And it feels so good... Ha! Now that I have your attention... I have to settle a debate with my partner. Nemo had his top down for 4 days straight. For some reason I started to worry that I should put it up, even though he's in the garage. My other half says that's stupid because the top is made to stay open. I gave in to my women's intuition (yes, I'm male) and put it up anyway... and now it squeaks really loud going up or down! See?? I was worried something would happen by leaving the top down too long and it did! God gave me women's intuition for a reason. (Thanks Oprah! ) LOL

So... what's the longest period of time you've left your top down, and have you noticed anything different about your top since then?

Signed,
I'm topless, now give me beads.

 

I haven't left mine down anywhere near as long as you, but then I don't have a garage to keep him in so the top gets put up each night for 'security' reasons. (Except when I forget occasionally)

I don't notice any squeaks when raising or lowering the top. Maybe I have used mine enough to work the squeaks out, who knows.

Of course, it could be the Nemo(or one of his other friends) saying "DON"T PUT IT UP!!!!"

 

this exact same thing happened to me. I left it in the garage OVERNIGHT with the top down, and now the thing squeals at me like a stuck pig everytime I raise it.

 

Ya know, Mishka, I think you're right! I put the top up today, out of paranoia, and it squealed all the way, almost fighting me! SUBMIT! Damn you! (Where's my whip?)

I noticed the famous "white marks" today too, after the top was up. Isn't it a little soon for those? Maybe that's my punishment for not taking care of my new baby. (The CAR I mean, jesus... don't go callin' DFACS on me!)

Do you have those marks, CeliaMarie?

Sounds like the stuck pig could use some lube. I'm gonna ask tomorrow when Nemo goes in to get his seat fixed. I'll let ya know what they say. Wish me luck!

 

Let us know! I'd like to know what kind of lube you should use, and where.

Also, completely different reason, but I ALWAYS put my top up at night, even in the garage. My last car was also a convertible (admittedly, an older one) and I used to keep my top down all summer in the garage. One day, I forgot some chocolate in the trunk. Next I knew I had mice eating through to the trunk to get the chocolate. (I don't have mice in my house... but the garage is not attached to the house, and I guess these were just mice that live in my neighborhood...)

Anyway, since then, I always leave the top up.

C

 

(No pun intended, of course. ) I worry about ants all the time. We live in a brand new development and I've seen fire ant mounds pop up all over the place. My nephew spilled a soda in the back a few days ago and I didn't notice until yesterday. I can see poor Nemo covered in ants when I open the garage!

Well, my appt. was this morning to get the back seat fixed, so while I was there I asked about the top. My service guy said they could certainly take care of it, but he estimated it would take 3 hours to go over every part of the top to make sure everything was lubed. I passed since I didn't have that kind of time today. He said I could take regular machine oil (I've seen it in hardware stores) and apply it to the pivot points to start out with. I'm probably going to try that tonight. I'll let you know how it goes!

He also offered to include that in my first service visit if I could wait. My deal is, I want a lubricant that will last at LEAST a year. (How many times do I have to say that in my life?? ) I doubt machine oil will do that.

Hopefully by Wednesday I'll have something good to post! I'll let ya know!

 

Oh, and thanks for making me all paranoid about mice now Chucky!! LOL

 

I just heard mine squeak for the first time this morning after leaving it down for more than a day. Like most, I'm going to try to lubricate it this weekend but I haven't seen any good threads or other info regarding lube points. Normally I'd use a good white lithium grease (comes in a spray can, very water resistant and stays put for a long time) but as a spray there's also the possibility of overspraying the interior or the inside of the top. There's also a type of machine oil with teflon that's good for long term adhesion. I think I may try that first as I can apply that with an oiler bottle (a plastic squeeze bottle with a long plastic straw on top that tapers to a fine tip, great for putting a few drops of oil in tight places). I'd love to see a write-up on how the dealers are supposed to perform this service, but I'm afraid it may require partial dissasembly of the top to get to ALL the roof mechanism.

 

The squeaking just STOPPED. I had the top up and down several times today. No squeak! It did rain a lot yesterday, so maybe the moisture had something to do with it? I'm stumped. But hey, if the squeak's gone...

And I just bought a new bottle of machine oil. Can you wrestle with that?

 

This brings up a good point, Swedish Fish and I have a MINI Cabrio S on order and I'm sure she'll leave the top down as long as she can. I'll keep any eye out for any lube points. If someone finds some or hears from a dealer about a resolution -- post it up! Thanks for bringing this up...

 

one night right after i got my ho mc i made the mistake of leaving the top down all night (told myself several times to put it during the course of the evening but kept forgetting), the next morning when i got up it had been raining for several hours. she was totally soaked. it took most of a week for her to dry out. it wasn't till recently, couple of months, that the tops frame started to squeak badly. i intend to use a graphite based lube on it when i get back from the dragon, will be asking vendors and such at the dragon for any tips, etc. will let you know what i find out.

 

you've had some of the best posts man

 

Thanks! Life's more fun when ya laugh!

I'll deal with the laugh-lines later. I always say... have a good plastic surgeon picked out by the time you're 27. You'll need him later.

 

hey man, also nice site! i finally got to see how the Nav sits cause im lookin @ ordering a MCSc.

btw, did you use iWeb to make the site? (Macie here too )

 

Yeah... I've lived in Atlanta my entire life (pretty much) and STILL can't find my way around this place... NAV is a must for me! The MINI's Nav is a little lacking compared to systems in other vehicles, but I think it's a pretty new system based on other threads I've read. I expect they'll be upgrading it in a year. Until then I'll continue to try and hack it to make it do what I want!

And you are correct... I used iWeb to make the site, adding a little customization here and there. It was SO easy. If ya wanna play on some of my other iWeb and MAC creations, head over to www.BryenWinstead.com


Thanks for the feedback!

 

Oh... and I have a theory on the convertible top squeaks... For the past several days I've made sure to put my top up every night, and many days it was up and down several times depending on where I parked.

I'm wondering if something in the top is self-lubricating (you know I'm exercising restraint by not cracking another joke here). It seems like the more I use the top, the less it squeaks. The longer it sits open, the more prone it is to squeaking. Thoughts? I'll hit my Service guy up for some info on that too, and let ya know what I find.

 

A long while back, I had an Audi with a squeaky sunroof. Heavy Duty Silicone lube was recommended, and I have to say that is the best stuff. I've used it on cars, door frames, windows, etc., and that stuff works. We had the Audi for 4 years and never had to reapply.

Cheers,
--Doug

 

Top down all day = no squeaks. Top down all night=lots of squeaks. I have yet to find why the mice like the darn thing so much at night. Must be a party spot or something. Needless to say I leave the top up at night now even though it's garaged.

 

I put my top up and down a few times a day . . . I've only driven it with the top up a few times . . . but I usually put the top up when I park to protect the interior (and I put the car cover on at work and in my uncoverd driveway at night). The top has been squeeking sometimes and sometimes not since the start. I think the Open Motoring sales guy stuff and the convertible top engineers didn't get together and there are only so many operations in the engineering. So if any of you get any lubrication experience, I'd love to hear it. I don't think the dealers know squeek about it.

As for the double entendre . . . (wish I could find the speel check) . . . I don't think you want to see me with my top up.

 

Well then it seems like the top would squeak if you leave it closed too long also. Stationary in one position could apply for either opened or closed. I open mine every morning on the way to work & close it every night when I get home (weather permitting) & it still squeaks. Anybody tried WD-40