I've got a little gremlin in the sunroof--it wouldn't open today. The motor hums, and it starts to open, but appears "caught." Later it opened just fine. This is the second time this has happened, with no problem for weeks.

This is gonna be hard to troubleshoot, I'll bet, just like the cruise control dropout. At least that one has apparently been solved with reprogramming.

 

That's not cool b/c it will probably be hard to reproduce to the SA to have it fixed. Look at the bright side though - at least it's not having trouble closing!!! That would be bad in wet weather

 

Yeah, I know. I think it's the latching mechanism. I figure I won't be the only one, though, just as I was the first to report the cruise control thing. They don't get much earlier than mine, LOL! Zippeee!'s a week 3 build.

 

I know...Zippee has been SOOO good!!! We can let it have a couple of glitches once in a while as long as it doesn't get serious.

 

tracks may need to be greased?

 

No, I don't think so. It looks and sounds like something is "caught." When it opens it is swift and non-squeaky.

 

My sunroof no longer opens. I have an appointment next week. First it would open a little and close back. Now the motor grinds on something, but I only let it do that once.

 

That sounds about like what's happening to mine. I see a tiny sliver of daylight and it starts to lift up. Then totally stops like it's hung up on something. Reversing the control seals it back up as normal. I'd be interested in what they have to say next week. I go in tomorrow, but since it's so intermittant they probably won't have anything to go on. I wish it would just quit once and for all!

 

I also have the same problem, took delivery about a month ago on MCS. Everything was fine till a week ago when i came home from work and decided to open the sunroof. The motor started as usual, the glass panel budged upward then seemed to get caught in place. This extremely annoyed me as this shouldn't happen on a new car. Over the next couple of days i would try opening it again to no avail, and for some reason it decided to open after about four attempts and has been functional ever since. Albeit though, everytime it begins to angle upward it makes a noticeable pop that wasn't there before. I am beginning to think that something is out of alignment or a mechanism that is now bent. I am probably going to take it to the dealer eventually but it pisses me off that I have to visit the dealer so soon. Anyone else have this experience? Or has had this issue serviced?

 

Sounds like the problem I have. My guess is there will be a service bulletin on it as more have the problem. This happened with the cruise control "dropout" I was the first to report, and now there's a fix. I have a high mileage R56 (5600 miles), so I'll probably be a guinea pig for a while!

 

Sorry you're the guinea pig/canary in the coal mine for us, but really glad you have 5600(mostly trouble free)mi on your car.

 

Actually, I don't mind. It's kind of an adventure, as long as the issues are minor and far apart. I'm just amazed I've accumulated so many miles so quickly, especially since my commute is about 10 feet.

The roof, BTW, chose to act perfectly normally for the tech...

 

Mine sticks when it gets hot outside. I just give it a nudge and its fine. It always opens when it cool, so far.

 

I had a Mazda that used to do that. It is not a mechanical problem. It is a matter of the rubber gasket getting hot. Nothing to do but tap it lightly as you have already discovered.

 

Interesting, especially since it is hot in Houston most of the time. Where do you "nudge" it?

 

I would always push on the part that popped up first so as to help break the seal of the hot rubber gasket. It's kind of like when you don't roll down a window for a while on a car with a full door frame and the window has become a little stuck and you can hear it when it pops free of the seal it has created. It is very subtle and not a real problem.

 

Oh--this isn't that sort of thing. It opens part way--enough to break the seal--and the weather hasn't been hot enough yet to mold the rubber. No, this is a mechanical thing. I'm sure of it. Something is catching the roof. I think moving the car bounces the latch or whatever is catching and releases it.

 

So no luck when you took it in last week?

 

Right--it functioned perfectly for the mechanics. Out of all the times I've opened the sunroof, it has only malfunctioned twice. And I opened it most of the spring drives, and all of the summer drives (to quickly vent hot air)...

 

I will find out what is up with mine tomorrow. As it stands right now, it sounds like the gear that the motor spins has jumped track or something. I couldn't even turn it with the manual crank.

 

I found a really good write up with detailed photos on fixing your Mini Cooper sunroof problems. I even showed my Mini Tech today and he agree's that this DIY sunroof repair was worth the sweat and hard labor. Here is the link in case you may be interested: http://zippeegear.com/documents/blog.php

 

I found a really good write up with detailed photos on fixing your Mini Cooper sunroof problems. I even showed my Mini Tech today and he agree's that this DIY sunroof repair was worth the sweat and hard labor. Here is the link in case you may be interested: http://zippeegear.com/documents/blog.php?title=mini-cooper-sunroof-motor-repair&entry_id=1215268800

 

The 'fix' above had to do with an R53's sunroof's motor failure, might be interested to know if the R56 sunroof also has an emergency 'crank' behind the clock to close the sunroof.

I would also have concern if that MINI Tech were working on my auto.

Zippeegear did an excellent job in finding that "shorted" capacitor (or diode) that caused the motor to fail.

I would expect a 'Tech' to recommend replacment of the inexpensive capacitor that protects an expensive motor, rather than just cutting its lead.

 

My Mini has 71k on it, and the sunroof has failed. I hit the button, it pops up, then stops. It won't go any further back, nor will it close/reseat. Fuse looks good, and I greased the tracks. I hand-cranked it back about 50%, then tried it with the button. Nada, no movement. No noise from the motor, either. Any suggestions?

OOPS, wrong forum...sorry guys and gals..

 

You are in the wrong forum...this is for 2nd generation R56 models.

(Oh, and we don't have cranks on this forum...except for a guy named matty125, but he left in a huff---which is an earlier model MINI).