Perhaps like most competition, not any one reseller has the best price on all parts nor do they have the exact items. As I have begun my first restoration, with 2 others already in cue, I've done a little research on where the best savings can be found (for me). Living in central Texas and working on the Classic Mini, I can't run to the nearest Salvage yard or Auto store for parts. I realize there are other sites (including specialty sites) and I would love to hear of those sites that have served people well along with potential discounts available.
The following is from the perspective of a novice with zero retailer relationships within the Classic Mini community. I fully understand that a solid relationship with good communication could easily offset any price break. Having support help makes a huge difference in my book (i.e. someone you can call to get specific detailed questions answered or even "how to" videos)
Of the sites listed below, I ran a test case on orders containing both a large bulky and a smaller simple item. Basic Ground shipping was used in all cases assuming there is no rush to get the parts. Notes:
1. Prices from Mini Sport and Mini Spares is based on current exchange rates.
2. I've found that shipping from the UK is quick (1-2 weeks for basic shipping)
3. I've found that you save on shipping with larger combined orders (vs buying smaller parts at different times). Case & point. I just made a fairly large order consisting of body panels, bumpers, hoses, etc.. the savings increased relative to S/H.
4. The shipping cost evaluation is my personal opinion only and is certain to vary depending on order.
5. Email communication with both Mini Sport and Mini Spares can take longer than expected and it's a tad dodgy for the novice trying to learn the ropes.
6. I have paper Classic Mini catalogs from Mini Sport, Mini Spares and Moss Motors. The catalogs have nice IPBs (Illustrated Parts Breakdowns)
- Mini Sport has both a USA and UK website (www.minisport.com). I cannot speak to the USA site.
o Do not pay VAT (taxes)
o Shipping Costs seem expensive for small items, but more reasonable with larger orders
- Mini Spares (www.minispares.com)
o Do not pay VAT (taxes)
o 7.5% TMF (The Mini Forum) member Discount
o Shipping Costs nearly equate to VAT + 7.5% discount
- Moss Motors (www.mossmotors.com/classic-mini)
o Reasonable Shipping Costs
- MIniMania (www.minimania.com)
o A tad high Shipping Costs
- Seven Mini Parts (www.7ent.com)
o Expensive shipping Costs
Example #1: MK1 Stainless Steel Classic Bumper Kit including: Front & Rear Bumpers w/ Front & Rear Overrider kit
- Mini Sport: $301.65 + ? (had to get a quote, but I would assume it's similar to Mini Spares)
- Mini Spares: $267.43 + $79.51 S/H (pricing based on TMF membership)
- Moss Motors: $499.99 + $24.99 S/H
- MiniMania: $499.95 + $55.00
- Seven Mini Parts: $472.45 + $63.83
Example #2: Lower Radiator Hose
- Mini Sport: $12.22 + 14.66 (not the exact same item)
- Mini Spares: $31.13 + $20.73 S/H
- Moss Motors: $27.99 + $7.99 S/H (not the exact same item)
- MiniMania: $49.95 + $8.36
- Seven Mini Parts: $40.59 + $14.50
Again, I would love to learn of recommended sites for ordering parts even if it's for those hard to find components.
Pretty much order 90% of my parts from minispares. The rest from minisport, but I skip the U.S. site and order direct from the U.K., where it ultimately comes from anyways. Then a few select items from specialty parts suppliers like kad ect... I did buy a centre oil pickup from 7 but only because everyone else was sold out. So I got to pay too much for the same part essentially.
All the parts I order from MiniSpares come via DHL - which is air, not ground - cost is reasonable @ $30 for a decent sized box of stuff, and if I place the order Sunday night so they have it first thing Monday, I usually have the parts in my hands on Wed. - I'm in Kansas City.
Shipping from Ca is about the same cost and takes 4 days, note that 7 Ent doesn't ship on Mondays no matter when you order, and if you order on a Thurs or Friday it will be late the next week before you see parts, unless you overnight them..
