Owner of a 2011 JCW Cabriolet with 23000+ miles. When I "drop the top" and accelerate above 20 mph I notice a visual indicator appearing on the center console above the steering wheel and hear an audible alarm. The visual indicator looks like this,
I took it to a shop and initially was told it was related to the center, windshield control console. Was told replacement of console would rectify the problem. Not true. Shop later told me that the problem is related to a HALL SENSOR and would cost me upward of $600 to replace. They did not insure me replacing the HALL SENSOR would correct the problem though. When the shop diagnosed the issue, they discovered that their computer monitors showed that the sensor was sending the computer the correct conditions of YES = LOCKED and NO = UNLOCKED. This did not correct the visual and audible alarms.

The vehicle has recently had the canvas roof replaced due to the rear window falling out. I also notice that I have issues opening the boot on occasions and wonder if the two issues are related. Otherwise, the vehicle is "sound as a pound, baby, yeah!"

I can live with the visual indicator but the audible indicator is making me daft.

 

Hello,

Have you dug around the TIS and do you have the part numbers for the hall sensors? R57 TIS https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r57-cooper-s-cab/

I think whoever replaced the top, bumped or cut a wire by mistake, i would take it back to them.

 

Thank you for replying. I've been struggling to find others who've had this problem. I've seen one article discuss the possibility its a misaligned/misadjusted sensor and I've been told there was a upgrade BMW did to the sensors. Have not seen where any of these efforts resulted in correcting the issue. Planning to take it to a local MINI dealership tomorrow. Hate to eat the $175 I takes to diagnose a problem MINI should be cognizant of based on my symptoms. Was hoping to avoid this and make the repair myself.

 

Ok, only thing i can think of is get the schwaben tool and scan it. I used it on my convertible and it shows all kind of things for the convertible top. that will give you the codes and then we can look from there in the TIS, otherwise its the dealership and those high rates,

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-q-and-a.html

 

So, BMW guy took car for the day and got it back without the warning light issue. At least for a while. Recently warning indicator issue has returned. The only thing that I noticed that changed was a small plastic nipple cover over the top front gate latch point. My guess is that this plastic nipple cover provides the necessary spacing needed to properly signal to the hall sensor that the roof is locked in the correct position. Problem is I can’t find the plastic nipple part.