My brother, who could be more mechanically sympathetic, rendered the latch inoperative. I don’t know if he pulled on it too hard or it just broke from fatigue. Anyway, are there parts in there that can break or perhaps become unhooked? Also, how do you remove the inner panel without being able to open the door?

 

Did you check out this thread, the latches can stick. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4-clubman.html

 

There's a big black button on the bottom of the front of the door that is pushed in when the front door closes. It prevents the small door from opening when the front door is closed. If that sticks the latch won't open.

The latches are all connected to the handle (and the interlock above) by cables. the handle is plastic so it surely could break.

if you did break it, I have leftover bits from the replacement door from my deer strike experience. Free to you if you pay shipping. if you need something PM me and let me know what you need.

 

No, I’m speaking about the Opera Door. Previously I started a thread about the barn door and that thread should be helpful.

 

Sorry, third door info here. Aka Clubdoor

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-t-open-4.html

 

I believe that something has become disconnected as there is no resistance to the latch. Then the problem is being able to open the door in order to remove the inner panel.

Several years ago the left barn door latch failed and the service guy had a terrible time trying to get the door open in order to get to the innards. He wound up breaking the inner panel and having to replace it. It seems that this was a design flaw and it’s looking that it may be a similar thing in order to get the inner cover off in order to repair the latch.

By the way, long before MINIs and Minis, the doors were called Suicide Doors or Opera Doors.

 

Did you check the lower safety latch?

Regardless what those type of doors "Used" to be called, Mini calls it the Clubdoor.

 

That will have to wait until I leave later today as I don’t have enough space in my garage to open the door. Note that I said the latch has essentially no resistance until it reaches the end of travel. In short, it doesn’t feel anything like it used to. That’s what leads me to believe it isn’t connected as it was.

MINI/BMW marketing rhetoric!

 

IF you have to destroy the inner panels to get them off let me know. I have some of those as well.

(I had to replace both the club door and the front door since a deer ran into me and damaged both. I bought two used, same color doors at a junkyard and installed them but had to transfer the door panels since mine were different. I saved all of the stuff except the shells so I have anything you might need. Free, you pay shipping)

 

Black inner panels?

 

the bottom is black, the top is a gray color

they're a little dirty from being in the junkyard but otherwise in good condition.

 

"Note that I said the latch has essentially no resistance until it reaches the end of travel."

that is how the safety latch works, there is a cable that comes up to the inside handle and disengages the handle from the two door latches.