I replaced my driver side slider mechanism and didn't put the motor back right (left it "pushed in" for manual closing). The motor gear stripped the plastic gear when it popped down. My motor works fine, but I'm wondering if anyone may have a spare laying around where their motor died, but the gears are okay - that I could even buy off someone?

Not sure if this is the right place to post this - new motors are $300, so looking to avoid that for a simple plastic gear.
Thanks!

 

That's the thing. I don't know where you can get the plastic gear. I'm also looking for one, but seeing how the whole sunroof motor is considered to be one unit...

 

yeah, I figure there's a guy at a Wabasco shop putting those things together with a box of like 500 of them and doesn't think anything of it.

I think if I special order a brass gear from a shop that would build it (like gearsmade.com), they'd charge like $200. Already sent them an email with pictures.

 

are you just waiting for one, or are you going to buy the $300 motor? There's a few places online that will reproduce gears, but from what I've seen it's like $200+ for each. I';m waiting on a response from one of those companies.

 

I work at a used car lot. We get a discount with a reseller account, so I'll just use that when buying stuff from Mini.

With discount, the whole motor is something like $173. That will be the last resort, because I will try to hit up the junkyards around me and see if they will part with the gear for like $25 or something.

 

I'd probably pull the trigger for that price, but unfortunately I don't have the connections you do. I think Sewell out of Plano is the best price I've seen at $270+15 shipping. They're a good group so if I have to waste some money I guess I'd rather give it to them.

 

Hey Deluded, I was tempted to buy a Pontiac Torrent sunroof motor, GM part #257083336 like off ebay. Looks very similar.... Since you have more access to parts and stuff, you might want to take a look at that one (may be more available from salvage). It's Valeo part #815.570.02

If you try it out or take a look and it works, let me know. I bought the new one, really overpriced.

 

I checked it out. It appears that the gears might fit, but not the plug that powers it. And to be frank, I'm a bit leery of splicing wires and stuff into the new motor for that price.

Also, the size will be an issue -- you'd likely have to modify the sunroof motor casing to hold the pontiac sunroof snugly (so it doesn't rock back and forth and cause a ton more issues).

Another issue is, most of those sunroof motor for sale don't really include the actual plastic gear. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I find anything else.

 

yeah, I was just thinking the gears if you could get one on the cheap. Interesting that they (GM) used a metal housing for the gear instead of the cheap plastic housing on the Mini. Thats crazy that they would take the plastic gear out of a used one.