BMW/Mini: Who Requires Or Recommends MIG Brazing?

Details Posted on 17 February 2021 | Share:

| Print

In Europe, MIG brazing has been required or recommended on a widespread basis for several years. In the U.S., MIG brazing is not as common but is becoming more prevalent. As the RTS team is researching MIG brazing information, we are putting together a series of articles that identify OEM-specific MIG brazing recommendations and requirements for vehicles in the U.S. Let’s see what BMW/Mini has to say.

BMW/Mini may refer to MIG brazing as soldering and often interchanges these two terms in their repair information and on the service site.

Information on MIG brazing can typically be found on the service site by searching for "soldering" or "brazing". Depending on what vehicle you are searching under, the document title and the document number and that contains this information may vary. This information may also be in specific repair procedures.

Typically, the document is titled Welding And Soldering Steel Components or Soldering Steel Components. Within these documents BMW/Mini states the following:

• "The MIG soldering procedure is not used in repairs for strength reasons.
• MIG soldered/brazed seams used in standard production are replaced during repairs by MAG weld seams."

To clarify, even where BMW/Mini uses MIG brazing at the factory, they are stating that during repairs MIG brazing is NOT to be used. They specify that GMA welding is to be used at these factory MIG brazed locations.

It is important to note that MIG brazing should only be used where indicated in a vehicle-specific repair manual or where specified by the OEM to help ensure a complete, safe, and quality repair.

For additional BMW/Mini information, check out the following pages:
BMW OEM Information
Mini OEM Information

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:

• MIG Brazing: What, Where, When, And Why?
• Welding And MIG Brazing Hotspot
• Who Requires Or Recommends MIG Brazing? UPDATE

Related I-CAR Courses

Course BMW Collision Repair Overview

Course Introduction to MIG Brazing

Course MIG Brazing Hands-On Skills Development