Hi all!

I figured that I should introduce myself as I hope to be an active member on here. First off, my name is John and I am from Central Jersey.

I recently bought a used 2005 MINI Cooper S with 81,000 mi. on it. The previous two owners did maintain it but they brought it to mechanics (so the records are only invoices). This past weekend I wanted to start fresh to replaced the air filter, oil filter, changed the oil, checked the tire treads, added air to the tires (which were 15 PSI lower than where they should have been), and just a general inspection of all the systems.

The only problem that I have had is the damn passenger seat, as I was cleaning it locked in place. I have read posts with people having the same problem,I just am worried about body slamming it! It is upright which makes it a bit harder to do so.

Below I posted some pictures of my car.

I hope to meet some more MINI enthusiasts!

 

What do you meen the seat is locking?

 

Welcome to NAM and the MINI community.

There are four controls for the passenger seat. Two on the floor in front of the seat and one on either side at the hinge point. The control closest to the door in front raises and lowers the seat. The control closest to the shifter moves the seat front to back. The control on the left side, just above the hinge, adjusts the angle of the back. The control on the right side, just above the hinge, is used for access to the rear seat.

This is where most people have a problem. It is a programed control. By that I mean that several different things happen when you activate it. If something happens and it can not go through all of the different functions it tends to lock up.

I do not endorse "slamming" the seat. Try the seat back adjuster to be sure it is fully locked into a position. Check the forward/back control to see that it is actually in a lockable position. I have found that sometimes if someone tries to push the seat back before it has gone all of the way forward it will hang up. Takes a bit of fiddling to sort it out.

Good luck.

 

@Achilles Honor I'll try to explain the problem a bit better: If you press the outboard handle down the seat will angle all the way toward the front of the car and move forward to access the rear seats. Then if you pull the seat back to its normal position it will slide backward on the track, lock, then the top of the seat will angle up to its regular up-right position. There are two problems though, first the back support portion of the seat will wiggle about 1/4 inch toward and backward. The second problem is the fact that the inboard seat angle adjustment lever pulls up about 1/8" and no further but does not unlock the seat to adjust the angle. I've been fiddling with it for the past two days and no avail.

 

Ok so your seat adjustment is broken. Have you tried taking it off and seeing if anything was stuck in there?

 

Yes I have, can't seem to find anything wrong with it. In previous threads others of around the same year models had the same problem. I'll get it eventually. Although I am glad it's just the passenger seat and not something worse like the transmission! Phew!

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...t-problem.html

theres a problem close to yours.. i would have a mechanic take a look at it and see what he finds wrong

 

I might have to do that. I hope I don't get the "you need a new seat" b.s.

 

keep us updated on what happens

 

Congrats jut got my new mini also!
GoodLuck

 

Thank you, same to you! I am already in love it mine.

 

Nice looking car! Looks pretty much untouched. I can't believe it has had two owners who could actually tolerate the cup holder. Mine came off the first week!

 

Welcome to the forum John!

 

Thank you! Both of them didn't drive it much of a regular basis, which helps. Plus my OCD has already kicked in with this car Is it normal to clean some part of the car (or the whole thing for that matter) more than 3 times a week?

I am tempted to remove the goofy cup holder, I wouldn't take a drink while I was driving anyways so I would probably just use the rear cup holder if I need to.

 

Achilles, got the seat fixed!

I tried at least 20 times with trying to pull the seat back in place, didn't work. So I climbed into the front seat, held up the inboard lever and by using all of the weight in my upper body to shove the seat back. Heard a crack...didn't work. Did it again with a slightly louder crack and the seat is again functional. Although, it wasn't as scary of a crack as what other people have described. Glad it works now.

 

So it works like normal now?

 

Indeed! I actually laughed to myself when it fixed it... I am already going crazy.

 

lol thats crazy.. i cant believe that worked

 

I can't either, but I trusted the other '05 owners on this site.

The seat back was wiggly and did not lock in place, so I had to body slam it to fix it and make it lock in place. Only in a MINI... We defy logic.

 

lol so now its fully functional again?

 

Yup! Works like brand new!

 

Keep us updated and don't be afraid to ask questions

 

I was able to fix it.

 

Glad you got it fixed. Nice MINI!

 

After a year and a few repairs, lots of love, and plenty of MINI runs. Gizmo is still going strong!