**Fully Articulated Bonnet Hinge £50+VAT**
Version 2.5 hinges are going to be in stock Imminently.
Version 2.5 has further improvements :
>>Increased opening angle – the bonnet now opens to 84°
>>Improved fitting – 2 of 4 mounting holes are slotted to ensure hinges can be pushed right up under the wing lip. Lower mounting holes remain circular to pin the hinges in position
>>Improved clearance – despite increased opening angle there is now more cleareance between the bonnet and wings when fully opened.
>>Improved construction – an adjustable set screw now controls the amount of movement in the system when the hinges are locked out. This screw can be re adjusted over time to ensure the hinges always lock solid with no excess movement.
>>Further reduction in weight
If you’ve ever worked within the engine bay of your mini, you’ll know the difficulties that come as a result of the bonnet only opening to 45 degrees. You have to crouch down in order to see anything, your accessibility is impaired because of the angle of the bonnet and the bonnet prop being in the way, and you inevitably end up with a sore back, a stain on the back of your shirt and a bruise on the back of your head! The alternative is no less of a headache. Having to painstakingly remove the bonnet taking care not to scratch it, store it safely without it getting damaged, then go through the rigmarole of accurately realigning and refitting it every time. The whole thing is a massive hassle!
Have you ever wished you could just lift the bonnet up out of the way without having to remove it every time? Well finally you can 
The fully articulated bonnet hinge from minivation addresses all these problems in one neat and tidy solution.
Made from 304 grade bright annealed stainless steel this product will serve the test of time outlasting most of your body panels!
The product includes an automated safety lockout that holds the bonnet open at full articulation making the engine bay completely accessible. The existing bonnet prop can still be used if you want to lower the bonnet to the same height as everyone else for photoshoots etc.
Version 2.1 hinges ON SALE
We have a limited number of version 2.1 hinges for sale @ 45+ VAT
This is the last of our stock before Version 2.5 arrives. The main differences between version 2.1 and 2.5 are the opening angle and mounting holes. The remaining stock do have the set screw installed to remove the movement in the system due the build tolerances
Bonnet Finally Painted
The mini is looking tidy now
The house looks like it’s been in a sand storm, everything is covered in red dust. If it hadn’t been throwing it down, I’d have painted the bonnet outside but as it was, the paint would never have dried. So into the kitchen I went with the dented, scratched, blue/yellow/red panel with a determination to come out with a usable bonnet.
I haven’t got of all the scratches, despite several hours of filling, sanding, priming and painting, but the mini does look significantly better as a results of all the effort. Plus it was a good oppourtunity to swap some of the concept hinges for the full blown production versions.
The mini is starting to look a little more together now. I just need to find the bonnet latch pin… it’s in that garage somewhere.
Version 2.0 in stock!
For the first time this year we actually have stock of the hinges, though once again they are selling fast. more than 25% of this batch are gone already. Join the ever-growing group of mini enthusiasts who are enjoying mini life without the difficulties of working in the cramped engine bay. Click here to jump to our product page now and grab yourselves the answer to 53 years of pain, stains and obstructions.
Heater issues
Is it me or is the mini heater a bit rubbish? Of the four minis I’ve owned and the countless I’ve travelled in, I can’t remember a single one that didn’t have some sort of issue. My current excuse for a heater is possibly the worst leading me to think that at the very minimum, it could do with reconditioning. I’m planning on taking it out this week as we are down to one car from next weekend, that being the mini. I know my wife won’t thank me for effectively driving round in the chilled cabinet of some supermarket. It’s double whammy too as not only is the heater defunct, the fresh air vents are wide open as I’m working on the new dash, brrrr.
I’ve been doing a bit of looking around, particularly on TMF for a completely different solution and so far have not come up trumps. If anyone knows of a more effective replacment for the humble heater do tell, as I love a good excuse to pop up to the scrap yard!
Version 2.0 Arriving 16th April
At last we are days away from having the hinges back in stock. Version 2.0 has a lot of improvemnets over the original offering including an automated lock out, improved stop out. They are now high polished on the surfaces that face into the engine bay, they are reduced in weight (total weight tbd), the stud size has been reduced to increase adjustability and the new instructions will be pictorial rather than a set of words!