I search but could not find a 'How To' on removing the boot handle. Does anyone have instructions on this?

 

If you look at the underside of the handle, there are a few torx fasteners. Remove those, and the handle comes right off. There's an electrical socket you'll have to unplug to separate the boot handle's wiring from the car's wiring in order to completely remove the handle.

The only potentially tricky part is that the wires leading to the electrical connection aren't very long on the car side, so you might have to wiggle your fingers into the opening in the car's body in order to re-connect the electrical plug. On some cars I've seen, there's been enough wiring to pull the plug completely outside the car to re-attach it, while on others, I've had to re-connect the plug using needle-nose pliers since the wires were so short.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

I had to pull off the inner panel to get my hands on that plug. I rerouted it to give me a couple inches to work with the next time I take it off.

 

Glad it all worked out, and that you were able to give yourself more room to work for next time.

 

Me too, but it is easy. Just a few screws and a good solid yank gets it off.

 

While you're in there, you may want to waterproof your microswitch... search on "boonk" for a fun story and solution to my "hatch opens itself" issue:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=boonk

It's also a good time to clean everything...

 

How does the electrical plug become disconnected? It seems tricky?

 

It should be obvious once you look at it. Just pull the male/female connector pieces apart. I think the pieces lock together and you have to press a tab to release them.

 

Ya, I tried pressing down the tab but it still didn't come off. Guess I will have to try again. I didn't want to break the connector.

 

IIRC a little press on the top unlocks the bottom, or else it's a break-the-fingernail-then-realize -a -small -screwdriver -would've -done -the -trick job.

Still no boonk on my car... :D

 

I haven't been able to find a vendor with a chrome boot handle to replace the red one on my R56 MINI. Anyone have any sources?

 

Get it from your dealer. It looks like part# 51132753603 : http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...71&hg=51&fg=95

 

I'm having a hard time disconnecting the wire hardness. Any pics on how to do this. I've try pressing down to disconnect the pieces, but no luck. Any help would be great, trying to plasti-dip it.

 

I just tried replacing the boot handle on my 2006 R53. The wires appear to be hard wired to original handle (no plastic connector). Has anyone every encountered this?