For engine parts or generic Lucas electrical parts I can get them locally from Victoria British right here in Lenexa, Ks. good quality and good prices, but no Mini specific parts or catalogs, you have to know what you're looking for because like Moss, they have their own parts numbering system that does not correlate with any factory Mini parts numbers. I work out of their Sprite/Midget catalog, which they will send free (for ever!) if you ask for one.
I have on occasion bought from Engle Imports in Kalamazoo, they are an English car dealer from way back and they know their stuff....again generic A series engine or electrical parts but they have them, good prices and quick, cheap shipping.
Mostly I just buy from Minispares now tho.
There are lots of specific parts suppliers - Spiffy's Bits for Stainless Steel parts of all kinds for Minis, DSN for billet and custom made cool but expensive stuff, Somerford has the most accurate and up to date catalogs and are competitive on prices, Huddersfield for brands the others don't carry, such as shocks and suspension parts.
Dan will know all the tricks on ordering body panels and other big bulky items.......
Well I use to order a crate of 5k worth of body panels at a time direct from the supplier. So if you need 5k worth of knockoff panels, chrome, and subframes, I can help set that up. Get enough people together to split cost and it's a hell of a deal.
Thanks Dave. I have been to all those other sites, yet have not dealt with them (yet). I've had the best luck with Mini spares and I agree, the shipping times have been wonderfully fast. I put 1-2 was primarily it knowing how common my experience has been. I will still have to learn a great deal more before I can work with Victoria type companies.
@Dan, I may be slow to work up large orders, but certainly interested if there are others out there needing to make orders.
Again for minispares. That's where I have purchased the majority of my parts from. Did go with minisport on brake setups cause I could get the front hubs with the ball joints installed and complete rears for nearly the same cost as all the parts from minispares. I have not needed to contact either of them so can't speak on that.
Since the engine/gearbox in mine came from 7 and the previous owner bought everything from them $OUCH$ I have gotten in touch with them on some questions as they seem to be knowledgeable people but them prices!
I've had good luck with Mini Sport. It's cheaper where I live than to have parts shipped from any of the stateside stores. I have an order in progress, expected in a few weeks.
Mini spares and seven have been good for me.
Also bought all my interior stuff direct from Newton commercial saved a bunch over buying through another vendor.
Phonix trim for any weatherstrip. If you want it to fit right http://phoenixtrim.co.uk/window-seals-80-c.asp
Also ebay was big on my car got lots of stuff new old stock for cheap.
Mini Mania shipping can be many months-long wait not worth it.
Quote from: jeff10049 on April 09, 2018, 10:23:50 PM
...Phonix trim for any weatherstrip. If you want it to fit right http://phoenixtrim.co.uk/window-seals-80-c.asp
I've seen mention of Phoenix Trim before. personal recommendations are always good.. thanks Jeff
Yep, I used Phoenix for all my rubber bits too......
I've used a mix on the Moke project. I used MiniSport, MiniSpares, Seven Ent, Somerford, M-Parts, BullMotif, Guessworks, and DigitalSpeedos.
MiniSport was the primary source I used with MiniSpares and Seven about equal as secondaries. The others were used for "one-off" type needs that the main places did not have: Guessworks for the transmission, M-Parts for the body, BullMotif the wiring harness, Somerford for several Mini specific tools, and DigitalSpeedos for the electronic speedometer.
I also used JEGS for the brake line stuff and some other minor bits.
Jack at Seven is very knowledgeable. I make sure to use them some in order to support being able to call for odd tech support.
Outstanding! I greatly appreciate the knowledge bank as I will keep good notes from you guys
One slight downside that perhaps could be with any of the suppliers is that it's a little annoying when you place an order after specifically looking for the green "in stock" notation. After you place the order & shipping quote confirmed and then you receive an "out of stock" email. This has happened to me 2 out 3 times now. I guess I'll have to get used to it.
