MINI2

feybrand · Oct 13th, 2006, 12:43 PM

I've seen a few MINIs with matching arches and its a cool look, so I want mine done, I presume I go to the dealers where I bought the car.

Does anyone know roughly how much it will cost? As I'm not well of and will have to save up for it

sef · Oct 13th, 2006, 01:06 PM

I wouldn't go to the dealers for it... There are plenty of places that will do it... Depends where you are really...

feybrand · Oct 13th, 2006, 01:08 PM

ok so like a body shop/respray place for it then?

sef · Oct 13th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Yes always cheaper... I'm sure that there are some companies that advertise on her e that can do it... There are also some companies in the lastest Modern Mini mag...

Black&Blue · Oct 13th, 2006, 01:27 PM

Yes i just got mine done and i went to BMW and they wouldnt put warrenty on it and were charging me 900£ for just the arches, so i found a great body shop and got my Arches and top done black for 450£,
and looks awsum, post pics later to show you.
Mark

philwhite_1 · Oct 13th, 2006, 06:28 PM

I rang a spray shop and they said there was a possibility of the wheel arches coming out "textured" because of the surface of the plastic beneath the new paint. They also mentioned that they wouldn't shine like the paintwork of the rest of the car when polished. Has this happened to anyone?
This would really put me off doing it!

MarkW19 · Oct 13th, 2006, 06:32 PM

BMW did mine for £300 when I got my MINI new. They are slightly textured, but they do shine, although not as much as the rest of the car. But the difference is only visible in direct sunlight, it's really not a problem!

*Vikki* · Oct 13th, 2006, 06:39 PM

in the words of the bpdy shop if its done right then no difference should be shown, our cooper you cant see no difference.

MarkW19 · Oct 13th, 2006, 06:41 PM

Looks like mine wasn't done right then

You can tell a slight difference in the way they reflect light...but that's just me being picky as usual

feybrand · Oct 15th, 2006, 09:31 AM

ok thanks for your help guys looks like the better quality the body shop you take it to the better the outcome thanks again

Rakey · Oct 15th, 2006, 09:46 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19 (original)

Looks like mine wasn't done right then

You can tell a slight difference in the way they reflect light...but that's just me being picky as usual

all depends on how they are done Mark, the cheap way is just to apply several layers of primer on them then spray the colour, this will leave the texture slightly like you are reporting.

The professional way of doing the arches is to prime, rub down, prime, rub down, prime rub down, then paint. Obviously more labour intensive and more costly if say a dealer was to do it, but does give a better look/finish.

This could be done by someone themselves if they wanted to reduce the cost of the painting, just buy a second set of arches and do them before submitting the car for the body colour coding, they are not that expensive

Always worth asking a paint shop how they intend to carry out the work so you know how they will look

Babes · Oct 17th, 2006, 02:58 AM

yeah if the body shop sands the arches down they will look exactly the same as the rest of the car, mine are nice and shiny. Cost was $200 but they did it when fitting the aero kit. Apparently the clips are likely to break when removing the arches and the clips are a bit of a rip off.

Perm · Oct 17th, 2006, 11:10 AM

I do a lot of motorway driving.....are painted arches any more prone to stone chips than the rest of the bodywork ?

Perm

MINI-Morgan · Oct 17th, 2006, 11:28 AM

If you get it done get it done right but there is a few things you need to be aware of though :

1) to get them to look right they need to be sanded down smooth
2) they must be primered with flexible primer (Poly Flex is it??)
3) the paint much be flexible too which my local body shop said they would mix the flexible compound in. Wish I could remember what its called! ElastoPlast comes to mind though!
4) This is the most annoying bit! If you've used anything silicon based to make your trim look all nice and shiney then they will have a nightmare getting the paint to stick and may crack in the future. As the body shop said they would recommend brand new ones.
5) Never go to BMW to get it done! Would be stupidly expensive and they usually contract out the work anyway. Well except my dealer which seem to do things like that in house.

Does look good though and will be doing my black S when I get the aero kit fitted.

Perm · Oct 17th, 2006, 12:29 PM

One more question.....
I know you can buy the new arches, can you buy the other "grey" plastics bits new also.....
Other bits being the lower arch, and grey plastic lower surround ect.

Any idea what they cost from BMW ?
Part numbers ?

Many thanks

Perm

Rakey · Oct 17th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Perm (original)

I do a lot of motorway driving.....are painted arches any more prone to stone chips than the rest of the bodywork ?

Perm

yes, anything painted is going to be more prone to stone chips than something that isn't painted

sel · Oct 17th, 2006, 05:55 PM

Think il just stick to back 2 black! lol

Oct 13th, 2006, 12:43 PM	#1
feybrand MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 187 Offline	colour coded arches I've seen a few MINIs with matching arches and its a cool look, so I want mine done, I presume I go to the dealers where I bought the car. Does anyone know roughly how much it will cost? As I'm not well of and will have to save up for it Last edited by Rakey : Oct 15th, 2006 at 09:50 AM. Reason: removing text speak

Oct 13th, 2006, 01:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
feybrand MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 187 Offline	ok so like a body shop/respray place for it then? Last edited by Rakey : Oct 15th, 2006 at 09:51 AM. Reason: removing text speak

Oct 13th, 2006, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
philwhite_1 MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol/Bath Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 53 Offline	texture I rang a spray shop and they said there was a possibility of the wheel arches coming out "textured" because of the surface of the plastic beneath the new paint. They also mentioned that they wouldn't shine like the paintwork of the rest of the car when polished. Has this happened to anyone? This would really put me off doing it!

