MX5 MK2.5 - REAR Wheel arch and sill replacement panels - shapes and size

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
2

The photo’s of replacement panels advertised by a number of suppliers do not appear to extend fully up to the rear lights, or to ‘‘fold over’’ with the flat top to meet the boot lid and therefore encompass the equivalent area for the petrol filler and aerial positions.

Have I interpreted these photo’s correctly, and if so, does the existing ‘old’ panel have to be cut in order to encompass the new ‘‘shorter’’ panels for just the wheel arch and sill areas leaving the original areas near the rear lights and petrol filler/aerial positions untouched?

Do the advertised panels fully wrap around the door pillar to encompass the door latch and light switch areas?

Appreciate any comments from your experiences since I don’t know whether each advert/supplier offers a different ‘shape’.

Many thanks in advance of any replies.

3

Hi,

I think these are repair panels, designed to replace the areas that generally rot around the arches and rear sills, so cutting of the existing panel and also the new panel would be carried out to replace the area affected on the car being repaired. I should imagine replacing the whole panel would be much more difficult.

Phil

4

Your observations appear entirely correct and the panel does not reach the door latch and light switch areas.

The MK2/MK2.5 panels shown are the largest available as far as I know.

The idea is to cut out the desired repair area on the car which may well be smaller than the panel, use a joggler/joddler to step the mated surface on the car panel and cut the new panel to fit.

Repair panels like this are a compromise but will work for the majority of repairs.