Severe stone chipped new mini - MINI2

Mega Mini · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 14th, 2003, 11:57 AM

After only having my new mini a week it has a huge dent / stone chip on bonnet just above the grill.

I was coming up a road with road works and there were stones that would not look out of place on a railway track all over the other carriage way. I am currently persuing the council to pay the bill since the highway should have been kept clean. Even now the stones are still there.

The repair bill will be £300 and take three days to do as the whole bonnet will need respraying.

I am assured by dealer that my warrenty will not be affected but what a crappy thing to happen before i even got to wash the car.

Grings · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 15th, 2003, 10:54 AM

Same kind of thing happened to me whent he car was just 2 weeks old. Big rock on the A14 jumped up and hit the bonnet leading edge just in the centre of the stripe.

I just live with it, like Max says, I expect to get a few more and when they are bad enough I will ge the whole lot done.

£300 sounds about right. I know what you are saying Max, but I have seen plenty of £50 spray jobs and you do get what you pay for.

I know this doesn't help but just so you know you are not alone

Mega Mini · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 20th, 2003, 04:27 PM

Its good to know i am not alone. I have had the repair done and it is good as new. I see you can buy bras for the front end but it makes the car look awful. The panel beater said to me that he called bmw and they told him he would have to buy a new badge, grill and clips for the bonnet but he thought this was a waste of money and managed to do the job without these bits. thanks guys.

R1 · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 20th, 2003, 05:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Max

The MINI has a blunt front end. After 16,000 miles and 13 months of fast grin-inducing mileage I have 6 dings on my front. Also lost 2 windscreens.

14,000 miles, not many dings but lost 2 windscreens!

ALD0 · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 20th, 2003, 06:33 PM

I hate Gritters aswell-They go too fast for spreading the road and they damm well know it.

gtt19 · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 20th, 2003, 06:52 PM

look into the clear bras, guys! they are quite effetive at stopping most chips and dings <short of small boulders> and you are unable to see it on the car unless you are 6 feet away or closer, and looking for the line. they have them available in the accessories brochures <here in the US, anyway>
my customers that have had that installed on their MINI's have been very pleased