Oct 15th, 2006, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
feybrand MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 187 Offline	ok thanks for your help guys looks like the better quality the body shop you take it to the better the outcome thanks again Last edited by Rakey : Oct 15th, 2006 at 09:51 AM. Reason: text speak

Oct 15th, 2006, 09:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rakey I am not a number!! My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Village Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 50,326 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19 (original) Looks like mine wasn't done right then You can tell a slight difference in the way they reflect light...but that's just me being picky as usual all depends on how they are done Mark, the cheap way is just to apply several layers of primer on them then spray the colour, this will leave the texture slightly like you are reporting. The professional way of doing the arches is to prime, rub down, prime, rub down, prime rub down, then paint. Obviously more labour intensive and more costly if say a dealer was to do it, but does give a better look/finish. This could be done by someone themselves if they wanted to reduce the cost of the painting, just buy a second set of arches and do them before submitting the car for the body colour coding, they are not that expensive Always worth asking a paint shop how they intend to carry out the work so you know how they will look Its only a forum you know!

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Oct 13th, 2006, 01:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
sef Affinity to 1320 Autos My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: A dark Corner Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 674 Offline	I wouldn't go to the dealers for it... There are plenty of places that will do it... Depends where you are really...

Oct 13th, 2006, 01:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
sef Affinity to 1320 Autos My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: A dark Corner Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 674 Offline	Yes always cheaper... I'm sure that there are some companies that advertise on her e that can do it... There are also some companies in the lastest Modern Mini mag...

Oct 13th, 2006, 01:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Black&Blue Formerly LookalikeJCW My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 356 Offline	Yes i just got mine done and i went to BMW and they wouldnt put warrenty on it and were charging me 900£ for just the arches, so i found a great body shop and got my Arches and top done black for 450£, and looks awsum, post pics later to show you. Mark

Oct 13th, 2006, 06:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 3,831 Offline	BMW did mine for £300 when I got my MINI new. They are slightly textured, but they do shine, although not as much as the rest of the car. But the difference is only visible in direct sunlight, it's really not a problem!

Oct 13th, 2006, 06:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Vikki Winner MM best MINI ONE! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: St Leonards-on-Sea Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 2,220 Offline	in the words of the bpdy shop if its done right then no difference should be shown, our cooper you cant see no difference.

Oct 13th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 3,831 Offline	Looks like mine wasn't done right then You can tell a slight difference in the way they reflect light...but that's just me being picky as usual

Oct 17th, 2006, 02:58 AM	#12 (permalink)
Babes Cruising In The Minge My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Perth Local Time: 05:32 AM Posts: 746 Offline	yeah if the body shop sands the arches down they will look exactly the same as the rest of the car, mine are nice and shiny. Cost was $200 but they did it when fitting the aero kit. Apparently the clips are likely to break when removing the arches and the clips are a bit of a rip off. 2003 BRG/W JCW MCS 2002 PS/PS JCW MC 1970 BRG/W MK2 Morris Cooper S

Oct 17th, 2006, 11:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
Perm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 480 Offline	I do a lot of motorway driving.....are painted arches any more prone to stone chips than the rest of the bodywork ? Perm

Oct 17th, 2006, 11:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
MINI-Morgan MINI Obsessed... My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southampton, Hants Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 4,610 Offline	If you get it done get it done right but there is a few things you need to be aware of though : 1) to get them to look right they need to be sanded down smooth 2) they must be primered with flexible primer (Poly Flex is it??) 3) the paint much be flexible too which my local body shop said they would mix the flexible compound in. Wish I could remember what its called! ElastoPlast comes to mind though! 4) This is the most annoying bit! If you've used anything silicon based to make your trim look all nice and shiney then they will have a nightmare getting the paint to stick and may crack in the future. As the body shop said they would recommend brand new ones. 5) Never go to BMW to get it done! Would be stupidly expensive and they usually contract out the work anyway. Well except my dealer which seem to do things like that in house. Does look good though and will be doing my black S when I get the aero kit fitted.

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Oct 17th, 2006, 12:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Perm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 480 Offline	One more question..... I know you can buy the new arches, can you buy the other "grey" plastics bits new also..... Other bits being the lower arch, and grey plastic lower surround ect. Any idea what they cost from BMW ? Part numbers ? Many thanks Perm

Oct 17th, 2006, 05:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
Rakey I am not a number!! My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Village Local Time: 10:32 PM Posts: 50,326 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Perm (original) I do a lot of motorway driving.....are painted arches any more prone to stone chips than the rest of the bodywork ? Perm yes, anything painted is going to be more prone to stone chips than something that isn't painted Its only a forum you know!

Oct 17th, 2006, 05:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
sel bye bye MINI hello 206 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bodmin/Cornwall Local Time: 09:32 PM Posts: 4,301 Offline	Think il just stick to back 2 black! lol Log onto: [url="http://www.newminikernow.co.uk"][font=Arial Black]www.newminikernow.co.uk and check out what's happening in Cornwall

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