I'd like to tear into my car and investigate exactly why this happens in the first place. When my doors freeze, the inner and outer handles don't feel right. Almost feels as though they have been disconnected - there's not much tension.

But yeah, I see this as a safety issue. In my case, covering the handles with something did not fix the problem - I'm thinking it may have to do with some mechanism inside the door, or perhaps the cable itself.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. I experienced this problem for the first time today as well....

We had a bit of an icing last night & the door was iced shut. However, it wasn't too bad, I got in without a problem & didn't think much of it.
On my way to work, I decided to stop for coffee. Get out (door opens without a problem) and am back in <5 minutes. When I try to get back in, however, the driver-side door won't open at all. The handle is stuck in the depressed (open) position. So, I go around to the passenger side. I can
depress the handle (which then also gets stuck in the depressed position); but nothing happens - the door won't budge. So, my only remaining option is to crawl through the trunk (which I do).

Now - the fun part -

So, after another 5-10 minutes of driving, I arrive at work only to find that I can't open either door from the inside. I mean, these doors will not budge. My first assumption was that the seals were frozen shut, so I sat there for 10+ minutes blasting the heat; but that didn't help. So, only option now (since I'mnot sure where the trunk release can be found) is to crawl out the window. I did find the TSB; but I'm pretty far out of warranty (75K miles on an '04). I'm going to call MINI USA as well; because this is clearly a safety issue. Has anyone had any luck getting this covered out of warranty?

 

Just FYI (in case this happens to you again) - the hatch release is under the rear seat bottom cushion. Simply tug up at the cushion, it will pop off, and you'll see the release handle.

Good luck - I hope you can get it resolved!

 

I had this happen last year...I had to call my dad when I got to work so he could come out and open the boot (forgot about the hatch release). Both driver and passenger door would not open... This is a huge safety issue...

 

I totally agree - it is a safety issue. That's why, in my mind at least, MINI USA should allow the repair even if the vehicle is out of warranty.

 

My wife has had this happen several times this winter in an '03. If we can't fix it, she wants to get rid of it.
NOOOOOOoooooooooo!

 

That's basically what I'm going to tell MINI USA when I call them. I mean, there are some things that I'm willing to put up with because I do love the car. However, I have to draw the line at informing my passengers that
they need to plan an emergency escape route through the window every time there's a bit of freezing rain.

 

Another trick that works for me (in a pinch, and assuming I'm not already inside the car) - pour hot tap water directly above the door handle (basically, at the window/belt line).

My door handles always worked immediately after doing that, and in some cases the problem would go away for a while (a few weeks or so).

Just another note - my handles don't (usually) get stuck in, they simply lose tension and cease to function. You can hear something loosen up inside the door cavity after pouring the hot water water on the window/door. Suddenly the door handles would feel right, and the doors would open again.

 

My door handles were frozen this morning (2004 MCS)....my kids were stuck in the car. :(
I had to use a hair dryer and heat up the handles until the door handle would move and open.

Does anyone have a copy or place where I can get the MiniUSA TSB on this?
It is my understanding that Mini has "new improved" handles (that keep the moisture out and prevents the handles from freezing in place now for the car (2004 and earlier)...but you have to buy them and pay to install.

The dealer is telling me there is no TSB on this...not a issue. :(
Sigh...it's going to be a long winter.

 

A link from motoringfile:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/02/..._door_handles/
http://motoringfile.com/files/freeze_out_fix.pdf

 

Remember the FIX is only if the issue is the OUTSIDE handle is stuck...
If you get stuck in the car, the gasket needs lube and/or the Bowden cable in the door I'd stretched...a simple fix, but if the cable is stretched, the door not opening thing will happen on warm and cold days, somewhat randomly, getting worse...cheap easy fix though!! Just report the cable while you can still open the door sometimes....

 

Sorry about your experience! Unfortunately, the dealer will deny that there is a TSB and pretty much, you are on your own when it comes to this one. It is indeed a safety issue. I just hope MINI might address it one of these days. They probably will when someone gets really hurt or dies. Sorry for the melodrama...but it's true! BUT, if you had kids in the car, that's pretty bad. Call your local news station and tell them about it! See if MINI might help you then! I was eight months pregnant and being pulled out of the window, and no one really cared. I do love my MINI though. Hope you have a safe rest of the winter.

 

When the exterior door handle gets stuck, a few solid thumps always fixes it for me.

 

first snow with the mini. not disappointed in the driving ability! it rocks! however, i opened my driver door to get in with no problem. i got driving, and realized my headlights had snow on them and i couldn't see, so i pulled over to wipe them off. DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN! i had to crawl out the passenger side. got back in. PASSENGER SIDE WOULDN'T CLOSE! Finally got it shut! neither door would open when i reached my destination!!!! Still stuck shut!!! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!!! the handle doesn't seem to even click when i attempt to squeeze it!

 

Next time this happens, try rolling down the window and give the outside door handle (the chrome part) a good thump with your fist. Sometimes the door handles on earlier cars get stuck and a thump is all it takes to release it. When the outside door handle gets stuck, the inside door handle will quit working as well.

 

thats what is happening. neither door handles work. i tried thumping them. trust me. i was angered, and didn't want to crawl out the window. ended up crawling out anyways. still won't open. i'm glad we have the feature where we can roll up our windows from the outside!!!

 

okay. new news....i went back outside and beat the handle half to death. nothing. kept hitting it from the bottom-up. voila! doors are back in commission!

 

thanks for the help and speedy response!!!

 

did you notice if the piece inside the door handle (the part you press to open the door) was stuck?

I've had my doors freeze up in a way where the handle wasn't 'stuck', but it just didn't feel right when I pressed it (see my earlier posts). Warm water poured on the window would get something inside the door to release.

At any rate, I'm glad your doors are working again.

 

they werent stuck after opening the door. they had frozen to the point in which i had to squeeze hard to open the door for the first time but they never got stuck in.