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Convert Top Stuck - Sunroof cables broke. How to manual open??
My 2016 Mini Cooper S convertible will not open the sunroof (and also the top). The electric motor works that normally opens the sunroof (you can hear it and see it move). I have searched and searched and even checked the ISTA for help. Nothing. There are videos on replacing/repairing the cables that attach to the carriage that moves the metal bow that opens the sunroof - but those all apply to the R57 (Gen 2) before you go pointing me to those sites. BMW changed the design slightly from Gen 2 to Gen 3 and made an entire "sunroof assembly" that has enclosed metal rails (and costs about $2500!)
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When you remove the plastic trim pieces that cover the side rails, you cannot see the carriage mechanism (or the cables). (The above diagram is an exposed view - you cannot really see this when you remove the plastic trim that covers it - just metal)
Also, the new latch design makes it almost impossible to open once the cable breaks. So, if I could just figure out a way to manually open the roof, I could at least start to take apart the roof and trim tray covering the electric motor (for the cables) that is overhead. You cannot remove this trim piece without first removing a screw on each side that is ONLY accessible with the top is half way open (which I cannot do b/c the latch is engaged and the cable is broken or detached from the carriage. Nice engineering BMW!!)
If anyone has a suggestion, I'd appreciate it. I did take it to the local MINI dealer and they charged me $150 to tell me that the cable is detached (which I already knew!!). They didn't take a single piece apart, just pushed the sunroof/top button and heard the electric motor and said they needed to replace the entire "Sunroof Assembly" frame - for the low low price of $4100! Ouch. If I could only figure out how to open the top latches manually, then I could start taking things apart without breaking them and possible repair the cable in a similar fashion to the videos posted for the R57 repair seen on Youtube. Unfortunately, BMW does not sell the cables separately with the carriages anymore. Any ideas/help would be appreciated.
Because the cable inside of the assembly (as pictured above) that attaches to the carriage that moves the sunroof has become "detached" from the carriage , both the motor and the manual cranking will only move the cable, but NOT open the sunroof (b/c it isn't attached). I did try to manually crank, but that only works if the cable is still attached to the metal sunroof bow (which BMW technician says it no longer). The electric motor does work, it just moves the cable back and forth and nothing happens. HOW did BMW expect you to open the roof if the coil cable breaks??
What I need to know is how to open the sunroof manually but without using the coil cables to pull it back to the open position. If I can open the roof, then I can possibly access the sunroof assembly and see if they cables can be reattached in a similar fashion that was show in the videos on Youtube by "tullid1" for his R57.
That is the mystery part! If you have any other diagrams or photos of that part, it would help greatly. If you have a photo of the top view of that part or closeup photos of the track that contains the carriage inside the track would be appreciated!
Also, is there some MINI or BMW help line you can call in situation like this where you cannot open the top? Maybe they have a suggestion? The local MINI dealer was very unhelpful - they looked at it for 2 min, pushed the sunroof button, said the cable came loose and charged me $150 - but they never opened the top or examined the cables. It was a "best guess" on their part (which, I had already surmised myself.)
Dealership can help and do it for you if you are under warranty. I know in the others its an allen wrench in the center of the motor and then move the top back with somone pressing on it.
Not under warranty unfortunately. Allen wrench only works if the cables are attached (which dealership says they are not).
Even dealership did not open it to inspect - not sure how you can at this point without cutting into the sunroof assembly. Curious if anyone knows of a procedure to release the latch hook assembly (with sunroof closed)? Or, is it possible to "force" the sunroof open by leveraging the "Pull Rod" (see #4 in diagram above). Not sure if the sunroof has to absolutely be in the full open position in order for the "Retaining Hook" to be released. Once that's released, then I can open the top and remove the sunroof assembly.
Any "help line" for BMW that someone might recommend? As this model (2016) is one of the first with this new assembly, my guess is that this is going to be a topic of conversation in the next 1-2 years as these start "failing".
