I have seen a lot of posts about the sun roof not opening and experienced this myself and I have to tell ya, it is a no brainer and not a big deal at all to fix. Mine gets stuck occassionally and all I have to do is apply a small amount of pressure with the palm of my hand to the roof while depressing the switch to open it and it opens just fine. Most of the time that is not required and it works just fine. I think the heat just makes the seals stick a bit and a little pressure releases the seals. I will not be taking it to the dealer and having them mess with it and potentially making the small problem a big one!

 

my sunroof use to do the same. I wasn't going to make a trip to the dealer just for it, but was in about a month or so ago and mentioned the sunroof. The my papers that I got back said.

"Customer states that the sunroof intermittently will not open after car has been sitting in the sun
The rear sunroof glass panel was nor adjusted properly and insufficient lubrication of the sunroof cassette.
checked operation and verified the complaint. Per bulletin 54 03 08 adjusted the sunroof glass and lubricated the cassette. Reinitialized the sunroof motor and checked operation and the sunroof is working properly at this time"

I have had the same conditions (warm sunny days) that I know would make it stick before, and the sunroof opens like it should every time. I, like you, wouldn't/didn't make a special trip to the dealer just for the issue (unless your bored and just want an excuse for a drive), but if your at the dealer for something else why not mention it. It is a known issue that does have a service bulletin out about it. The fix was covered under warranty.

 

I think there are varying level of degrees with this issue. There are times that I cannot get it to open at all or close on hot days. I was also told by the dealer to NOT push up on the glass since it could potentially break some of the internal sunroof mechanisms (and could lead to not being covered under warranty).

 

i had the adjusted and lubricated fix applied to my sun roof. still did not fix the problem..

 

 

What kind of lubrication are the dealers using? I would like to get some for myself instead of using the wrong kind or being forced to make a trip to the dealer for something so simple.

 

I was just in for my second scheduled service (separate rant!) and mentioned this was happening to Pelle on hottest days (usually around or after noon, when sun is peaking above Pelle). SA handed back my fob, saying there is indeed a tech bulletin on the heat issue, and that it happens across all roof colors, not just dark roofs. He said the bulletin indicates an 'adjustment' of the glass panels as the cure. I think this would indeed work for most folks, but I happened to notice Pelle struggled once again to open on the first attempt Thursday, when the glass was once again aimed directly at the sun at noon. He opened just fine on the second attempt. I think it may take more than just an adjustment of glass, and I'm thinking of adding either some protectant, or spray silicone to a rag/paper towel to treat the seals every time I detail Pelle. I think the motor senses excess effort, and shuts down the cycling, when it's a grabby seal, expanded by heat, that causes this issue. If I didn't park outside facing downhill against the sun, I doubt I'd ever even see this problem.

 

I have a 2009 clubman with black top. I noticed from the time I picked up my new clubman to the time I brought it in to get the plates, I had a hard time getting it to close. A mini tech showed me a trick (that I have to repeated 3 times in 3 months). Hold the sunroof switch 1/2 way in the closing position for about 60sec. Continue holding the switch while the sunroof goes thru a complete cycle of opening and closing. The issue will be cleared up for a time.

The process supposedly tells the computer controlling the sun roof stepper motors the current positions of the sunroof (Which changes with the seasons).

 

Interesting. Thanks for posting this!

 

+1
The "lube and adjust" didn't work for me, either. The sunroof sometimes does not open, and sometimes opens but won't slide back. As with most others, it appears to be heat related. I'm not a big fan of "just push it open" or "just do this or that to fix it". It should work, period.

I'm heading back to the dealer soon for another try.

 

after taking it in and doing "the fix" (that they say is "the fix") it works just fine about 85% of the time

 

I have the same issue with my clubman and it only happens on hot days. So I just park my car in the shade and let the sunroof area cool down or run the a/c for a bit and it opens fine.

 

I live in AZ and shade is hard to find. So, I have been looking for a solar powered AC (not the fans...a real AC) as well as custom fit window shades and the actual lube that is used on the rails. Anyone have any ideas?

 

I don't know if this will help anyone but I noticed that this occurs to mine after it gets wet (rain/washing) it has a hard time opening the first time afterward. I park outside for work but keep it in the garage most of the time. When its outside I just keep the roof "popped" and not the whole way open. Since I've started doing that, I've not had problems opening it.

 

After yesterday's experience, I'm rethinking this whole approach!

