I am looking to restore my Mini and have been looking at a number of
companys. I've looked at MBM Bristol who have a decent website and from
the pics the work looks good. This is, unfortunately, not matched by
some of the comments I've seen posted in this group which are now
making me think twice. Another firm I've looked at is Somerford.

In terms of Engine / box I'm considering MED

I've not noticed anything posted too recently about MBM and I'm still
searching for comments about Somerford and MED. Would anyone be able to
comment about these companys. If you would prefer not to post in public
feel free to email me direct cwhellamsATyahoo.co.uk - replace AT with
@.

Cheers
Chris

Somerford have a good reputation but are very expensive, I got a quote off
them for a restoration a few years ago & the price was about twice the price
of a new body shell!

Steve.

<cwhellams (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote

MBM Bristol closing down and selling the site for property development I
believe


"Steve68s" <steve68(remove)@btinternet.com> wrote

Well yes I've heard all kinds of horror stories about MBM of Bristol
and I know their cowboys as they tried to rip off my niece a few years
back, thank god she had sense to walk away.

But yes Somerford have a great reputation (bit of a waiting list mind)
as do MiniMachine:-

http://www.m-machine.co.uk/

But I've also heard lots of nice things being said about "The Mini
Hospital" of Northampton? I think, anyway I know a woman who takes her
collection of rare Mini's there (she's had her 2 rare early 1960's
Supers restored and their doing another one for her right now) and she
absolutely swears by them.

Taffy

You could do it yourself... more of a challenge. Then you have only
yourself to blame if it goes wrong :-)

P

Ha ha ! Yeah - I've been 'doing it myself' for the last 7yrs. When I
was a student I was time rich, cash poor and spent every weekend under
the bonnet. I'm now time poor and cash rich (we'll not by the time I
finish paying for this thing) so if I wan't to actually use my car
before I reach retirement age I have to admit defeat and farm most of
the work out

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far. MBM have a decent web site
which drew me in - but I luckily decided to dig around in the news
groups and found some horror stories. Somerford are currently taking
bookings for March 2008 ! So, as many people have said, that speaks for
itself I guess.

rgds
Chris

Pedro wrote:

Cannot recommend MED enough. I gave them a box to recon as my 1380 had
snapped the input gear shaft and munched it's input bearings etc. The box I
received back from them was surgically clean and came back clingfilm wrapped
to make sure it stayed that way. They also fitted me a twin-pin diff and
3.9CWP while the box was apart too for a good price. Centre oil pickup is
included in the price.

They stamp the casings so they know exactly whats been done if you ever have
to take it back. After an initial rebuild, further rebuilds are much
cheaper as they can be sure exactly whats works been done on it. If you are
building a relatively std engine/box then an MED lump would probably last
75,000 easily - if serviced etc etc.

As for bodywork I have heard somerfield are very good. Mini machine,
darlington, are also quite good and supply many rare panels for estate's etc
which are excellent quality/fit etc.

hth

Chris

<cwhellams (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Never be impressed by a flashy website alone, you need recommendations
from people who have had work done for a real guide on where to spend
your hard earned cash.

I've seen so many programmes on the TV where people have used
companies, because the website looked impressive and one was a
specialist car engine repairer called "Engines Direct" if my memory
serves me correct and yes nice website, but they totally xxxxed up
everyones engines, or just stripped them down and then did nothing
else!

So be afraid, be very afraid. But yes all the Mini specialists
mentioned here "except MBM of Bristol" of course, are top class outfits
and i'd trust them.

Taffy

I thought MBM had gone under? according to an article in Miniworld or Mini
Magazine, I could be wrong.....

<cwhellams (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Yeah I heard that too and the owner claimed he was going into the
building trade, so god knows what state the houses he builds will be
in! So yes don't buy a house from him for god sake!

Taffy