Door hinge resistance gone! It wont stay open now!

[TimG]

When I opened my driver door today I heard a loud clunk like something has fallen off the inside of the door at the hinge end, into the door itself.

Sure enough, now the door has no resistance when you open it and as you all know, it normally has 3 stages where the door will stay when open so it doesn't just slam shut all the time. Something has obviously either fallen or broken off the hinge (as usual somewhere I cant see!).

Anyone know anything about this problem, whether its fixable or even how the whole 3 stage thing works before I start dismantling the door to look inside, or for that matter if you can even see the hinge with the door card off?

[Sportspack Mark]

dont know what is wrong with it, but my drivers door has done this since i bought it

[mab01uk]

The 3 stage action is controled by the door check strap (mid way between the top and bottom door hinges). BMW call it the Door Brake (see item 4 in realoem diagram) here:
RealOEM.COM * BMW R50 Cooper FRONT DOOR-HINGE/DOOR BRAKE
(check part no. for your exact chassis number)
It has probably worn or broken but according to the Haynes Manual the check strap assy can be removed without major stripping of the door..........
Use a Torx key (female) to undo the mounting bolt on the door pillar. Prise the rubber grommet from the door end aperture, then unscrew the two mounting bolts securing the other end to the door and you should then be able to withdraw the check strap from the door for repair or replacement.
Let us know if it works, as mine made some odd noises before spraying in some white grease recently. I think they dry out and start to seize with lack of lubrication at service time.

[TimG]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

The 3 stage action is controled by the door check strap (mid way between the top and bottom door hinges). BMW call it the Door Brake (see item 4 in realoem diagram) here:
RealOEM.COM * BMW R50 Cooper FRONT DOOR-HINGE/DOOR BRAKE
(check part no. for your exact chassis number)
It has probably worn or broken but according to the Haynes Manual the check strap assy can be removed without major stripping of the door..........
Use a Torx key (female) to undo the mounting bolt on the door pillar. Prise the rubber grommet from the door end aperture, then unscrew the two mounting bolts securing the other end to the door and you should then be able to withdraw the check strap from the door for repair or replacement.
Let us know if it works, as mine made some odd noises before spraying in some white grease recently. I think they dry out and start to seize with lack of lubrication at service time.

Oohh. Useful info, thanks. Always forget to look on RealOEM util someone reminds me

I'll look into this when I get 5mins spare & report back!

[TimG]

From looking at the diagram/ anyone thats seen one close up, is it possible that the part that actually provides the resistance could come apart from the part thats bolted to the car/door. E.g. it may be a case of pushing it back together? Or if there is no resistance this means it has actually 'broken' off and needs replacing?

Just wondering as if its physically broken/ snapped it will defo be covered under warranty, if it just needs putting back together it may not be covered? I would love to remove it to check but I dont have a Female Torx Key

Difficult to see on the Diagram as where the long resistance part attaches to the part that bolts to the door is round the other side of the diagram!

[TimG]

For anyone else reading this thread, found out the part is only £22 frm Mini so not too bad.

[mooneymini]

Quote: Originally Posted by TimG (original)

For anyone else reading this thread, found out the part is only £22 frm Mini so not too bad.

Did you get the part and fit it yourself?

My door brake isn't working either and was thinking of sending it to the dealer...
but if it's easy enough and cheap enough to do, I might as well

[TimG]

Quote: Originally Posted by mooneymini (original)

Did you get the part and fit it yourself?

My door brake isn't working either and was thinking of sending it to the dealer...
but if it's easy enough and cheap enough to do, I might as well

Didn't do it yet I reckon its pretty straightforward though.

[mooneymini]

Quote: Originally Posted by TimG (original)

Didn't do it yet I reckon its pretty straightforward though.

Cool. Will be interested to hear how you get on with this one...

will keep my eye on this topic

[lozy]

HI all
I have just replaced the door strap on mine, the hynes manual is wrong you can not replace it with out taking the door trim off. There are 4 screws to take out, one is behind the small round reflector remove these then prize off the door trim. Remove the rubber cover undo the two torque screws then use a female torque socket to remove from body of car. The door strap will now come out through the door.
The problem is that the springs in the door strap need lubricating, there is grease on from the factory but only a small amount, it is very hard to get grease or lubricant onto the springs and eventually the springs break so not holding the door in the required position.
Lozy

[Detector]

Hi guys, Firstly thanks to all that posted before me, I had the same problem on wifey's Cooper and took a look at the weekend based on your messages, my findings.......

The noise when something falls off is in fact a spring retainer and can be easily replaced without resorting to the purchase of a new assembly.

After removal of the unit, look at each side and you will see the assembly consists of two plastic 'balls' that locate in the strap to hold the door at each position, on ours the one ball was still functioning but due to the oposing 'ball' not under pressure the whole thing was useless.

You will notice the side that is working has a shiny plate holding the spring in position, on the other side the plate is missing, now take a look inside your door and you will find the missing plate, by pressing the spring in slightly you can slide the shiny plate back in and then to stop it happening again I added a drop of glue to both plates (just in case).

Jobs a goodun as they say

PS Just remembered 'Torx key (female)' mentioned earlier, I used a standard 8mm socket on an extension and it was fine.