Help with 2009 convertible top not locking into place
 

Hello everyone,

I'm needing some input about my convertible top. The top goes down but that last part where the arms lock into place doesn't happen. The motor keeps running but the top doesn't budge to complete the locking.



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...1ab0b65f5.jpeg


Took it to dealership - told the top is stretched out of shape and straps are not moving the window into correct position for locking....thus material is bunched up stopping the arms from locking. My friend works at the dealership and said it was best to go somewhere else to have the top replaced as it would be over $5000.:eek:

Took car to a highly respected convertible top guy. He agrees - top is stretched- he's quoting me $3500 to $5000.:eek::eek: Though he taught me how to tuck the material in place to help the top move correctly.

Truthfully the tucking thing isn't working very well and I feel the top is a ticking time bomb until it get really stuck.

I've searched for some other top people for quotes, hoping I can get a better price. I plan to call them this week.

I love this car. She's got 61,000 miles on her and I hoped to have another 60,000 with her. My top is in good condition for its age, so I'm surprised at this issue. But I can't see putting $5,000 into a top on a 7 year old car.

I've searched for info on the problem and can't find anything. Has anyone experience or heard of this problem? I've been told tops only last 7/8 years and need to be replaced. If I get another mini convertible, should I plan to replace the top at some point?

Any wisdom from the mini crowd would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you much

The frame might be twisted. Can you see anything bent , do you have a video ?

I'd look for someone who was a great mechanic and not a top specialist to look at it. It's like going to a back surgeon for pain, he is going to want to do surgery. Going to a non surgery therapist first usually brings results for less money and less pain. Ask me how I know the back analogy.

I had an issue with my seats, upholstery shop quoted a fortune, local motorcycle mechanic did it for me in less than two hours.

I do have a video. I'm guilty of not understanding how to attach the video. I couldn't find a help section to follow....if you know a thread how to post a video....can you please attach?

I doubt the frame is bent. I'm the original owner and it's never been in an accident.

Lol....I totally get it. I'm an acupuncturist and tell people that all the time.....didn't think of it from a car repair point of view though.

I agree. I'm going to try and call around.

The thought of moving into a mini with a sunroof....is depressing. :no:

I was hoping someone had experienced the same problem and could offer a solution. I'm guessing this is an uncommon issue. Even a search with goggle turned up nothing,

We have the exact same issue. I have no idea why it is happening, as this car has is in great shape. I'm going to check the hydraulic fluid level in the next few days to see if a low level condition is causing it to hang.

I'm going to another shop to have them look at the top. The guy needs to look at the top.....but he believes the hidden straps which pull the material in place are stretched....thus the material doesn't move correctly to allow the window to drop down into the well.

He believes replacing the straps might be possible....but I'm not hopefully. BMW likes to make things expensive.

This shop is quoting me $2500 for new top and labor. No headliner included. They might be able to reuse my current headliner....otherwise headliner is another $700. So the cost is coming down.

I go on Tuesday for the appointment. I'll post an updat.

I have a 2013 cabrio and have had no problems with the top (knock on wood). The initial $5K prices you were quoted for top replacement is absolutely insane - I had a full top replacement done on my prior Pontiac vert three years ago from a top local shop for about $2100 in labor plus a little over $850 for a cloth Robbins top (which is as or even higher quality than what BMW puts on the MINI). I'm really beginning to think that unfortunately some MINI dealers price gouge on this type of work, assuming their clients are naive deep pockets types.

Completely agree. The repair guy told me the top he would put on better quality top than what I have now. It seems silly to pay a dealership $5000 to $8000 for a new top that will develop the same problem. For that kind of money the top better be dipped in gold. :roll:

I'm updating this thread for anyone who might come across this problem. I sought out two estimates. I live in Danbury CT, which impacts cost. Nothing is cheap here.

Both estimates were for $2500 with NO headliner. One guy believed he could use my headliner. The other would replace it for $850 additional. Now, I could easily skip the headliner and not replace it. That was an option.

The one guy was great and showed me how the top was stretched. You'll notice on you top the seams have a bit of material overhang....it's sort of lumpy curved where the stitches meet. My top had lost its over hang, allowing the material to lose its tension. The seams/stitching were exposed and it was only a matter of time before the seams would get loose and result in leaking.

In the meantime, my car developed an intense vibration which was getting worse. The thought of spending thousands on a car with a good amount of mileage....I turned it in and got a new mini convertible.

This time around I'm planning on saving for a new top before it craps out on me. I miss my interchange yellow mini, but the 3rd generation has a great ride.

My wife's car has been doing this for a year now and the dealership had no idea what was causing the problem. Where were the tucking spots?

I'm sorry I don't remember. It had to do with the internal straps that pull the material as the top moves. If you have tried tucking the top and it doesn't work, more than likely the top is on its way out. I was told I had a year before mine would start leaking. Find anpolstry shop and get an opinion on your top.

Best of luck.

Thanks.