Hi,

Went for a drive tonight with my partner , opened the sunroof fine, was about to hit the motorway so began to close the sunroof but it only got so far and stopped, i could open it no problem but again when trying to close it got so far and stuck. When i got home i had a good look and couldn't see any obstruction that would stop it, i took off the interior clock and manually closed it but my god! it really took some force to close it! i had to take a break twice and i am no weakling! lol , i could not close it all the way manually as the motor just turned and made a loud nock noise so i turned ignition on and it would auto close but would straight away open again by itself, i got it closed by switching off ignition when it closed itself and has now remained closed ok.
Has anyone come across this? motor gone? i take it this will be an expensive repair and would need the dealer???

Thanks to anyone that tries to help.

Would there maybe someone that can advise anything i can try myself? maybe strip it down? clean?

Thanks

Well i am going to give a repair a go, i wondered if anyone could advise me on what type of grease to use? i had a look on halfords but there are a few and i don't want to use the wrong type.

Thanks

Ok , i found what to use......

Halfords | 3-IN-ONE Professional White Lithium Grease 400ml (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_21 3859_langId_-1_categoryId_165705)


Be good if someone could give some info on what exactly to grease?


Thanks

Hey! Im really interested to know how you get on with this! I have this exact same problem, it was fine last summer but I think the winter has killed the lubrication.

Mine opens (sticks sometimes) but it just wont close. I have to stand on the outside of the car and push the sunroof shut while someone else uses the button.

Woudl be great to know how you get on and if you have any advice or photos of it

Thanks

J

Hey! Im really interested to know how you get on with this! I have this exact same problem, it was fine last summer but I think the winter has killed the lubrication.

Mine opens (sticks sometimes) but it just wont close. I have to stand on the outside of the car and push the sunroof shut while someone else uses the button.

Woudl be great to know how you get on and if you have any advice or photos of it

Thanks

J



Hi,

I will be giving this a go tonight so will post back on my progress! :)

I was using the exact same can just last night on my sunroof. It wasn't sticking as such but now and again it would only open half way then close itself....annoying!
I just gave the runners down the sides a careful spray of the stuff and my sunroof does seem to be a bit smoother. Use a piece of kitchen roll to guard against overspray, and spray very gently as this stuff comes out quick!
Good luck....and don't forget to lubricate on the inside tracks that face each other.

Im on my 3rd sunroof now, usually in warmer weather it struggles to open / close as the heat swells the rubber - in addition, mine also suffered from water damage (water now and again dripped through the control panel) this in turn caused the mechanism to rust - all replaced under warranty though.

Very common fault after non-use over winter months but it is important to lubricate the roof and get things moving easily or the motor will eventually burn out at great expense!

Some good info in these threads on NAM which should help:
'06 Sunroof sometimes so slow! - North American Motoring (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/185425-06-sunroof-sometimes-so-slow.html)

Sunroof Grease - North American Motoring (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/114422-sunroof-grease.html)

Well not good news for me , when i opened the sunroof last night it would not close again at all and i noticed that it was just one side! so something is obviously stuck or broken on one side :confused:

No choice but to take her to the garage as i don't want to leave it sitting with a partially open sunroof, i have the chap coming from essential mini today to do the dash lights and don't want to let him down so i will just drop it at the garage when he leaves.

I am not taking this to the stealers but i do not expect this is going to be cheap, worse case i will just ask them to get it closed and just disconnect it :(

Just spent money on a new clutch so really didn't need this at the moment. :(

JUST had mine done 2 weeks ago, i couldnt close mine either, its a 1st gen on 06 plate, still under warranty from where i bought it. Garage had to manually shut it for me till he could sort it. APPARENTLY (HE THINKS) it had been stood under trees and the sap is like weld, any way he cleaned it up, greased it and hey presto, this is one bird who loves it when the sun is out, closes now like a dream. I now open the roof up at least 4 times a week just out of parranoya lol GET IT SORTED NOW otherwise its gona cost a bomb if it goes completely. It seems to me as a 1st time mini owner there are many many problems with the mini, mines is in garage AGAIN to day for new clutch release bearing, last week was thermostat housing, BUT im sticking with her (i have to she on 4 years finance lol ) coz she is a dream to drive an i love her!! Like a guy said on here ( actually Harvey 94 it was you!!!!) , while still under warranty an garage are doin work, keep her as im gunna end up with a fab lil car.

