The driver door on my mini doesnt stay open anymore. It seems like it broke somewhere inside the door.

I am going to take the door panel off tomorrow and see what I can find.

Anyone have knowledge of this repair?

 

compare your two doors

the "stopper" is just a small metal piece in the hinge area

it is not too $$ and is easy to replace

 

I think the part is called a door strap and it's easy to replace. I want to say it's in the $50 ball park. The only difficulty I had in replacing mine was I had to buy a set of sockets to loosen and tighten the weird external torx bolts that hold it in. Other than that, it's unbolt the old and bolt on the new. I don't think you even have to take the door panel off but I can't remember for sure.

 

"Door brake" in Mini talk. They changed 2002/2003 so you have to use your build date to get the right part. There are other threads on this if you use this keyword.

You don't have to remove the door panel. It unbolts from the hinge area. Funny external torx (etorx) fastener

 

I just read another thread about this, but can't find it now. The poster was asking if he could retrofit a face lifted stop to replace his broken stop. Similar posts saying it wasn't possible, but he tried it anyway and he said it fit perfectly without mods. The newer stop is supposed to have better detents to hold the door and doesn't rust like the early stops.

 

Thanks for all of the replies!

I cant find another thread using "door brake" or "door detent" using the search feature.

I have found some parts online but the image does not match what I have on my car. I will call a a local the local salvage yards.

Questions:
1) what do you mean by a face lifted part. I assume off a different model?

2) since the part does not designate left and right, i'm thing about using the good part from the passenger side. Anyone know if they are the same?

 

Not sure what year car you have but there's a thin metal stop on the early cars and a thicker plastic stop on the later cars... I think sometime during 2003 it was changed. I mistakenly thought it was changed for the face lifted(FL) 2005 and newer cars.

In the post I can't find now, the poster was questioning if the newer plastic stop would work in his car, but wasn't getting a definite answer. There were posts saying there were two different styles and no, but he wasn't convinced. He said he found a new style stop for cheap and was going to take a chance to see if it worked. He posted that it bolted right in and works.


Someone else said the hole size is different in the doors and too small to fir the newer stop, so I'm not sure which is true. Any more details of what year your car is, or can you post a pic of your door?

 

Whoops.. Its a 2004 S

 

buddy of mine with a 2003 had his go bad and while at the dealer for some other issue mentioned it. They replaced it, charged for part and nothing for labor ... he had other stuff done and was charged for that of course but said wasn't worth the extra paperwork to charge for this ....

in other words .... easy

 

Ok, ignore my previous posts since you have the newer stop. Here's a video for the replacement:

 

Thanks you so much. That video link is perfect : D

 

yep, I was the swapee...

Check out the details here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...led-r53-2.html

Was planning on a full on write-up, but really there was nothing to the swap. Doesn't matter much here, but the two types of brake can be directly exchanged with no modification to the door. While all the fasteners to remove it are accessible in the seam of the door, you'll most likely have to take the door panel off to remove the brake as the hole is too small to get it out. Mine is a 2003 MCS (r53) with an 05/03 build...

If you're looking to save a couple bucks, check out ALLMAGautoparts.com for quality used parts...they offer a NAM discount...

Good luck!

 

Post #45 I knew I read it recently. A write up with a clear thread title would be great. I tried searching, but the the keywords have so many meanings everything but what you're actually searching for comes up in the results.

 

Great video. Both the door brakes on my car are practically non-functional, while both the brakes on my dad's R50 are almost seized up. So I can just buy the brakes for the 2003+ cars and they will work interchangeably? The newer part is cheaper.

 

lubrication

lubrication

lubrication

if you look at the video which shows the part

how it works is obvious (IMO)

lubricate and avoid failure . . .

 

Both inspection 1 and 2 says to lube!!!
Folks start doing just oil changes...and other fluids...and think you are done. NOPE!!
Lube your hatch hinges too!!

 

+1 on lubing the hinges , I also spray the hinges on my top, rear boot hinge and all the other pivot points at least once a year.

Nice to see the hinges transfer : Now i guess everyone will get the 5/2003 + design https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eck-strap.html

 

I replaced my driver's side door brake over the winter and will have to do the pass. side eventually. It's getting sloppy.

They can be found online for under $50. I got mine from Way.