I've had it happen a lot more recently - especially with MiniSpares. There are some parts I've been waiting for them to stock again for over a year, if they got them either they did not send me the email or they sold out due to back orders....dunno, but it's frustrating! OTOH, we should be glad that so many parts are still available for our tiny little cheap cars, and at affordable prices. Try finding parts for a Saab 93 or 96 these days......
The "in stock" versus "out of stock" dilemma seems to vary a lot based on how each site's inventory tracking interface works. The breakdown happens when 2+ people are selecting the same item and how each system handles who gets the item and when the person not going to get it is notified.
Ideally, the systems would "remove" something from inventory as soon as you try to place it in your cart. If more than one person selects the same thing, the system would prioritize and notify if the quantity desired can no longer be met. This seems to be a bit more sophisticated than most inventory systems are written to handle.
I don't order from Mini Mania (haven't for years) because they had no link and it would sometimes be weeks before you found out something was back ordered.
With Seven, I always call to be sure it is "in stock".
The others have usually been okay for me for however their systems handle the "in stock" issue.
Well hopefully I won't have to wait a year like Dave, but I did ask to be placed on back order with my recent order with mini spares. This maybe where I look for alternate companies for body panels (floor panels)
not sure if anyone metioned heritage garage yet great customer service http://www.heritagegarage.com/parts.html.
Best to call has more than shown.
Ebay has some floor stuff https://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_sop=3&_nkw=classic+mini+floor+pan&_frs=1
TMF has a member discount at minispares? How does one use that?
Also, for Canadians, https://hunterclassicsportscars.allantechnologies.com/
There is a TMF plus membership where you pay 5GBP (per year I think). The plus membership includes quite a few items including the 7.5% mini spares discount. When you are ready to make your first mini spares order, you contact simon@minispares.com and he'll set up your account so that every time you order, you receive the benefit.
Simon is also who I go to when I have an issue with anything I buy from MS, whether it's getting credit for parts I paid for or reimbursement for something that's failed, or wrong part in the box. Simon is very quick to respond and handle it.
Fortunately I rarely have issues with MS, and I buy a lot of stuff from them!
Mini spares comment: As with my last order, I had to request an update to the shipping quote due to back order items. Outside of a couple days of communication, I chose the basic shipping and for a large package, it is scheduled to be here Monday (3 days). Not bad...
Yep, 3 days via DHL is usually the delivery time I get from Mini Spares, the quick turnaround is one of the reasons I use them.
Only feedback I have is 7 Ent shipping charges shown when you place an online order are typically higher than what they ultimately charge once the item(s) are shipped as they usually bill actual shipping charges. But it is annoying to not know how much shipping is truly going to cost.
I've had same overall good experience with MiniSpares (& bad with back ordered items) as everybody else. Although with the change in exchange rate the savings don't seem as significant as they once were since US resellers have lowered their prices a bit.
Shipping times are usually fantastic if items are in stock. But I live in a shipping vortex and a package will make it from the UK to Portland, OR quicker than it takes for it to get from Portland to my house in Southern OR.
What's most annoying is if I order anything ground shipping (Mini related or not) that comes up from California, it will pass right through Medford on Interstate 5 and go to Portlamd then have to come back down. FedEx and UPS both do the same thing which adds an extra day (sometimes 2) to shipping times.
Minispares did recently quote wrong on a shipment, then ask I pay about 175% more than the initial quote. Had it not been for customers I'd have just cancelled.
