de-seamed minis
Turbo Mini Forums

Just had a look at a mk1 which need some work but is not a complete basket case like most of them. My biggest concern is that it's been de-seamed apart from the roof gutter and bumpers. As far as I am aware there is no way or revering the process apart from new panels and I'll never know how well it's been done.

So what's the Tm thoughts on de-seamed minis and is there any way of testing/checking how well it's been done?

Look on the inside??

Welcome back.

I would have thought it would be quite difficult to tell how well it has been done from the outside, a master of body filler may have been at the car.

Get behind the panels and take a look, this is easy on the one side of the boot, but the tank is in the way on the other, and the C-post trim is probably in the way above this.
The A-posts would be near impossible to check without a camera on a flexible stick.

My old car had been done with a 25mm strip welded up the back of the car.
When we did this car my friend who is a master of welding buzzed up the back of the seams bit by bit, and then we ground down the seam on the outside.

How long has the car been deseamed for?
If it's been years and still looks ok then I would count that as a good sign.

Just to add, I would imagine a deseamed mk1 will never have the value of an original car, however I think it's a good look when the roof gutter is kept

Nic I was hoping you would post having done it. You said my old car does that mean you have sold it?

Might need a second opinion. If I could get a picture from inside the boot would anyone be willing to offer an opinion via a private PM?

Might not guareentee the quality of the whole car but I might be enough to decide whoever did it had a clue to start with?

I still have the ornament.
I had a car beforehand that was deseamed when I bought the shell.
I'm no expert but feel free to pm over a picture.

I don't know how you could tell the depth of the filler on the outside though.

I'm sure you could but the look back at least, if not actually reversing the construction.

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Hi will not really to bothered by the look just want to make sure I'm buying something that's solid.

i had a deseamed clubman which was ok in the back but the master of filler had done the a pillars you just cant tell unless you take the paint off ....... i would be cautious buying a deseamed shell now

however it was the original spot welds on the drivers rear sill that failed in my case the 1/4s took some decent forces... weld is supposedly stronger than the metal around it just hope its bonded to it rather than sat on it ..............

Outside the box

I'd echo the comments above. Have a look at the bits on view, its probably going to give you a good guidance on the rest.

Its also a good point about how long its been done for.

A magnet will give an indication of how thick the filler is. Also look for hairline cracks in the paint, suggesting too much filler and panels flexing too much.

I'd be cautious, but you have to wonder how bad a weld job would it would take to be worse than the original spot weld every inch.