My one is having a slight rattle when fully closed, but car is due to take in for a service next Monday. Will get them to check it out! : )

Well I will post back on how I get on, i really have a bad feeling on this one as it can't be closed manually, one side just does not close, goes out of alignment badly, spoke to my partner last night and if this is going to cost more than £500 then that's it for us, she will go. :(

Ill need to attempt to try and sort this out as well. All of the above problems match mine. So im hoping that one of the above fixes will work. The sunroof was one of the main points for me buyng the car. any idea how much a new sunroof would cost me? the motors not burned out, I think it would probably only be new rails. (that's worst case scenario obviously lol) any advice with what to clean it with before I geese her back up.

I originally used wd40 a few weeks back, and that achieved nothing at all, thats one of the things thats been worrying me as i thought that would at least have achieved something

If buying a used car of any type (not just Mini's) I tend to try to avoid the options like electric sunroofs wherever possible, as outside of manufacturers warranty they are often expensive and a pain to fix.

However we have two 10 year old Mini's and a 2001 C-Class Mercedes, one of the Mini's and the Merc have electric glass sunroofs but with Air con.......so my policy is never to open the sunroofs for fear of the expense and hassle if/when they get stuck!!

Mine has packed in as well and a quick google suggests it is a VERY common issue. It can be terminal by the looks of it and I have been told that I will need a new 'cassette' or frame (less glass and motor). The bill, including fitting will be around £1000 (not at the main dealer as its out of warranty).

I pulled the fuse - No 7 in the drivers footwell - I now have a panoramic roof with a lovely view but it doesn't open.

Hi,

I just want to get the thing closed! if i can't open it again then so be it, i just really hope i don't have a bill like £1000 just so i can close it...... :(

When mine got stuck in the open position the only answer was to 'persuade' it to close. One hand on the back of the roof, the other reaching in to the switch and a good push! Not very scientific but it worked. Once its sitting right don't be tempted to try it again to see if its miraculously fixed itself - it won't.

Hi,

Yeah i gave that a try with the help of a friend , my problem is that i think one side is way out of alignment , one will close no problem but the other will not and the roof will also not open fully, only just starts to go back then stops but when you go to the back of the car and look face on you can see that the sunroof if trying to go to the right!

Harvey, dont give up, thats wot u told me. Go to an Auto Electrician tomorrow if u can & see wot they say. Can you hear the motor while pushing the sunroof button? if not then that cud be the fault, if you can then while weather is nice see if there are any wear marks on the casette. SOMEONE on here MUST beable to help???:confused:

Harvey, dont give up, thats wot u told me. Go to an Auto Electrician tomorrow if u can & see wot they say. Can you hear the motor while pushing the sunroof button? if not then that cud be the fault, if you can then while weather is nice see if there are any wear marks on the casette. SOMEONE on here MUST beable to help???:confused:


Thanks!

I haven't given up on her yet , i expect to hear from the garage today hopefully, they are just going to try and close it, the motor is working fine its the rail thats the problem, i could buy a full replacement from ebay for just over £300 but you need to strip the car interior to remove the sunroof, it gets done from the inside and not the outside. I will be more than happy to just get it closed.

Had Simon from essential mini over yesterday to change all my dash lights , interior clock light and also my toggle switches. Didn't get a chance to see it at night but it was impressive enough during the day so i can't wait!

Pictures will follow when i get her back......

Thanks!

I haven't given up on her yet , i expect to hear from the garage today hopefully, they are just going to try and close it, the motor is working fine its the rail thats the problem, i could buy a full replacement from ebay for just over £300 but you need to strip the car interior to remove the sunroof, it gets done from the inside and not the outside. I will be more than happy to just get it closed.

Had Simon from essential mini over yesterday to change all my dash lights , interior clock light and also my toggle switches. Didn't get a chance to see it at night but it was impressive enough during the day so i can't wait!

Pictures will follow when i get her back......

