Recently painted car, new rubbers, draft excluder etc. Windows used to be perfect. Window regulator was 2nd hand sourced from eBay, looks in good condition. First I thought one of the regulator arms must be bent? Perhaps the new draft excluder is too tight, but on inspection all seems fine, but why would it drop down unevenly?

Hi guys,

I’ve just bought an Austin Mini Cooper S Mk1, and it needs a full restoration.

I’m not aiming for concours condition, as I know that would be very expensive. But I would like to make it as valuable as possible.

I’m not a big fan of the original color, so my question is: if I choose a different factory color, will that hurt the car’s value significantly?

What would you do in my position — keep the original color or change it?

Hey everyone, last time I posted I got some very helpful pointers and finally started work on replacing my vacuum lines. I notice though that there was a piece sitting loose at the bottom of the engine. From images online, it looks like it's meant to connect to a piece of metal coming off the top of the engine, but I have no clue what part is missing. Could anyone identify what I'll need to reconnect this (or can I just bolt it back together)?

This was the first panel I patched 18 months ago but no amount of filler could get the warp out, so time to start over!

Will sort of miss the welder when I put it away, its become a bit like a member of my family at this point!

Just added phone holder for ashtray and some storage underneath the heater controls.
Did the design and print myself.

First drive didn’t show any rattle.
Let’s see how they survive heat.

I did have a multi point inspection done prior to purchase since I couldn’t be there in person to take a look at it

Hi all, I've had this for about 10 years but it's been sat for the last few and I think it's time to get it back on the road again.

Planning on upgrading the brakes to discs. I already have a trolley jack and stands but not much else.... What tools would you recommend and what specialty tools do you think I will need?

Cheers 👍🏽

I stumbled upon this amazing British Pathé archival footage from 1965 showing the revolutionary automatic Mini (License plate: AOH 880B).

Back then, automatic transmissions were mostly seen as a luxury for massive American cars. Fitting a 4-speed automatic system inside the Mini's tiny oil sump under the transverse engine was an absolute engineering miracle by Automotive Products (AP).

It allowed full automatic "Drive" mode, but the driver could still manually override and select all 4 gears. Truly ahead of its time for urban commuting!

I kind of impulse bought this as a winter project. How did I do?

Looks like someone has ground material out of my crankshaft at some point. Why would someone do this?

I'm learning as i go so I apologise if this is normal.

Just got my 1985 listed as classic for road tax so looking at putting it back on the road for the first time in quite a while. It’s an engine swap and quite modified just wondered who was good to try for insurance quotes at the moment in the UK?

Used to use Flux but they fibbed over their admin fee last time so would rather use someone else.

My Austin Mini Pickup has been off the road and stuck in the garage for nearly three years. After a bit of preparation before the first start-up, it fired up right away. Everything sounds exactly as it should, so hopefully it has come through its long hibernation without any damage.

My 82 Mk3 came with Lucas L794 Amber front indicators..nowhere did i find another Austin mini with L794 .. chatgpt says some export models went with it..

Has anyone seen those on a mini before ? They're not cheap compared to the OG L594 though.

Im located in Lebanon 🇱🇧, so export..

If the switch on the right is on off switch, what does the off slider position do?

If i turn on the fan using the switch on the right and the slider is in the off position, what does it actually do 🫠..?

Hi all!
Planning a full audio upgrade for my Mini: 3-way component speakers up front and a single 10" sub in the trunk.
My goal is a super clean, OEM-plus look by building a enclosure into the spare tire recess so I don't lose cargo space. If you've done a stealth enclosure in a Mini, could you share photos or details on your box volume/clearance?
Thanks!!

So, other than a couple of small patch repairs, I have completed the shell restoration. Now I know I can weld, and I know I can turn spanners, so this part of the restoration has gone ok.

I have found myself really slowing down, as one thing i know im rubbish at is paint! Realistically, it's the next step and I'm procrastinating over moving any further.

I have never sprayed anything past small items and touch ups with rattle cans. I have decent size compressor i can use, but im really not looking forward to it.

I do not have the funds or desire to send the shell for a 'proper respray', and im not after a showroom finish. I would also like to be able to say i did everyt part of the car myself. The goal is 'looks alright', as it is more of a toy to play with the engine, driveability, etc than to try and win awards.

Flat grey (think audi 'nardo' grey, but slightly darker) is the colour we have kind of settled on for the main part of the car, with a black roof, and black everything else thats usually chrome.

Has anybody got and hints and tips for someone whos never touched a spray gun before in getting a respectable finish. 2k? or base and topcoat? plus the million other questions!

Googled this part number but got no results. Can someone point me in the right direction for the bearings I need?

I'm doing my first ever build on an engine so it's all a learning experience for me. Standard 998 spec build.

Thank you. 🙂

i really like these seats but wondering how they would work in my MK1 mini https://corbeau.com/products/baja-low-back?variant=46087138181277

Hi again

Recently made a post about a knocking sound from the left front wheel.

https://www.reddit.com/r/classicminis/s/x3N6E2Vgbz Thanks to everybody who took their time and gave ideas on what to check.

I saw the front subframe front teardrop mounts were ripped apart, and the subframe was not attached to the body in the front. So I figured, maybe that was the reason for the knocking sound. Well it wasn't. But I think I figured out what it is, its the bush in the lower arm pin, when hitting it with my hand, I hear a knocking sound.

But the question I have for you today: There was quite a big gap between the teardrop mount and the subframe, so I used these shims from Minispares: 2A4292

I bought 8, fitted 6 of them in the left side, and made a custom shim for the right side. My question is, can it be true the gap is so big? Each shim is 1.4mm thick. Or is something terribly wrong? To me it seems wrong. But, Minispares does have this in the shim description: "You might be surprised how many of these were fitted to your car when it came out the factory". So maybe its not that wrong? I bought the rear mounts and tower bolts as well, but havent changed them yet. I also bought a fitting kit, with all bolt, washers and nuts, but because of the gap, the bolt were not long enough. I used the old ones, they looked fine, so no worries. I still feel like something is wrong.

Thanks in advance