Prepping for a respray (updated 14/02/2008)
Turbo Mini Forums

Another chapter in an on going saga, I really wish I had never bought this car, not anything to do with the car, its a nice british open classic and bought for peanuts too, but the amount of hassle its caused me is untrue.

Anyway, its been off the road for 3 years, sent it for some welding and a respray in 2004, the bloke took 6 months, did half a job, then went bust, onto the next bloke who took the car, said it would be done within 6 weeks, 18 months later (with being at uni had other things on) I got the car back as not a thing had been done, the bloke was basically a pisshead and wasnt interested in the job, but just kept us in promise land everytime i rang, onto the next...groan..
This one really talked the talk, said he loved minis, bit of a fanatic etc, would go the extra mile, would be better than new, including waxoyl in all panels/sills, seam sealer everywhere, oven baked finish, agreed on £1300 and gave it to him last Nov...

Anyway, got it back (finally) toward the end of June, and this joker really has taken the piss.

Its blatently been sprayed in a barn or some shit, he has sprayed over a bird shit on one place! Its unbelivable.

It came back covered in a white dust, when I hosed it off, all the paint came off the seam covers, he hadnt even primed or prepped them!

The battery box we asked him to fix has been glued in with seam sealer, the hole in the wheel arch hasnt been done, you can put your hand trough it still!!

Hes sprayed over the British open classic sticker on the boot, its all like orange peel. Hasnt sprayed under the car at all, so allt he new metal is still bare and unprotected from the floor seam down.

There are runs down the doors and rear panel, and the doors (freshly reskinned before we handed him the car) look like someone gone down tapping them with a ball pein hammer, full of dents! BAC!

So finally decided to bite the bullet and take it to a professional spray shop to redo it properly and be done with it.

Its had new sills, a panels, wings, and some new bits of flooring put in, a bit of boot, and before it goes in for spraying the lads going to shot blast the front and rear valances, and weld the battery box in.

So there will be quite a bit of new metal under the car.

Is there anything I can do before sending it for prepping/spraying, can really underseal it as it still needs the odd patch etc here and there.

Was going to suggest I have it back for a day or 2 immediately before it goes for spraying, so i can really take the piss underneath with rust proofing products etc.

What do you guys recommend? Or should I just wait till after its back?

I really feel I cant trust people to do a pukka job after the last 3 wankers pissed me about.

Getting a bit paranoid about it all probably, but so sick of the timewasters on this island, should have just brought it across...

Joe

Edited by joeybaby83 on 15th Feb, 2008.

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Why do people take the piss like that! it really pisses me off!

i had a mate hit my car and it went through insurance for repairs. o good i thought it will be a nice finish and back quite soon. 2 months later i got the car back and the work was carp! it was missing decals, panels didnt line up (would have failed an mot on sharp edges!) so it had to go back to a different place to have the work redone. luckily they were a good place, and it was the same company! just a different branch only 2 miles away!!!! 2weeks later my car was back and better than ever! 1x's new rust free front end for me but alot of hassel!!

i really feel for you mate but if its a reputable shop all should be fine. when i get mine sprayed i will be asking to see any previous work and checking out there premises and where it will be sprayed, just because i have been, and know other people that have been messed around with spray. and that can make or break the car. (dependant on the style obv.)

i didnt really help there did i, just went off on one. lol.

im sure all will be fine, just make sure you see previous work etc etc.

James.

i hope so, i swear im gonna fly tip it off douglas head if it comes back looking shit!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Realy dont no wot to say joe am a painter in a family run business and the storys we here bout other shops is unbeleveable, i realy hope you get it sorted. On a good note thair is a lot of real good places out there, do as james says go to the shop first and look at previous work and costs but please dont give any money till the job is done. Keep us informed

Rick

Rotten luck indeed Jo. Do as cossierick says, and don't pay a dollar until your happy with the job. If they moan, threaten with legal action. :)

Well to date ive paid £650 for the original welding done before the bloke went out of business, only to find hes missed a fair amount... :(

Not paid anyone a penny since, and wont until I see some results!!!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Phew! Could of been costly paying 3 times!

Its only had the one respray so far, and being a small island the goon who sprayed it turned out to be a good friends brother in law...which made a few ripples...

The others were just timewasters, one had the car, stripped the interior, then never went near it for well over a year....all the time claiming he was making lots of progress and doing a great job..

it makes my blood boil thinking about it!!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Sounds like a load of BAC's.

As others say, get recommendations from other people who have had cars done and are happy, and then approach somewhere with a sack full of pictures to discuss what the car is and what you want to achieve with it. Then get it down in writing between you, your expectations for the job. That way there is no room for misunderstanding on either part.

You'd be best stripping all the paint off from the previous jobs as the final finish is only as good as the prep!!

I would only be happy if I knew all the shitly prep paint was off. The new paint may take well to the paint/primer underneath but if that paint hasn't everything on top will flake off too!

Ive always found people tend to do a better job if they get paid after the job as I suppose theres always the thought that they might not get their money if the work is shit?

Hope you get things sorted this time!

Edited by matty on 20th Aug, 2007.

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Keep us informed joe as to how you get on, i no am a fair distance away but if i can help just pm me.

spoek to the lad there today, seems a reallu upfront guy

booked friday afternoon off work to deliver it, they reconk by next thursday it will be ready for spraying, and agreed i can look over everything before it goes in for spraying so if there are any bits im not happy with they can be put right before painting.

Also agreed on making a definitive list of whats going to be done.

so far so good!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Perhaps take a few pics while your there & post them. Maybe a few people on here may notice things you've missed. If it helps.

sounds promising.

Hopfully you've used up your quota of sthit luck!

After being shafted with my mini, and partly shafted with my other car I am certainly not bird-mouthed anymore! You learn your lesson and as people say look around their shop but most importantly look at their previous work. I have been way to easy on people in the past. My other car has been in over 2 years now and I still haven't got a quote from the guy (he likes to be able to shift figures around as needs be). If he doesn't give me a solid price this week I am pulling the car, renting a shed and doing it myself!

Got it back tonight, its flawless!!

So pleased with it, cant wait till its back on the road!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Pics?

Back once again like a renegade master

WOOOOO at long last

i know!

will post some pics asap

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Not the best pics, but you get the idea, the bloke who had done it was there when i picked it up, you could tell he was quite proud of his handywork













Gonna underseal/stone chip the entire floor plan/rear subframe, but not sure what products best, that creamy waxy stuff seems good (Schultz?)

Edited by joeybaby83 on 1st Oct, 2007.

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Shiny.
Oversills though Joey, You should know better. LOL

Back once again like a renegade master

no chance, everything was heritage, including a whole new floorpan/heelboard/front end

the car cost £450, panels and welding cost £750, and the (latest) welding/respray cost £950 cash, spent £360 on new seals/mounts/stainless exhaust system

gonna leave it entirely std besides the stainless exhaust system :)

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Sorry mate
that sill looks "funny" at the mo. Time for bed me thinks.

Edited by Jordan on 1st Oct, 2007.

Back once again like a renegade master

The Oversills Police (look to the left) chimes in and judge those sills perfectly as they should be!

Manchester Minis