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Replacing convertible top weatherstripping at body?
I'm noticing some cracking of the rubber weatherstripping (or whatever the proper name is for them) where the convertible top fabric meets the body. At the curve of the fenders and along the trunk.
How much effort is involved in replacing these pieces?
We have the kit and people have used the low cost kit for the R52-R57-F57, looks good if your trims are not completely shot. If they are cracked beyond the trim or the chrome part is yellowed or damaged then they kit will not hide those and you will have to do the whole trim linked below in genuine MINI. Those links above show what people did with our kits on R52 and R57. F57 would be the same set up.
Mine is cracked beyond the rubber on the top so I have to do the whole trim. After a while the rubber on the top goes above the metal trim (bonded part) and now my seal on the trunk part is shot and pealing. Its starts to peal and is the little gasket on the top to the trunk lid. So its whole new trims for me.
I did some digging and see there's a thread on this already. I take it the $600 kit comes with both seal already attached to the chromed trim pieces?
Anyone used just seal kit? Seems a bit more cost-effective if the trim is in good shape.
I see this is an older thread, before creating a new one thought I would reach out here, hoping to get some info. My wife has a 2012 Cooper R57 and a few months ago we noticed that the trunk was holding water, a considerable amount under the toolkit holder. The entire trunk area was wet and it took a while to dry it out. As a interim fix I ordered a car cover from Amazon and we use it when it rains, that has been working. I ordered the trim kit and am waiting for the weather to warm up as we don't have a garage. The top is in pretty good condition, there were a few openings in the seams along the glued section (fabric folds) alongside the rear window that I sealed with a silicone sealer (seemed to work well).
I guess my main question is if the side seams are the place where the water is leaking in, they are cracked and need to replaced anyway. Just want to make sure that I am addressing the main problem.
I'll appreciate any feedback on this.
Max Rear top seal, cracked Right rear seal cracked Window fold, sealed with silicone sealer
Semi-related
Looking at an R57 with a partially detached rear window. Any reliable repairs for that, or is a new top the only real viable option?
Also @ECSTuning
The links you posted above to your site & RealOEM, are these the same top? The RealOEM option has about $800 savings, comparing black to black.
realoem is not a buying site, its just an old internal catalog MINI "ETK", those prices are not correct at all. Our prices are.
People seal the rear glass at a convertible top place, sometimes it works but most people just get a new fabric top. It includes new glass that's bonded
Other options: Otherwise new tops are here and any upholstery shop could replace it. There are 4 different colors. I guess you could change the color while you are at it. 54342758078, 54347310524, 54342758301, 54342758300
Thanks, the R57 I'll be picking up is triple brown, wouldn't mind going to a black top if I go the replace route, once I get a better idea of how/where it's leaking.
May look into wrapping it down the road, easier to change colors with a black top than picking something that flows with the brown.
ok, so HC withy HC interior, black top. Yes Highgate was later in the r57 life. All the r57 tops can be swapped, some people do that for a color change.
