Rear sunroof squeaky rattle

lacning74 · #1 09-27-2009, 04:25 PM

Took me forever to finally figure out this recent loud squeaky rattle over every bump coming from the back. My wife even noticed it. As in other threads, I ruled out the back seat latches, seatbelt, sunroof screen, and various plastic trim pieces. I realized when I pressed up on or opened the rear sunroof even just a little tiny bit, the squeaking stopped. Guess it's the sunroof seals rubbing against each other. Don't think it's the rails.

Should have looked there first since the dealership recently did the "sunroof not opening in hot weather" lube & realign "fix" as well as installing new rubber stoppers for the screens. When I look from the outside, I notice the sunroofs front and back are now flush with the roof whereas before they stuck up a little in the back (millimeters). Also, the wind noise seems louder.

Guess they need to be readjusted back to before for both the wind noise and squeak. I'm sure silicone lube or such on the sunroof seals will help, but don't want to be reapplying every week or so. Anyone adjusted the sunroof themselves?

Mini of Manhattan still hasn't gotten back to me on fixing a scratch on my headlight after they replaced the cat and the hood was misaligned. I hate being a "squeaky" wheel.

**RJKimbell** · #2 09-27-2009, 09:32 PM

Go ahead and squek...that's what the Warranty is for!! I've had plenty of rattles fixed and I've had the sunroof fixed too. I still have a rattle some where up above, so I'll have them check it out next time I'm at the dealership. My Dealership is very accomidating when it comes to working on Molly...wish eveyone had the same experiences!!

**scottab36** · #3 10-04-2009, 11:29 AM

When you get tired of the squeak then you can adjust the sunroof by loosening the TORX screws. I adjusted mine up and even with the roof to eliminate the squeaks.

lacning74 · #4 10-05-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottab36

When you get tired of the squeak then you can adjust the sunroof by loosening the TORX screws. I adjusted mine up and even with the roof to eliminate the squeaks.

Thanks! Squeak resolved. Compared to the front sunroof the rear was adjusted really low, below the frame arm rail.

Here's a pic of the screws:

I think most of the sound was from the rubber of the sunroof inside edge rubbing against the metal rail:

The sunroof had been adjusted so low that when closed it really rubbed and squeaked.

chiorozco · #5 03-18-2010, 11:03 PM

haahaha... i've been hearing a squeak too... i literally took EVERYTHING i had in Pepe and the noise was still there... tomorrow i'll see if the sunroof is the problem... but i didn't quite understood the TORX screws solution =(

hockeydad51 · #6 10-23-2010, 02:50 PM

I've got it too. It drives me crazy! Can someone post up some pics of the Torx screws you're referring to?

Skinnylittleman · #7 10-23-2010, 03:00 PM

Had a problem with my sunroof leaking air at the front. It bothered me enough to take it in. They "fixed it" and I had to bring it back because it wasn't any better.

Now after the second fix, the air leak noise is gone, but my roof now rattles over every little bump in the road as well. My wife laughes at me saying I've just traded one annoying noise for another. It's been much worse two weeks out of the shop than it was 2 days out of the shop...

They said the second time they found the roof to be too high, and adjusted it down. I'm sure it's the same problem with it being too low now...I just hate the thought of having to take it in for a THIRD time.

Chris G · #8 10-23-2010, 03:03 PM

I've got it too. I would love to fix it.

russr · #9 02-28-2011, 03:45 PM

I initially took my car in because the sunroof wouldn't open when it was hot outside. They adjusted it and then it opened when hot, but there was a lot of wind noise. I took it back and they adjusted it and all was good, but then this fall/winter I started getting a lot of clicking, clacking and squeaking over bumps from the rear sunroof. Just took it in today to get that fixed. Hopefully wind noise doesn't come back now.

BostonR56S · #10 03-02-2011, 08:24 AM

I just had mine in the dealer and one of the problems was indeed the wind noise on the highway on the front edge (windshield side). They fixed it and replaced the sealing around the sunroof twice, and the noise is gone, but now i'm having the rattle in the back too. Seems like the level (too high or too low) will cause the rattle.

Also, it won't open fully without it bouncing back. It looks like the seal on the side in the back isn't smooth against the roof, and thus sticks out a tiny bit, which seems to be causing the bounceback. Might be able to adjust this seal.....

russr · #11 03-02-2011, 08:51 AM

Wow, can't these things be adjusted to have no wind noise and no rattle? After all the issues I see with these cars that so many of us have, you really have to think these cars are not well designed.

BostonR56S · #12 03-02-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russr

Wow, can't these things be adjusted to have no wind noise and no rattle? After all the issues I see with these cars that so many of us have, you really have to think these cars are not well designed.

There were definitely some corners cut in design, not going to deny that.
Fun factor of the car will always be there. But some "cost savings" techniques hurt quality control and overall refinement

BostonR56S · #13 03-03-2011, 10:31 AM

Got home yesterday and took the T25 (I believe it was. MINI always uses either T20, 25 or 30 for 90% of their torx screws anyways, so you should have all 3 =p ) loosened the forwardmost torx screws of the rear sunroof pane, applied pressure and pushed it up maybe a mm.

I had looked from the outside while it was trying to open and the front pane has a L shaped hook along the track that slides back with the front pane, since the rear pane was too low, the L hook would catch the rubber seal of the rear pane, think something was caught, and return back to closed position. After adjusting all worked again, and no more squeaks! .....for now.

russr · #14 03-03-2011, 03:01 PM

Would you mind posting some pictures of the screws you loosened and what you did? I think a step by step guide with pics would be very helpful for the rest of us.

Phlerb · #15 03-09-2011, 11:04 AM

Anyone have pictures of the adjustment screw? I am also in need of adjustment, and my sunroof too!

russr · #16 03-09-2011, 11:09 AM

I ended up taking mine in to the dealer. They fixed it of course. The shop foreman told me that there's bolts on there that control the tilt of the glass. He said you need two people to do it and if it's two high you get too much wind noise, too low and it squeaks/rattles and if it's uneven you can get leaks.