[myfirstmini]

If you'll pardon the expression....


Seriously though the drivers seat on my Cooper (just over 1,000 miles) now creaks so much its getting very annoying.
I've booked it in to get looked at, but I was wondering whether this is common, or not.
I think its a fault as the passenger seat makes no noise whatsoever.
By the way its the Chili pack, half leather seat option.

 

[Chip]

I had mine sorted out in the workshop today. the technician removed the drivers seat and lubricated all the frame mechanisms and the fault is cured now.My car has the Pepper pack on with standard seats and height adjust but the base frame is the same on all seats except those without height adjustment, and incidentally my car has 1000 miles on it too. Your dealer should sort it out without a problem and in a short space of time too

 

[pandora2000]

Many a problem with seats...

Try a search on seats.

There has been many a user with severe squeaks and clicks in the seats.

I'm worried about your seats however, as supposedly BMW had re-designed the seats due to this problem, and your cars sound new enough to have them...

 

[space_cadet]

If you do the search you will find I have sent a post detailing how to fix the squeaks yourself.It is indeed
a case of lubrication to the frame, but I also found
cable ties on the seat belt pretensioner to be squeaky along
with other parts of its plastic casing. I used some
silicone grease on that (designed for lubricating plastic).

If you dont have that, then spray some silicone furniture polish at it, let it dry and then clean it up.

If you are mechanically competent, then you can do all of this without the hassle of booking it in the the dealer.

 

[Major Clanger]

Squeeky Seats are fixed by having the seats back replaced completely, not just lubricated.

Your dealer should know about this by now. If not, tell them.

 

[space_cadet]

Yes thats right, replacing the seat back may indeed fix the problem. On my seat the main "boss" that the seat back pivots on was too tight a fit. When I had my seat apart
I did a little fetling on those parts. However, lubrication
alone will stop the squeak, but its a remedy that may not be a permanent solution.

Dealers just replace parts after a little investigation
and perhaps on advice from BMWs technical support people.

They don't have the time/inclination to use a little
engineering lateral thinking to a problem, so just replace parts - often unesessarily, when the existing part can be
sorted out. As I said, this can take time - something
dealers don't have.

Also, more people/dealers need to understand what "cause and effect"
is really about. There can be several different
causes to seemingly similar effects/symptoms.
Blindly "fixing" one known cause may not relieve your symptoms. In other word what works in one case
may not work in others.

My seat has been silent now for the month since I fiddled
with it, WITHOUT changing any components

 

[Redhotmini]

hello myfirstmini

unfortunately i had the same problem with my car (same spec as yours), it was squeaking like mad whenever i went over any bumps... then i took it back to my dealers and after an hour they sorted it out completely- which was very nice of em (Specialists Cars Luton)! If i remember correctly i think they said that the problem was that the lining of the seat sliding mechnanism needed lubrication- or something like that...

so all good now thank u

 

[tomo]

yep I have same spec and have had many problems with my seats. Check "repair day" in general discussion and other mail under user name "TOMO".

Let me know how you get on.

Cheers

Tomo

 

[lightbody]

Mine squeaks loudly some days...

...and is silent other days. Not sure why - its either to do with the temperature or the seat position...weird!

I presume the passenger one would be squeaking too if it had been used as much? Does that mean it WILL squeak in future once its had the same amount of wear?

- R

 

[GTT 280]

Squeaks and creaks

Hi,

I have full leather seats and the drivers seat started to sqeak at about 800 miles. I took it to the dealer who lubricated it. This sorted the problem for about 2 hours. I took it back again and they stripped the upright section of the seat and replaced the internal frame. THis was OK for about 5 hours. I took it back and they stripped the whole seat, including the base unit. It's OK now as far as sqeaking goes, but the seat creaks like hell and the re-fitting of the leather is sloppy and there is little cushion effect remaining. I'm calling up the dealer to fit a completey new seat.

 

[Apial]

The standard seats in all 3 MINIs that I have driven do not squeak. Is the squeak problem only associated with full/half leather seating?

 

[Crashandburn]

I have the half leather sports seats in the front and have never heard a sound from them, (well, except after a curry......... )

 

[mr.bill]

Do you know what the dealer uses to lube the seat? If the lube job only lasts a few hours, then perhaps a better lubricant would help. You might try some Teflon Lube Gel, available at Radio Shack/Tandy. The same stuff can be found at marine dealers, think it is called White Star Lube, or something similar. It contains Teflon, has a very wide temperature range, stays put and doesn't dry out or get gummy. I used to lube my CDRW drive, flatbed scanner, etc. The motor in my window fan started making grinding noises when the bushings dried out, so I used some on the motor shaft and it runs quietly again. I even use it on my firearms. Maybe it would partially solve the squeaky seat problem.

 

[ricardo]

I even use it on my firearms.

After I recovered from the initial culture shock of this remark, I realised the advantage you guys will have when negotiating with your dealers over warranty issues.

 

[timlowden771]

Squeaky Seat

My drivers seat does squeak and I went to the local dealer and they ordered a new seat for me, That was 2 months ago an I am still waiting.(Must be a few seats being replaced if it take them this long to get a part!!)

 

[Chip]

well......the squeak is back on mine so a complete new frame is on order for my car......typical though as it is backordered.

So for now I am going to have to put up with the squeak until early February at the earliest. The backrests are due to arrive in the uk towards the middle of next week which is no problem, but I am not leaving anything to chance and have a new base frame on order for mine too and this will not be arriving in the uk until the end of the first week in February.

Hopefully though, this will put an end to the squeaks from the drivers seat (except those which require you to lift ones cheek )

Oh, and just for the record.....it is not confined to part leather or leather trim options as mine has standard cloth and non sports seats.

 

[mr.bill]

There's a term here that applies when some bloke goes crackers and starts shooting people. It happens a lot at the post office, hence it is called "going postal." (You know what it means when the flag is at half staff at the post office? They're hiring!) There was even a Michael Douglas movie where he played a nerdy guy who flipped out and started shooting. Given the frustration with getting the bits fixed on the MINI, it's a good thing there is gun control in the UK, or we might hear the term "going MINI."

 

[Amberthecat]

Mine started today

I've just covered 600 miles in my Cooper and this morning on the way to work the seat started to creak and sqeak. I've not had time to investigate but it appears the squeak is from the bottom frame (hitting bumps triggers it) and the creak comes from the seat back. Last night I tipped the drivers seat forward to put bag on the backseat (first time I've done that) and now it squeaks. Not a major problem yet but if it gets worse it will making a trip to the dealer.

FYI : It's half leather sports seats as part of the chilli pack

 

[Sharky]

Squeaky Rodent

Yes, a squeaky rodent set up his new home in my driver's seat after about 250 miles (2 weeks ownership). He makes most noise when I take a bend enthusiastically - which is very easy to do in this car!

Hopefully a Pied Piper employed at my local garage can entice him out next week.

 

[Davel]

Squeaky S seats

Had a Cooper and both seat backs were replaced.Have an S now and the drivers seat is now squeaking terribly at times. Any other S folks haveing the same prob? Off to the dealer again! 3 coolant bottles and a service engine light with rough running all in one year...NOT A HONDA! But I still have fun with the car and enjoy it.