https://www.bpnorthwest.com/
these guys are pretty good, I dont think their parts is crazy in price, a lot cheaper then 7 ent mini
i just wish they had body panels for our minis but oh well
i love dsn classic, the owners are so cool, I used to go into the place in person, the owner would help me out and then bs with me for as long as I wanted, owner didn't care that I only spent a few pounds or a few hundred pounds on parts, he would remember everyone, even when I would run into him at mini shows, he would ask how my car is coming, he would really take the time and make you feel like he wasn't just after your money
http://www.dsnclassics.co.uk/
sc, https://www.specialist-components.co.uk/
they were so cool, they showed me around their work shop, made me want to spend even more money with them and I did over time
hudderfields mini, it was really hit or miss with them, at shows they were nice but over the phone, hit or miss
mini speed, 1st time i called them up, i was going to order wheels from them, not sure who but the guy on the phone was a straight D*ck that i ended up hanging up on him, the guy acted like i was taking his time up by calling his shop to order wheels, im talking 500gbp in wheels, not a cheap order
i never ordered the wheels and will never order from them again
jb fanrications, jon betts, hes a writter for mini mag and he also sells small parts for minis, has a facebook site
https://www.facebook.com/JBFabrication/?rc=p
he's in the UK but hes pretty cool, i met him when he wrote a thing on my car for the project section of mini mag many years ago
i have many small parts from him on my car, all of my bolt together roll cage brackets are from his shop
i haven't shipped any parts from the UK to the states since moving back in 2015, so i cant really talk about shipping, but i have met many of the smaller shop owners
I'll second the JBFabrication. Ordered his coil over rear turrets and his extended seat brackets.
Quote from: Shrimps on June 03, 2018, 07:51:02 AM
Although with the change in exchange rate the savings don't seem as significant as they once were since US resellers have lowered their prices a bit.
Based upon that statement I decided to take at fresh look at MiniMania since I am just about to place an order with Mini Spares.
I looked but I sure didn't see any decent prices at MM. As before, on the items I checked the prices were about 2.5 times higher than at MS. Or more. For example, for a brake servo the MS price was £105, so about $140, and the MM price was $360!
With that massive difference my money is going to the UK.
A MiniSpares order arrived at my doorstep today via DHL, a mere three days (!) after I finalized it in some back and forth emails. That's incredibly fast.
And, for those of you who have not been paying attention to exchange rates, the British Pound is really low right now. The lowest I can remember. It's a very good time to order stuff from the UK.
The current exchange rate is £1 = US$1.27 4.gif
Wow, it dropped back again......I don't need anything right now but it might be wise to stock up on some stuff that pretty much every Mini needs so I'll have then for the next one.
Hit 1.2 or 1.19 last year, then rocketed to 1.40s. I saw upper 1.20s last week.
Wow. Didn't realize it had been down below $1.20. That's really low. The Brexit situation is a complete mess in the UK but it's beneficial to us right now.
About like mine. Ordered Sunday night, arrived Tuesday afternoon. Didn't realize it'd dropped. That is for the heads up. I should order my interior from ... o yea newton commercial.
thought I would share in case people don't already know of the following. I got these from a friend whom I trust completely.
- https://kentautodevelopments.com/
- http://www.retrominisltd.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=86_30_213&sort=20a&page=4
- http://preview.m-machine.co.uk/
- http://www.med-engineering.co.uk/
All four of these vendors are suppose to be top notch. I can't speak to pricing, but sometimes when you must have the best, you might consider one of these. I'm about to place a semi-large order from M-Machine for body panels so I will be able to add input to their service/quality.
Just ordered a set of 10" A008's from Mini Sport. $301 delivered, not bad.
The tires are on sale for $55 and change. Helps offset the $77 shipping.
It does not make sense to order anything from the US parts vendors unless they have a part not available in the UK. The UK prices are so much lower even when the pound is strong and shipping with Mini spares or Mini sport is very quick, Somerford Mini also has some good hard to find parts.
Somerford also has the best parts diagrams too.....
I wonder how many minispares parts are in there.
From the yellow line back is my guess. ;D
Quote from: gr8kornholio on August 22, 2018, 04:09:37 PM
From the yellow line back is my guess. ;D
No way. All the weight of your packages in the back would make the tail drag, wouldn't it?
I think my package is the rectangle on the ground behind the plane....
I didn't order that much. Plus the parts are so tiny.