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Mark, Delete this if you want but I have to complain to someone.
I finally got around to installing my interior trim kit for my 62 Countryman. What a crock of dog excrement. Nothing fits. I purchased the kit over a year ago so I am out of money. My learning experience ...... NEVER buy anything from Newton again. I am going to the the crap kit in the garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

id rather buy a newton kit and spend a bit of time fitting it, than having to buy a roll of vinyl and a sheet of mill board and try to make the whole thing myself.......

[quote="62Countryman"] I have to complain to someone.
quote]

Have you complained to them? If its that bad perhaps you have some come back. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

I find Newton stuff a little tricky at times but as Guru says, with time it looks good.

I actually have a roll of vinyl that I purchased several years ago and is a closer match in color and grain than the newton kit. I just order the waterproof panel boar that is thinner than the panel board that is used by newton. I still have my original interior and I will use them as a template. The only thing that I cannot due is the welded seams. I will have the seam sewn or maybe I will leave the panels plain (I haven't decided). I also have the adhesive for the project. It would be nice to find 2mm staples that were used on the original boards but it is impossible to locate that size. The newton kit panels are too thick and a slight bigger than the original panels. In addition, the vinyl tends to lift off the fiber board as you try to install the pieces (door pockets, etc..)

In response to Steve's post, I did call Newton when I first received the kit saying that I was unhappy with the quality. The owner got pissed when I said that I should post on the internet the quality of Newton's product.

I have just received a set of moulded carpets for my Mk3 S.

They seem OK. I'll advise what it's like to fit them in a couple of weeks..

I purchased a Newton moulded carpet set for my 69 MKII...It was a little over size, I just took my time and it looks good, no perfect, but what is...I find most of the stuff you buy, unless OEM, needs "Fitting" or is a poor fit..IE, Boot and bonnet badges, Chrome upper door trim, very disappointing considering the prices being charged....

I bought and fitted a complete brocade trim set, seat covers and panels and a moulded carpet set for my S replica 4 or 5 years ago and whilst I agree that the mill board is thicker than original and the panels are slightly oversize, everything does fit with a squeeze. I wouldn't want to remove the door and rear quarter cards though!!

I fitted the seat covers to the frames myself and they fitted pretty well. I am very happy with the quality and overall fit, which did take some time to do. Ok, the brocade overlay is not as accurate as the original parcel shelf I have but it's all that's available and I was not prepared to pay similar money for an original set that would be tatty after 40 years and deprive a genuine Cooper of a genuine interior.

Newton are the only people who make trim for our chosen classic car and do a pretty good job in my mind, if a little expensive.

For what it's worth, people talk about the old British Trim (?) Company being better than Newton product wise. I bought a carpet set for my 1960 Mini and whilst the texture was pretty accurate, the carpet is extremely fragile and did not fit at all well. I was very disappointed in it and they did not want to know when I spoke to them. The only reason I bought a set from them was that they were the ones who did a Cherry Red carpet set as Newtons said that Cherry Red was an unpopular colour for early Mk1 Mini interiors !!??

I wonder if they are just inconsistant because I've fitted a few panels kits in recent times without any issues other than it's not easy to fit the cards. I also found their customer service pretty impressive when I bought a set of the shiny awful Dove Grey trim they sold briefly a few years ago. I complained it was the totally wrong vinyl , did it through the MCR forum. Johnny Newton went and sourced the right grain vinyl in a decent colour match, collected the old set by courier and sent me a complete new set.
I think it's also worth mentioning that some of our restored three times over cars/doors etc etc are not exactly the same dimensions now that they were when they came off the production line.

Personally speaking I can sympathise with both sides of this particular debate.

I too have had a terrible time trying to fit Newton products, the millboard is definitely too thick as is the vinyl itself, I hate their carpets as they bear no resemblance to the originals whatsoever.

However, as has been stated above, they are the only people who offer these products and the panels and seats are generally speaking a good match for the originals unless you get really anal about it.

When fitting a set of Newton trim you MUST Be prepared to do a lot of buggering about, possibly trimming panels down to fit, maybe even replacing the over thick backing on the panels. Lubricating the channels into which the panels fit is certainly a necessity. But if you are prepared to spend some time I reckon in most cases the stuff is OK.

I genuinely sympathise with 62Countryman his experience sounds terrible, but it may be time to take a deep breath, count to aboiit a million & have another go.

PS. As far as the old BTC carpet sets are concerned, while the fit wasn't perfect, the material was excellent. I have a set that has been in more or less constant use for getting on for 20 years & its still perfectly acceptable. Its certainly more robust than thge original. Maybe there was some difference between colours. Mine is grey.

Got to agree on Newton carpet, the so called Powder Blue or Cumulus Grey carpet sets are horrific in colour not to mention being moulded. I would honestly try and source / make my own before paying for that stuff. These Mk2/3 owners don't know how lucky they are !

I have no carpet at all and I'm not going to put out the necessary money for a proper kit for my rat Mini. So if anybody wants to throw a new carpet set in the garbage, just post it to me! I will be glad to pay postage.

Do people who don't get what they expected complain to Newton?? I bought a headlining for my Traveller and was somewhat surprised to get one for a Minor...

The only response I got when I rang was "Sorry, I'll put the proper one in the mail". When I asked what I should do with the other one he suggested I find a Minor owner and give it to them..... A few days later the new one arrived and I reckon its pretty good.

If anyone is *really* anal, I have a friend who does high end interiors including restorations (mainly for the US). He has fitted leather interiors to new Audis and BMWs because the dealers find it cheaper to have him do it than pay the factory price (+ duty etc) ... He makes his own metal "blades" which means he can produce proper welded vinyl...

Cheers, Ian