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Drivers door actuator, fitment?

2K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  uk_ricky_uk 
#1 ·
Anyone on here in West Sussex Uk that can come fit a new door actuator in my 2003 cooper s? Watched a vid on youtube and it doesn't look that easy... Don't want to get stuck half way through...
 
#2 ·
Sorry I don't live near to you otherwise I would offer to come and help BUT the door lock/actuator is pretty easy to change....there are some instructions on here with pictures if you do a search of the forum. It helps if you have small hands and obviously you need the correct size sockets etc.

There is one important point to note, new actuators are supplied WITHOUT a plastic insert that fits into the actuator lever for the exterior door handle bowden cable. Its important to swap the old plastic insert off of the actuator you remove and install on the new unit otherwise you wont be able to reconnect the cable.

The most tricky bit is getting the old/new actuator out of the door past the window glass rail that runs from the top of the door down to the bottom. You will be able to get the actuator free inside the door, but it is too big to get it out past the window rail even if you have small hands regardless of how you twist around!

The way round this is simply to undo the window rail (adjustable) mounting on the bottom of the door (one bolt) and move the rail towards the door skin so that you end up with just enough room to get the actuator out/in. You then need to reset the window rail back in its original position so that it allows the glass to move correctly up and against the rubber door seal at the top.

In practice you can either mark the rail adjustment position inside the door at the bottom before you undo it, or use the dirt mark on the adjuster teeth to show where to move it back to, or else reset the adjustment of the glass 'throw' after you have fixed the actuator and before you reinstall the door lining.

Re connecting the the two bowden cables is easy for the interior door lock (you can do it before you insert the actuator inside the door), and a bit tricky for the exterior one. You really have to do this by feel so make sure you have a good look at the pictures and understand how the cable connects to the actuator via the plastic peice that you swapped over between the old & new actuators.

The whole job shouldn't take you more than 45-60 mins and you will feel great afterwards at how much money you have saved by not taking it to MINI.

Good Luck.
 
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