Morris Minor Owners Club

All chrome parts of my bumpers are in a bad condition (not rusty yet, but all "cracked"). How much will new parts cost? Or is rechroming a cheaper solution?

Recently I think the Minor parts centre in London had both together on offer for £100 elsewhere you can pay £140 + vat, Bull Motif also do them for a reasonable price.

Thanks Kevin,

I will look around on the web

Hello Theo,
the problem with chromed reprodution parts is that you cannot tell the quality of the chrome by looking at it. I replaced the rear blades of my wife's traveller with new units from a Minor specialist and within a short time they were showing rust spots.
The Birmingham Morris Minor Centre claim that their bumpers are done to a very high (original) standard.
It's up to you, maybe it's even worth having your bits re-chromed by a good chromer. The correct, durable method is, I believe, copper, then nickel then chrome. The finish is entirely dependant on how well the base steel is polished.

Alec

within a short time they were showing rust spots

Alec, sorry to hear that

The correct, durable method is, I believe, copper, then nickel then chrome

A professional told me the same. He asked 40 euro (~27 pounds) for a over-rider. 4 over-riders and 2 bumper blades would then cost more than 250 euro

So buying new for me is the best option, as long as they don't sell me the Sri-lanka quality.

the Sri-lanka quality.

unfortunately it might be better than many UK parts! Ask the supplier how many years they would be prepared to give a refund?? Even bad chrome will last 12 months - good stuff will last a lot of years.

Start with Bull Motif they always try and obtain the best available and see what they say about durability.

Does anyone have a website or e-mail of Bull Motif? I can't find them.

Bull Motif telephone number/fax is 01386 831755. They do
not appear to be on-line.

Thanks Willie

i like bull motif

They do have an email address listed in the MMOC magazine, but I haven't got my copy to hand. It may well be better to telephone them, or fax your requirements, using Willie's number.

bullmotif@btconnect.com

For tatty chrome, clean up with chrome cleaner / metal polish if you have to then regularly use a lot of wax polish - this will help keep the water away from the steel.
If you use metal polish often (its abrasive abrasive) you will shorten the life of the chrome. A decent polish will remove all the grubbyness.

If you use metal polish often (its abrasive abrasive) you will shorten the life of the chrome. A decent polish will remove all the grubbyness.

I agree Ray even most of the so called chrome polishes are like that I prefer to use either Mer or Autoglym car polish.

A girly tip:
Once you have polished the chrome a quick wipe over with a light coating of vegetable oil will protect the shine for longer between polishing.
Also if you are considering having them rechromed Maurice had his done to "instrument standard" 3 years before I bought him and they look as good as new.

Cheers,
Karen

a light coating of vegetable oil will protect the shine for longer

Vegetable oil is broken down quickly by rain due to the mild acid content we have in rain. A 'good' polish is very resistant to this and to road grime, tar spots etc... Worth every penny.

A 'good' polish is very resistant to this and to road grime, tar spots etc... Worth every penny.

Agreed Ray and I prefer car polish like you do to chrome as its so often abrasive