Im praying mine wont pack in now, the panoramic sunroof was 1 of the reasons i decided on getting her, like i said, just out of parranoya i open mine few times a week just to make sure, she in garage at mo avin clutch bearing release done, HOPE they sort it PROPERLY as they didnt hear the noise wen she was in for thermostat housing replacement, funny how im a girlie and i heard it, hmmmm. GOOD LUCK with roof, i feel ur pain i really do. :(

Hey!

Well the garage managed to get it closed for me! :) it did take the mechanic 3.5 hrs though! but since it was the same place i got the clutch done they only took £50 off me so i am delighted! I can't use the sunroof as the rail is bent, how on gods name that happened i will never know! But hey on the bright side i can still look up at the stars :)

Since i have her back now i will be taking pics when it gets dark of the new dash lights! I can't thank mab01uk enough for the link! Simon was such a nice genuine guy and spent time chatting with me about his projects and love for the mini. Please don't anyone ever attempt to do this on there own, Simon has been doing this for some time now and has the knowledge and correct equipment to do the work, its not just twist bulbs but all surface mount led's and you really must know what your doing or you would need a complete new speedo or rev count!

Pics to follow tonight! :)

Hey!

Well the garage managed to get it closed for me! :) it did take the mechanic 3.5 hrs though! but since it was the same place i got the clutch done they only took £50 off me so i am delighted! I can't use the sunroof as the rail is bent, how on gods name that happened i will never know! But hey on the bright side i can still look up at the stars :)

Since i have her back now i will be taking pics when it gets dark of the new dash lights! I can't thank mab01uk enough for the link! Simon was such a nice genuine guy and spent time chatting with me about his projects and love for the mini. Please don't anyone ever attempt to do this on there own, Simon has been doing this for some time now and has the knowledge and correct equipment to do the work, its not just twist bulbs but all surface mount led's and you really must know what your doing or you would need a complete new speedo or rev count!

Pics to follow tonight! :)

Nice one!! Glad its sort ov mended. Where will you be putting the fotos of the dash, have to see them :biggrin:

Glad you got the roof fixed or at least shut for only £50........as I mentioned I have had 3 different cars in the family over recent years (Vauxhall/MINI/Mercedes) fitted with panoramic/glass electric sunroofs. Nice in brand new cars but once a car is a few years old and out of any warranty, at the first hint of trouble which can't be fixed with some lubrication maintenance, it is often best to leave them shut as replacement or repair in parts/labour can end up more than the value of the car. As you said you can still look up at the stars! :D

Look forward to your latest pics of Simon's dash lighting work. :)

Hi guys!

Well here we go! This is what Simon at essential mini done for me.......


http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5938/13045060.jpg


http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/1112/30408580.jpg


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3784/12794680.jpg


http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1056/78859085.jpg


I must say that the pics really don't do this justice, it is simply stunning! Simon can give you any colours you like and even mix and match , thanks to this forum, mab01uk and Simon....... :cool:

Looks great...........Harvey could you also post your dash pics in the original LED dash thread so they will be easy to find in the future for others to reference. :)
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-interior-ice/192441-changing-led-speedo-rev-counter.html

Good point mab01uk , will do it now. :)

Well not good news for me , when i opened the sunroof last night it would not close again at all and i noticed that it was just one side! so something is obviously stuck or broken on one side :confused:

No choice but to take her to the garage as i don't want to leave it sitting with a partially open sunroof, i have the chap coming from essential mini today to do the dash lights and don't want to let him down so i will just drop it at the garage when he leaves.

I am not taking this to the stealers but i do not expect this is going to be cheap, worse case i will just ask them to get it closed and just disconnect it :(

Just spent money on a new clutch so really didn't need this at the moment. :(

Hi Harvey. I have had the same problem, the right hand side was stuck up, the left down. Trying to close it using the motor results in a very loud whirring sound and clicking... not healthy. It's in the garage, parts costing £1000+, adding on some labour will take it to over £1500. Might get something on BMW goodwill as out of warranty.

Did you get yours sorted in the end? Just trying to see if there is an alternative before I pay out.

Mini say the tracks are twisted and the motor has gone....

Any help will be appreciated!