the arch, it should line up at the top where the chrome strip is. So the picture (and its not too easy from a small picture) looks OK to me.

problems I've seen are where the top rear edge of the bonnet is low, also cause the gap around the arch ro be uneven, as was the case with my car when I received. I adjusted the bonnet, took 5 minutes and looks fine.

South Shore Lad · Mar 1st, 2007, 06:59 PM

peoples fingers vary, but as a rough guide you shouldn't be able to get your little finger into the gap at any point. On mine, at its worst, I could get my little finger in beyond the nail - can't get it in at all now it's been sorted.

Gap should be parallel etc etc...
Chrome should also line up without any gaps too ('belt line') at A panel like Paul says. Mine was only a mm or so out here (again, now sorted), although I've seen some absolute horrors that had a misalignment of about a cm!

Some people describe the problem as "it's as if the bonnet is still open". It's worth pointing out that in some cases of the problem the bonnet may need an extra push on both sides to make sure it really IS shut!!

SSL
(a Fender Precision owner, funnily enough)

Feb 28th, 2007, 02:51 PM	#1
MIN 18 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 125 Offline	Fender Gap Guys, help please. I've read about the gap in the fenders as one of the defects in the new MINI. I just ordered my unit from a parallel importer in my country and he sent me the actual pics of the car that he'll be getting. Could you guys tell me if the pic below has the fender gap problem?

Feb 28th, 2007, 02:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Big grey box Local Time: 07:05 AM Posts: 40,514 Offline	VERY hard to tell from that shot to be honest. The gap doesn't look great, but you really need a shot (or several) that show the part where it meets the a-panel (including the chrome trim etc.) and a proper side-on shot of the arch area. Also, one side could be fine, the other quite bad (seen this a few times). Trained Monkeys

Feb 28th, 2007, 04:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
SteveBrass MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: staffordshire (not a Local Time: 07:05 AM Posts: 383 Offline	should be able to - just a fiddly job with the bonnet fixing brackets. Great looking car. R56 AB Cooper

Feb 28th, 2007, 07:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Restyle Damned My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Shropshire Local Time: 07:05 AM Posts: 4,269 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by adamsmini (original) Sadly this is a normal problem with the new style mini as i work for them and it how it is made.... Was wondering when one of the quality control team would come on here Joking Hi Adamsmini, & Welcome to MINI2. Can I just ask you a little more about that statement. Considering production of the R56 has been underway for well over 5 months now, would you agree that to have an uneven gap like that shown above is not what the customer should be expecting in a new car, especially one from MINI. We have seen that the gaps can be made smaller with a consistant width on some cars from the production line, but for the rest it is generally up to the dealers mechanics to put things right ONLY upon customer request. Sorry to have a bit of a rant, but I cant believe they are still turning out cars with this problem & calling them "Normal" In da Wud

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Feb 28th, 2007, 02:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
MINIAC MINI Profiler Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: City By The Bay Local Time: 11:05 PM Posts: 8,667 Offline	Yes ... look where the hood meets the A-pillar panel above the arch.

Feb 28th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
MIN 18 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 125 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC (original) Yes ... look where the hood meets the A-pillar panel above the arch. Can the dealer remedy this problem?

Feb 28th, 2007, 04:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
MIN 18 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 125 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by SteveBrass (original) should be able to - just a fiddly job with the bonnet fixing brackets. Great looking car. Thanks! I'll inform the importer to tell his guy to get it fixed before it gets shipped Does anyone know how much the installed cost of the illuminated door sills ? The importer is charging me 500 USD!

Feb 28th, 2007, 04:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
adamsmini ADAMSMINI My Classifieds Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: bicester/oxfordshire Local Time: 08:05 AM Posts: 47 Offline	sadily this is a normaly problem with the new style mini as i work for them and it how it is made....

Feb 28th, 2007, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
popey Wanted an Audi My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Blackpool Local Time: 07:05 AM Posts: 1,788 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original) Thanks! I'll inform the importer to tell his guy to get it fixed before it gets shipped Does anyone know how much the installed cost of the illuminated door sills ? The importer is charging me 500 USD! £135 - £165 Depending on what you have + fitting

Mar 1st, 2007, 06:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
steeve Steeve My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Far Corfe Local Time: 08:05 AM Posts: 276 Offline	Looking just at the picture, it looks OK to me!

Mar 1st, 2007, 10:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
MIN 18 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 125 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by steeve (original) Looking just at the picture, it looks OK to me! I can see a gap but i don't know if it's normal or not hehe. Ill tell they guy to take a closer picture so that the ealer can have it adjusted in case there is a problem

Mar 1st, 2007, 12:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
steeve Steeve My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Far Corfe Local Time: 08:05 AM Posts: 276 Offline	You will have a gap over the wheel arch for the bonnet as this is seperate on the R56 the wheel arch stays in place as the bonnet opens. The gap should be not too large and should be even around the arch, it should line up at the top where the chrome strip is. So the picture (and its not too easy from a small picture) looks OK to me. problems I've seen are where the top rear edge of the bonnet is low, also cause the gap around the arch ro be uneven, as was the case with my car when I received. I adjusted the bonnet, took 5 minutes and looks fine.

Mar 1st, 2007, 06:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
South Shore Lad MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lancashire Seaside Local Time: 07:05 AM Posts: 358 Offline	peoples fingers vary, but as a rough guide you shouldn't be able to get your little finger into the gap at any point. On mine, at its worst, I could get my little finger in beyond the nail - can't get it in at all now it's been sorted. Gap should be parallel etc etc... Chrome should also line up without any gaps too ('belt line') at A panel like Paul says. Mine was only a mm or so out here (again, now sorted), although I've seen some absolute horrors that had a misalignment of about a cm! Some people describe the problem as "it's as if the bonnet is still open". It's worth pointing out that in some cases of the problem the bonnet may need an extra push on both sides to make sure it really IS shut!! SSL (a Fender Precision owner, funnily enough)

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