frozen window/ cold weather problems

[MINI Girl (USA)]

Yesterday we had alot of snow/ slush/ freezing rain & very cold temps (5- 20 degrees)...... today I was able to get my driver door open (& the window did drop a little like it should), but when I went thru the toll booth, my window would not go down...... once the car REALLY warmed up (30mins later) the window was fine......
& on Sat my b/f was driving & we heard his door whistling-- so we pulled over & he tried to open/ reclosed it, but he couldn't get the door open, finally after 5mins he was able to open the door. it seemed fine later on.....

my question..... I know the cold weather can really affect the cars, but since this keeps happening to my driver door, should I call the dealer? or does someone have suggestions to keep this from happening? is this becoming a common problem for the MINIs?

for now I guess i'll stock-up on de-icer spray (unless anyone else has a better idea) & plan on moving to a warmer climate.....

[dcfkan]

The same thing has happened to me when we had hard frost recently

I used warm water to melt the ice along the seals as well as to warm up the handle so that I could get in.

By the time I got to the gate at work (5min drive) I could not lower the window so that I could swipe my card to get into the car park. I had to reverse and get out of the car instead

So no, it is not uncommon, and I do not believe this issue is specific to MINIs only.

DK :apple:

[bubblegoose]

Sound advice DK!
If u try & wind the window down in cold weather (hard frost/ice) it causes excess strain on the window motor & can then chew the cables in the window regulator. This will not be a warranty repair if this does happen! And its not cheap to fix either!
I see this happen a lot on the BMW coupes & a lot on the MINI's.

Dave

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by bubblegoose_4rh

Sound advice DK!
If u try & wind the window down in cold weather (hard frost/ice) it causes excess strain on the window motor & can then chew the cables in the window regulator. This will not be a warranty repair if this does happen! And its not cheap to fix either!
I see this happen a lot on the BMW coupes & a lot on the MINI's.

Dave

The fuses should 'pop' before the strains get too much on the windows I think, so that should'nt happen.

[dcfkan]

Hey, my boss has been known to have similar issues with his Range Rover!

Water/moisture can get into the smallest crevices, and when it freezes, there is nothing you can do!

DK :apple:

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by dcfkan

Hey, my boss has been known to have similar issues with his Range Rover!

Water/moisture can get into the smallest crevices, and when it freezes, there is nothing you can do!

DK :apple:

If its a new RR, then BMW had a hand i that too , funny though, Munich gets to -18 and below regularly, and nobody there complains. But its a dry cold, whereas here and USA coastal its damp, which causes the freeze ups I guess.

[dcfkan]

Not new, he had it for at least 2-3 years if not more

I guess if the weather is really bad, then one should park the car indoors and not out on the drive

DK :apple:

[bubblegoose]

the motor itself doesnt work off a fuse!!!

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by bubblegoose_4rh

the motor itself doesnt work off a fuse!!!

But it is on a fused circuit, either under the bonnet, or by the footwell, the fuse would surely give out before the motor packed in. , I will check with the techies if there is a "ceiling" on loads and get back, This sort of worries me.