Hi,

A couple week ago, I noticed some fabric stuff coming out from between the rear side windows, and the C pillars on both sides of my 2015 Cooper S. I didn't think much of it until yesterday. I noticed yesterday that on the driver side most of that fabric had fully come out/off and was just blowing around. So, I barely touch it, and the rest comes out. The passenger side is also getting worse. This fabric stuff is also pretty frayed up. These pieces look as if they have been cut but didn't get removed, like it's excess. It actually sort of looks like my anthracite headliner. I'm really wondering what this is, as I'm pretty concerned. I live pretty far from a dealership, but if I must take it in I absolutely will. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this, or has a clue as to what it might be. I'm hoping it's just leftover material that didn't get removed at the factory or something.

I'm also hoping someone can tell me what part number it is.

Here are some pics of the issue. I put a red arrow pointing at the area of the problem. I also took a pic of the fabric strip that came off. http://imgur.com/a/TN5fP#0

 

After seeing you pix, I went to the garage to check mine. No such material coming out in the places you describe.

Feeling around on the inside, I can see where the plastic trim piece covers the inside of the MINI in that area and also see where the headliner meets the top of that plastic trim piece.

If I were to guess, during the assembly process that headliner extends down that pillar to keep it in place when the cover trim is snapped into place. I wouldn't be surprised if that headliner has an exceptionally long tail in that area so it can be stretched tight and then held in place behind those trim piece. My guess is someone didn't do a ver good job trimming the excess in your MINI and some of the excess id migrating out through the space on those trim pieces (or maybe it's not trimmed on any of them but folded back and your just unfolded...who knows). Since the piece came off on it's own, perhaps it was trimmed at the factory but not removed before the panel were placed. Strictly guess work here. With cars rolling down the assembly line anything is likely to be missed occasionally. QA would likely miss it during inspection also.

Is it something of concern? yes, considering the price of the MINI. Would I make a special trip to the dealership to have the issue addressed? Probably not. I'd wait until I had maintenance done (or something else pops up that is more critical) and then bring it to their attention (keep the scraps you removed to show the dealer). Your trimming of the excess is probably what the dealer would do although I'd imagine they would (will) removed those trim panels and get a closer cut to the headliner material.

Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be covered under the warranty and done to your satisfaction.

Good Luck.

 

Thanks for checking. I'm going to give my dealership a call and see what they say. Heck, I'll probably go around to the nice malls in the areas it's in while I'm down there if I have to take it in. :p

 

mine becamse more obvious after the car was detailed. wonder if the buffer grabbed onto some string. i went ahead and pull/trimmed them.

 

Just gave the dealership a call. They told me that there is actually some service advisory about this, and to bring it in and they'll get it all fixed up for me. They also told me this doesn't affect the weatherproofness of the windows.

 

I too also have some loose threads of fabric showing in that little crack. I have not touched them, but was going to trim it with a razor. It hasn't become worse since I got my car, but just stayed the same.

 

+1 I have seen this pop up a few times. Glad they're taking care of it.