yea, otherwise you have to replace the whole door card.

 

So I am noticing. Bloody hell.... it seems like they make components that you can get for every bit of the car EXCEPT the damn interior door parts. What the heck?

guh.

 

Yea, its a whole door. Try it a couple times and get a flash light near that opening to the pry back. See what going on. Rock that pad back and forth see if its caught.

 

Thanks! I'll def. try that.

I did find that Mini Mania offers the pad for $62 or $82 dollars respectively (vinyl vs leather). I usually get my parts via Pelican, but they don't seem to stock the vinyl pad thingy. So now I'm not too worried about breaking the pad.

But, question... how do I tell the difference between vinyl and leather? My seats are leather, I know that (they're gorgeous)...but some vinyl looks so much like leather it's hard to tell the difference.

I cant tell you how excited I am to be attempting this repair myself. :D I feel.. accomplished, even though I have succeeded quite yet.

 

Welcome,

We carry all the genuine MINI parts and much more Genuine European MINI parts. You can tell if its vinyl by the feel. Most leather optioned MINI have the leather optioned door pad. Grab it and pinch the material , it should have a texture like your seat is leather, it should also wrinkle like it.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-Cooper-R53-S-Coupe-L4_1.6L_W11B16A/Interior/Armrest/


Leather







VS

Vinyl

 

We carry it here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...-7-133-507-BOE

If you can't find something on the site, please shoot me a PM and I can get you it. We carry most Genuine MINI items that you need for your MINI.

 

okay guys...

so I got the padded bolster off (yes...there was glue under there dammit!) and we got the door panel off AND I found the wee door on the lock thingy that the cable is supposed to hook onto a hook under and I found the hook thingy and got the cable back onto it. But the slack is not enough for the handle to open the door from within still (didn't even have take the lock thingy out...my hands are super tiny)

Let me ask... should that orange flangy thing on the cable (blue by some of the instructions I've read) be inside or outside the box thing?

Any Advice on how to take up the slack and get that cable pulling right?

Reassembled the door for the time being (except the padded bolster) and everything went back together AWESOME.

My brother was impressed that I only really needed his help with regards to borrowing the tools. :D

I even skinned a knuckle. He says you cant be a REAL mechanic without scraping up a knuckle or two!

*proud girl mechanic in training*

 

Well that's one way to learn, suck it was glued, seen that only a couple time.

Here is # 10 in the diagram that is the cable. Set between the lock and handle.


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51217143538/



Mounts like this : Orange end should be snapped int the side back of the handle.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...49#51217143538

 

You can always refer to our tech articles for assistance as they have great detailed images. Our window regulator shows the door handle and cable, as you can see below. A lot of our articles can be useful when tackling jobs as they have great visuals you can use. It's on our site HERE under "tech info" tab at the top and then scroll down to Body, Chassis and Interior > Window Regulator Replacement.

 

but...I"m not replacing the window regulator... I'm just trying to figure out why my bowden cable is loose. It was fine before the door slammed and popped it out of its housing.

 

Yes, was just saying you can use the images (as I posted above) from the regulator DIY as they show the cable and it's location with the door card popped off. Just to help visually. The cable is a known problem area to get damaged or pop off. I believe you can snap it back in if it's not damaged. Check this post HERE.

 

I found the cable okay. I'm just having trouble with the tension on the thing. It may be that it's not connected properly.

In one of the images of the inside I do note that there's a green plastic flange thingy with a metal rod with some angles through it. What is that that I'm seeing? (does that question make sense?) It seems like the bowden cable rests behind it. Is that the door lock (the little stick that pops up and down to indicate the door is locked/notlocked) thingy?

So sorry to use thingy so much...

 

No worries. Yes, so if you click and look at the image at that post I linked above you're correct. The cable goes behind the rod that is in the green piece.

From that link:

 

That pegged end cable goes into the slot on the back of the handle, snaps in and pull tension on the nylon part.





The orange end end of the cable. Goes beside the open door on the lock, and snap into the opening and pulls tension on the lock.











The green end is for the door pin metal.

 

I get what you're saying (and thank you for the awesome pictures)...but the orange thingy is by the end where the "eye" of the cable hooks into the lock bit.

Does it have the eye at both ends? Could my cable have been installed backwards?

I strongly suspect the previous owner of inner door shenanigans.

 

Welcome, the orange part goes to the other end ( lock side ) , sorry if it seemed like i said it backwards.








This end goes to the handle.

 

Thanks so much for that clarification!

I'm thinking I don't have the cable seated correctly in it's wee housing. Def. trying again when my brother has the time to make sure I don't break anything permanently. :D

 

You are welcome.

 

Need help. So at first it seemed that I had the same issue as these thread. I fixed tested and it worked as soon as I close the door and try putting back the lock **** gave it a shot the door wouldn't open. Now it seems to be worst door won't open from outside either. I see all the movement inside when I pull inner and outer handle electric lock make lock go up and down same with manual except the door won't open. What can I do now?