2010 Laurel Edition 12,000miles in showroom condition. I did the unforgivable. The top has been down while garaged. The rear window broke loose. The top has to be replaced. Dealers price is out of control at $7500. I got a price of $2400 from a Glass & Trim shop for an aftermarket top.
A few questions.
1. Know of any 1st class shops in S. Florida between West palm and Fort Lauderdale?
2. I might DIY. Has anyone done a DIY? Are there instructions or good uTubes? Thanks for your help.

How do I change the time zone.. I'm in Florida

 

No Florida shop recommendations.

No DIY advice other than you probably don't want to attempt this yourself. But you can google "MINI top replacement" and see if you can find any links to DIY videos and decide for yourself if you think this is something you want to tackle on your own.

No MINI experience but when I my Boxster needed a new top I talked with the Porsche techs. They didn't do top replacement but recommended a not too distant (within 10 miles) auto upholstery/convertible top shop to me. Went there. Shop recommended an aftermarket top -- which my prior research indicated it was a good aftermarket top -- and the aftermarket top was less than half the price of the factory soft top (which was $3000!). Installation was IIRC around $500.

You have might have a suitable shop already. Would be nice to see a number of newer MINI, BMW, M-B, Porsche cars there.

 

Hello,

These should help, you need to find a hot rod shop that works with Convertible tops brands Haartz tops or Webasto tops. Those are the two OEM manufactures. They also make for Corvette, mustang and other OEMs. https://www.haartz.com/

Then get a new top.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ent-guide.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/r57-cabrio-talk-2009/365512-replacing-convertible-top-weatherstripping-at-body.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92fjLd-QYbk

 

Thanks for replies... Where I'm at... definitely not the dealer... price is way out of bounds.
I have a recommended shop that appears to be busy and forgets to get back to me. Waiting for a written invoice. $2990 for top.. $1500 to install. I do not want an aftermarket top as I'm keeping the Laurel..

 

I'm going to be using this as a guide to try to fix the top on my soon to be mine R57 this weekend: Mine is separated at the top, not the bottom, but should still apply.

 

^ Have had the first part, securing the folded over bit of the top over last week.
Just got done with setting the top to the glass. Crazy high humidity here, so I'll probably leave it for a few days before checking on it. Somewhat expecting to have a few spots that need some attention, probably at the corners.

 

^ Update to the above.
First 2 attempts, the glass slid down & didn't hold.

3rd attempt, propped the glass from below & ran a thicker bead of sealant.
That was Sunday afternnon.
Just contorted myself into the car via the trunk to check it from the inside and the glass is still in place. Probably give it a few more days to set up & cure before opening it up to check it. The Lexel used by the prior owner says up to 1 week to cure.
This has definitely been a more involved process than expected, but I'm out $35 if it just doesn't work.

How she's sitting right now:



Had to 'wrap' the car, since the prop rods for the rear of the top block the ability to shut the trunk.
First attempt I had the sunroof open & the top partially retracted, and had the pressure board strapped to the door mirrors which kept sliding the board upward. Switched to strapping it to the front wheels & this seems to be working better, and putting more downward pressure on the seam.

 

Left the above for a week, checked it yesterday afternoon & it sort-of held.
the inner seam didn't bond so it caused the fabric to glass bead to peel.

Reapplied to both sides, generously, and re-wrapped it

Will check it again in a week...

 

I did this job on Friday after window began delaminating from hood, used my own instructions and it took 5 hours. Well worth it. I got a decent hood from Ebay as a donor.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ent-guide.html

 

I've got it in a state where it isn't leaking [as much, just a drip in heavier rain]
Planning on a new top in the not distant future. Luckily the heat has abated from Houston for a bit.