I would push it and have someone else unlock the cables from the motor on the top and slide it back. Or take it to a local convertible top place that deals with Haartz or Webasto tops. Thats the OEM manufacture and they make top for domestic high end cars.
Where did you find the photo of the part above? Do you happen to have the photo of the underside of that part? Curious what the detail inside the tracks looks like from above (since I cannot open the top (yet). Looks like with 2016 and later models, no hydraulics - all electric motors to open/close the top. You have to completely remove the electric motors (both sides) from the top before manually opening the top. Thanks for all the advice.
On the web, under that part number, no other actual pictures exsist. Its hard to find anything on the F57. R52 and R57 models there are a bunch of pics.
Quick update. I was able to remove the crossbar trim (covers the electric motor above your head for the sunroof) WITHOUT opening the top (even though that is the required procedure. First, I ordered a set of Torx (star) allen wrenches from Amazon (see photo). Then, with a flashlight, you could see the screw and barely reach it (T-20 screw)
. After about 12-15 quarter turns, the screw came out. Save breaking the trim piece ($150). Upon examining the cables, they are definitely detached from the carriage (see photos above). Everything else looks fine. Just need to figure out how to open the sunroof without those cables attached.
When you examine the underside of the rails, there appears to be 2 "key holes" with one that has a mechanism "inserted" in the hole. I think this may be an emergency way to release the sunroof carriage, but not sure. Any MINI techs out there with some advice?
I have a 2016 f57 with the same problem and it is possible to repair the cable. As far as I can tell, the cable didn't break, but just unclipped from the mechanism.You need to find a mechanic to do this job.I'm from Portugal
Thanks for the reply. Did you fix it yourself or have a mechanic repair it? I was able to reattach the cable similar to the epoxy repair described in the videos. The top opened OK, by the mechanism still does not operate correctly. I think one of the brackets has other damage as well and does not operate correctly in the track mechanism. It opened the top OK, but now the top will not close (at all) with the power. Something is failing to "unlock" or not engage properly when I press the button to close the top. Will continue to explore a solution. I do agree that the cable detaching was the main problem, but in my case, I think something else was damaged in the trolley that travels inside the track. Will update later.
Just a quick update for those who might have this problem in the future. I was able to reattach the cables (as described on the previous Gen 2 model from the YouTube videos posted). It was a little tricky removing the carriages. Once out, they were reattached to the cables with epoxy ($3) and re-assembled. I had issues at first, but when I reassembled, I made sure the carriages were EXACTLY the same distance from the front windshield (measured). Make sure the mechanism for the latches is properly reinstalled and set to the proper position. I had to repeat this process and on the second reassembly, the top worked perfectly. And the dealership wanted over $4500 to do this same repair. If I had to do again, it would take about 1 hr to disassemble, 1 hr to fix cable and 1 hr to reassemble. Full dry on the epoxy is recommended (12+ hrs). Be sure to take the motor out for the sunroof to make the cables move freely. Also, difficult to realign them perfectly - be as precise as possible. Hope this helps someone with a similar problem.
My car"F57" is in the same condition.I would like to try to repair it myself.
So,How can I remove "Covering inner right"? It is the part corresponding to number 7 in the following URL.
IM on the same boat one side of the "sunroof" part of the convertible does not open and the coil has failed. how can i get to the mechanism part after removing all plastic trims?
I reconnected the cables and reassembled. However, the series of operations that the roof opens has become abnormal. (Roof is closed, but my F57 seems to misunderstand that the roof is folded into the back of the car.) If you know how to initialize or how to calibrate, could you tell me? Do I need something like ISTA+?
TO:pepsih
First, you need to unlock the left and right.
In my case, I inserted a flathead screwdriver into the metal fitting just behind the fastener that cuts into the pillar and twisted it a little to lock it.
There may be a better way.
For the R52 you have to cycle the top all the way down and all the way up for it to work again after a fix or the systems electricals have been torn apart, also try putting the windows master switch all the way down then all the way up.
Convert Top Stuck - Sunroof cables broke. How to manual open??