It was well over 110 inside Pelle yesterday (likely close to 120), 104 outside from 11am until 7pm, and I couldn't get the sunroof open, even with the little push. I watched movement of the glass, and the seal was simply NOT the sticking point. I believe the metal carriage expands, and/or the motor refuses to cycle at those temps. Based on what I saw, I don't think this issue is fixable without redesign. Perhaps reprogramming, but less likely. I tried opening it every few minutes as Pelle cooled inside (I had to roll windows down to exhaust all that hot air, as I drove), as my usual tendency is to assist the Climate Control, by exhausting the hot air out the sunroof as I drive for the first few miles. It was more than a half-hour of cooling/driving, before I was able to get the sunroof open, and of course by then it was unneeded. MINI needs to reopen the TB for this, as the current solutions aren't working. I'm going to start a conversation with East Bay MINI on this topic, and see what remedy MINIUSA will put forth now, and in the future. I hope for a fix, but I suspect I will have to live with this defect.

 

YIKES!

 

Not THAT bad. I mean..it's like a busy signal, or a dropped call on a cellphone. Ya hate it when it happens..but it's not anything to get worked up over. You expect it to work, and when it doesn't, it's tweaks you a bit.

 

I took my 08 Clubman in last week, They Did fix the Side window issue by replacing a Motor, Firmware and Software. they tried to fix SunRoof by adjusting the Glass Position (Said it was too low) then Lubricated tracks with Kluberplex ( ) per Bulliten 54 03 08 thn reinitialized. It was Better but my first Hot day it Failed and I had to push up on the Back section to Open.
I called The MA he said they would deliver a Loaner Car (110 miles away) at No charge. It came today and It was an 2008 MCS with only 1984 miles on it.
I have to Admit my Dealer Dreyer & Reinbold in Indianapolis is Trying VERY hard to Please me. Thay are excellent to work with. I have been very patient with them allowing them what they want to do, and not rushing for a Quick fix, (1st time they had it 7 hrs, but they gave me a rental car free), that may be some of the reason they are trying to help so much.
They said they will call me to exchange cars when they feel they have it corrected. They estimated 3 days to confirm it sat in the Sun and still worked.
I like my Mini Dealer!

 

when you get it back, ask them what they did. Heck, have them forward what they did on to Mini of Towson, I'll probably be sending mine back down there.

 

DKamp;

They replaced the Motor, Firmware and Software? Firmware and software ..really? Geez, I had no idea that this was that big of an issue. I had no idea that there was more to it than a window, motor and a button.

Think anyone in the Mini business can get a hold of the firmware or the software? Maybe tell us what motor to go with...maybe an upgrade that goes really fast...?

I'd like to find a good lube for the rails and fix the rattling that mine does when opening and closing. Anyone have any ideas on how to do that? Any lube ideas for 115+ degree weather? (Phoenix ).

Is there a site that has a list of "how to's" as far as replacing or upgrading goes? All I have found so far is this one: http://www.soopercooperinfo.com/

Thanks.

 

The Window Motor, Firmware and Software was for the Side window issue of when I closed the window it would close then open half way.

The Dealer brought my Clubman back today. I left it in the sun for as long as I could but just had to drive it in about 2 hrs. Tested the sunroof and it worked. Guess I'll keep testing. The Service ticket said "Found debris buildup in tracks for front and rear sunroof tracks" (not likely to have been dirt I wash it at least once a week and garage it every night) they state they removed and replaced glass and cleaned track, then lubricated with Kluberplex, then reinitialized sunroof. they also replaced wiper blades filled resuvoir and checked Air Pressure in the tires, and washed it (dude they are good).

 

For all those who have / will have sunroof issues I found this step-by-step DIY for fixing it. It has a lot of pictures for those with ADHD and just want to do it but not care about understanding what they they did.

http://zippeegear.com/documents/blog..._id=1215268800

Also, if anyone has had side window problems (like DKamp) and has taken their side door apart, they have most likely dropped the window motor and cleaned the motor assembly. The same styles of electric motor components are found in the sunroof motor. So familiarization makes this an easy (albeit long process) to fix. Maybe takes about half a day?

 

Update....
1st day the clubman sat in the Sun all day while I was at work, and I was plesently surprised
It Opened flawlesly. This is my first opening with No problem or Assist for 6 months. I'm a Happy dweeb!

 

I spoke to Ralph Schomp MINI in Littleton, CO, and they said there is a bulletin on this issue in their Puma system (service tracking system) and no fix as of yet. They didn't offer to service it at all, saying it was a known issue with no fix.
I don't count opening the moon roof only at night a 'fix'... which works every time.

 

I have had my MINI since end of March and now with just over 5000 miles. So far, I have had no issues w/sunroof or anything. So far, so good. My sun roof habits are that I normally drive with the sunroof open to the ventilate but close position and many times leave it that way even when it rains. I would say it is in that position about 70% of the time. I only have it in the full open position about 5% of the time and it has never skipped a beat. Hope it stays that way.