A recent thread here about an unfortunate owner's experience with his sunroof include a mention that the sunroof needs lubrication.

How might I do that?

My sunroof has no problems but I don't use it much. But being an 07 and thus more than 7 years old, I suspect I should lubricate the sunroof now.

If anyone knows how, perhaps they can post some instructions.

Thanks.

 

Mine squeaks like crazy but now only when it's cold out. Curious about this as well

 

Both of you guys PM this guy. He has a data base full of MINI stuff, sadly off line right now, but he can give you the authoritative answer to that question...if he doesn't jump in with the solution on his own pretty soon.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4-buzzsaw.html

 

Thanks Fly'n. Hope to see you on the 24th. Hang on folks this is gonna be more than a little wordy and very grammatically incorrect. First off I can only vouch doing this on the first gen so the second gen may require some ingenuity. For the last eight plus years I have used a silicone lube, a bendy straw and the cleanest shop rag I can find to lube our sunroof. I first open up the sunroof and clean the exposed rails to remove any gunk. I then schpritz some lube on the rag and apply to the exposed rails enough that I can see a thin layer. I then take the bendy straw and slide it as far as I can down the unexposed rails, put the little red schpritzer tube that comes with the silicone lube can in the sprayer and give it a short schpritz. Then I move the straw back a third of of its length, schpritz again and then one last time prior to removing the straw. I do this procedure about three to four times a year. Now this may sound a tad **** but sofar so good. Can't argue with success. Gotta remember these sunroofs are not a gas and go design. They require a little frequent TLC keeping the system clean and and lubed and it only takes about five minutes of ones so very precious time from then on. Some folks do use a white grease and schmear it on. That's a whole nother story. I however prefer the silicone lube, the bendy straw and a little more frequency of application. Anyway that's what has worked for me since day two. PS-I take no credit for originating this procedure. It was posted on NAM back in 06 or there abouts and I was lucky enough to find it then let alone remember it today. Good luck.

 

See - told ya


Waiting for the co-pilot to confirm that meeting date from her calendar, Buzz, she's dang busy this semester and it's hard to get her to focus on "Important" stuff.

 

My process was very similar. Open roof, clean everything you can find that doesn't seem clean with a rag and maybe a little simple green. Take mental note of the places that are sticky or tough to clean cause that's probably what's left of your old lubricant.

Also in order to have more access to different spots I ran my roof forward until it's at that front to rear upward pitch, gave more access to the back and the bits that are hard to reach from the front.

Being a boat guy I happen to have some marine gear lube around. It's thick stuff but it pretty much doesn't care about the environment. Lubed up all the rails that I can get to, good as new.