Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
41 00... 0 Contents Of Body Repair General Information
Before starting repair work
- BMW i
Checking the body for damage (e.g. following an accident)
General notes
Safety regulations
- See 41 00... SAFETY AT WORK
- See 41 00... INFORMATION ON HAZARDS
- See 41 00... INFORMATION ON VEHICLE PROTECTION
Material/new part
- See 41 00... MATERIALS SCIENCE
- See 41 00... USE OF MATERIALS IN OUTER SKIN
- Expendable materials. See 41 00... OVERVIEW OF CONSUMABLES
Handling components
- Electrical system, electronics and fiber optics. See 41 00... HANDLING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ELECTRONICS .
- Vehicles with hybrid/electric drive
- See FLOOD DAMAGE
- Passive safety. See 41 00... HANDLING AIRBAGS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS , 72 12... PROCEDURE AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AS RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT and 41 00... PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES WITH ACTIVE PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION (AFGS) AFTER AN ACCIDENT .
- See SEATS/SEAT BELTS
- See CHASSIS, SUSPENSION AND STEERING
- See WHEEL RIM REPAIRS
- Retractable hardtop
- See HEADLIGHT REPAIRS
Body dimensions
Cavity sealing
- Installation of shaped parts. See 41 00... INSTALLING CAVITY SEALING (EXPANDED) , 41 00... INSTALLING CAVITY SEALING (NOT EXPANDED) and 41 00... INSTALLING A CAVITY SEALING WITH 2-COMPONENT PU CAVITY FOAM .
- Position of shaped parts
Vehicle identification number
- General vehicle identification number. See 41 00... VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, GENERAL .
- Enter vehicle identification number. See 41 00... STAMPING VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (NEEDLE STAMPING UNIT) .
Repair method
- Repair stage 1a. See 41 00... REPAIR METHODS, REPAIR STAGES 1 .
BMW/MINI/BMW i
- Replacement of screwed-on components
- Repair stage 1b. See 41 00... REPAIR METHODS, REPAIR STAGES 1 .
BMW/MINI/BMW i
- Repairs to outer skin
- Repair stage 2. See 41 00... REPAIR TECHNIQUES, REPAIR STAGE 2 .
BMW/MINI
- Bonding and riveting
- Welding using a MAG welder
- without straightening bench
BMW i
- Repairs to life module
- Repairs to drive module
- without straightening bench
- Repair stage 3. See 41 00 REPAIR TECHNIQUES, REPAIR STAGE 3 .
BMW/MINI
- Bonding and riveting
- Welding using a spot welding system
- with a straightening bench
BMW i
- Repairs to life module
- Repairs to drive module
- with a straightening bench
Corrosion protection
- General Information. See 41 00... CORROSION PROTECTION .
Paint
- See GENERAL INFORMATION
- See INFORMATION/WARNING LABELS
- Separate component and sectional paintwork. See 99 00... MISCELLANEOUS PAINTING or 99 00... PAINTWORK (2 AND 3 COATS) .
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.