This car has had so many issues, I've spent over $12,000 in repairs in 3 years.

The sunroof cartridge thingy was repaired a couple of years ago to the tune of nearly $2,000 and today it's having issues again; the glass is open one one side a couple of inches, the other side barely budges. It's a dual sunroof arrangement on a 2007 hatchback.

I tried to manually move the glass with an Allen key but it won't budge.

What a piece of junk, never ever again a mini, never will I recommend this garbage, I just want to sell it and even at that, I feel guilt thinking of the next sucker.

Garbage, utter ridiculous garbage.

 

You're not the first person to be unhappy with their purchase of a 2007 MINI, in this case I assume that you bought it used and it's an S model. Correct?

I'm sorry to hear that you've spent over $12,000 in only 3 years.

 

The answer is lube....lube, lube...maybe some time in a warm garage might help...HINT-ICE AND SUNROOFS, BAD MIX, especially if they are not well greased...ice freezes them..
Mini's do not like take well to just getting gassed up, oil changed, and driven.....
Sorry you have spent so much $$, but after 10 YEARS, I have spent UNDER $1000 on unplanned issues...a radiator fan, two PS fans, and lower control arm bushings...other stuff like brakes and struts were wear items...
Mini's need to have a regular mataince plan...like the one in the owners book...inspections...
Stuff gets lubed, wiggled, and adjusted before more $$$ crap happens!
And FIRST year production/model changes of cars of any type are a BIG risk...sounds like you got bit.

 

Correct on both counts.

At this point, I will hope to just the stupid sunroof, and sell it for far below "market" value. I want it gone and burned from my memory.

In comparison, our 2009 Ford Focus has necessitated exactly 0$ in repairs. ZERO. It is much more comfortable, quiet and enjoyable to drive. They were purchased a month apart. I'm not counting the cost of oil changes and new tires in either case obviously!

 

I would take Zippy's advice and lube the sunroof. Then, the next step is to see how much CarMax will give you for your 2007 MINI Cooper S.

Good luck!

 

If it makes you feel better, on my 2008 MINI Cooper S the dual pane sunroof has never worked properly....it's like there is not enough power to operate it. (I bought the car new)

One more question, how many miles are on your 2007 MINI Cooper S?

 

Beware of the Focus auto trans, the planetary gears will blow right out of the case in the middle of a turn. Happened to my daughter's.
Know issue!!

 

I can't even open it full to get it lubed, I don't want to push and pull for fear of cracking the class and needing $7,000 (probably...) to replace that.

No, that does not make me feel any better.. at all!!! It infuriates me to know just HOW MANY people have had the same issue with their car and the manufacturer not stepping up to take responsibility with a permanent fix. Never ever again will I buy a BMW or Mini. The piece of **** has 50,180 miles on it.



5 speed manual, no problems at all.

 

That's ok. I'll never buy a Ford again. What complete garbage they make.

So we can balance the universe.

 

It always amazes me when people join a forum ONLY to *****. The OP has exactly three posts on NAM and they are all in this thread. Just because YOUR particular car has issues does not mean they are all crap. I've had three MINIs (a 2006, 2010, and now a 2012) and have never had a single problem. Ford on the other hand... (Found On the Road Dead, Fixed Or Repaired Daily). If you want a Honda or Toyota, buy one.

 

Sunroof? Oh, you mean the big glass thingy I never use?....lol The thing I had to have limo tinted so I wasn't like an ant under a magnifying glass?


Anyway, mine works flawlessly, I just NEVER use it. I will NEVER order a car with a sunroof again. If I want to have an open roof, I'll buy a convertible.

 

I love how aggressive people get towards poor souls who had trouble-ridden MINIs. I'm glad people who haven't drunk the kool-aid come here to ***** about them, it's good to have the information out there. People who take it as a personal attack need to chill the **** out. You didn't build it, did you?

It's no secret that '07 S models were often prone to issues. Good luck OP, hopefully you can get out of it without sinking much more cash.

 

[QUOTE=dannyhavok;4027505]I love how aggressive people get towards poor souls who had trouble-ridden MINIs. I'm glad people who haven't drunk the kool-aid come here to ***** about them, it's good to have the information out there. People who take it as a personal attack need to chill the **** out. You didn't build it, did you?




My thoughts exactly.

 

[QUOTE=Kathy1946;4027538]To an extent...
But there is also a certain % of the population that is NEVER happy...
Folks some times spend thousands of $$ tracking down a minor issue...
Now 12k in 3 years...sounds like AT LEAST ONE motor,maybe two....
Used cars ARE ALWAYS buyer beware....
And that goes DOUBLE or tripple buying a car with a turbo or a sc....
Simple fact is there is a greater liklyhood it was wailed on and mistreated....
In my car, like stated before, I have spent about $1000 in TEN YEARS (s cooling fan, a pair of PS fans, and a t-map+map sensor)....then again, the way I usually drive I got 85,000+ out of a set of brake pads....
Some cars can be driven hard daily and survive....some older Honda crx's and civics are famous for this ..MINI'S NOT SO MUCH ...
Everything has a price....
Folks do vent...and do it here...but when does a venter become a troll? Simply trying to makes others disastfied with their cars?
Sure a warning about getting a car looked at by a good mechanic BEFORE BUYING IT is good...but lamenting having spent $$$ on a used car...makes me wonder how much was preexisting at the time of purchase....

 

I'm glad for you that your Minis never troubled you.
I'm also a little puzzled as to why you are amazed that people who have had issues, major issues, one after another, post their thoughts and displeasure.

Who cares how many posts I have, need I remind you that you started with zero yourself?

Searching around the Internet brings forth many similar occurrences with the sunroof, re-occurring as well after repairs. Other major problems as well.
I appreciate input, and respect the fact that it's a free country where we are posting from (pretty sure there are no North Koreans here), so your thoughts are just that as are mine in the end.

What I would like to see is someone pointing the way to a fix, or the manufacturer admitting there is an issue and fixing it once and for all. Of course they won't because they would go bankrupt.

If someone has a pdf file of the schematic, link would be appreciated.


In the end, I still stand by my claim that this car is a piece of s*h*i*t.

 

Don't you have a two year warranty on work done by the dealer?

 

I think what the other member's are saying is you're here just to complain and that's it, not to join up to be a member of our community. You haven't even bothered to ask how to remove both glass panels of your sunroof, are you here to rant or to maybe get some help fixing your issue?

I'm sorry to hear you own a piece of....