This problem has re-occured on the Passenger Side for the...time (I lost count), the last time she was in was April 09, for a supposed to be the most up to date "refresh", but SA says there is a newer update.

Will be back in week after next for a Passenger Side Visor R&R, the door on the lighted Vanity Mirror broke off while I was opening it to clean it on Saturday.

 

That sucks... I feel for you guys, it's one thing to deal with an issue or problem but once you get it fixed, you're kind of hoping it's done with.

Hope you get it fixed.

Mark

 

Thanks Mark, if it wasn't for the Visor mishap I would probably wait until April to take her in, her 2nd Annual Service is due, so I've already scheduled that. Gonna' do a few exterior mods as well, JCW Grill and the Lower Grill Chrome Line Exterior Trim.

 

I'm having this issue for the second time. In less than a year. Bringing it back in to the dealer next week. I hope I don't have to do this twice a year...

 

I did what was suggested. Didn't work. Called the dealer -- told me the exact same instructions. Didn't work. I need to take it to the dealer to be re-programmed -- said it will probably take more than a day!

 

A couple of things...

You may have to do it several times. There is a specific/exact method. It took me 3 different attempts to do mine.

Secondly, the dealer said it would take more than a day? WTF is wrong with the dealers? EVERY time I call up my dealer, it's a 2 week wait to get in there, doesn't matter how big or small the job is and then it takes them 3-4 days.

Tell them you want to make an appt. and you're gonna wait on it.

(of course, I'd try to redo it yourself....like I said, it took 3-4 attempts on mine)

Good Luck, keep us informed.

Mark

 

I know this is covered by warranty, but since I am 160 miles from the dealership, was wondering if people who do out-of-warranty Mini repairs might be able to do it closer to home. The costs for me of driving there and back, even though they give me a free loaner, are pretty high. Anyone know how much reprogramming would cost if someone other than the dealer can do it?

 

My driver's window started acting up again last night, after about a year of good behavior. Called today and got an appt for Tuesday; SA told me there have been "several" software updates for my Clubman since the last one (Feb 09, I think.)

I tried the re-initialization process described above, without success, but it was late last night and I was tired. I'll try it again tomorrow, but even if it works I'll keep the update appt.

A work colleague has a 07 JustaCooper with no accessory packages, and has not had this window problem... FWIW.

 

I'm really quite sick of this window issue. Scrolling through the thread, I see that in three weeks, it will be one year from when I had to take the car in two or three times to get this window fixed.

I'm convinced that cold weather has something to do with this. It was about ten degrees a year ago when the problem started. It was below thirty degrees today and the window started acting up again. Today was the first time I've rolled my window down since the fall. It worked fine through the spring, summer, and fall and it had plenty of opportunities to fail because the windows go up and down all the time during those seasons. Today was the first time in two months or more that I've rolled down my window and it malfunctioned. This is the same as last year. It can't be just coincidence that the first time I roll my window down when it's cold outside, it malfunctions. But I can roll it up and down innumerable times when it's not cold and it works correctly each time.

So for others who have supposedly gotten the problem fixed, don't breathe a sigh of relief after a few problem-free weeks pass. It's just shy of a year and I'm headed back to the dealer for this stupid window AGAIN!

 

It's been cold here for many weeks, and I have been opening my window on a more or less daily basis to use my parking key card at work. It was operating normally until Thursday night, and interestingly, it was colder Thursday morning (when the window worked fine) than Thursday night (when it failed).

I don't think that necessarily means the cold has NO effect, but there may well be other factors as well. What does seem clear is that MINI hasn't come up with a real and permanent solution yet...

 

Next time it fails on you, see if the rubber molding where the top of the window slides into is "compressed" too much. I think that when there is precipitation that gets into the track and then freezes in the opening causing ti to become a little smaller, it in turn causes the window to not be able to go back into where it belongs and poof, problem begins.

 

Very interesting. This happened to me right after having my Clubman's first ever servicing. I'd like to think it was a coincidence. I've had several MINIs through very cold weather and this has never happened to me before.

Will try the "fixes" offered here and see what happens.

*Update: Tried the fix and it appears to have worked. The fix was that down, up, down deal. Only used it on the driver's side window. So far so good. It's 18 degrees here at 2pm in lower NY state... My passenger side window is frozen - tried to open it and got a window warning light. The dealership nicely washed my car on Thursday just before we had this real cold snap... I'm guessing the water that dripped inside is frozen. Knock on wood, all this will heal itself and stay that way. We shall see what happens next!

 

I was at my MINI dealer today for some other stuff (fun stuff) and chatted with one of the service guys. I'm not sure if he's even 100% clear on it, but he explained that the computer that regulates the windows keeps track of the revolutions of the motor. He says this issue is due to the computer "losing track" of how many revolutions the motor has made and therefor has to be reprogrammed. When they do mine on Thursday, they won't be doing the "button down, button up" thing. He also mentioned that cigarette smokers who crack the window tend to have this issue.

Well, there's a reason to quit! Except I'm not a smoker and I'm certainly not cracking the windows at all when it's 20〫out! This is definitely a quirkly little issue that needs a real fix from MINI. My dealer is 20 miles away, but for you guys with a dealer over a 100 miles away, I feel your pain.

 

Will make an appointment for the next time I'm near the dealership and tell them I'll have to wait. I've tried the up down thing several times now. Note that the window goes down after going up even if the door is open, so I don't think the rubber is the issue.

Can anyone answer whether anyone other than a Mini Dealer can do the reprogramming?

 

Molly goes in Tomorrow to be "Re-Programmed", I've noticed that the Passenger Window does not even dip when opening the door. I wish they would quit telling me that this is the "Latest" fix, how many more are coming??!!

I spoke to soon...my appointment isn't until next Wednesday. Senility is settin in!!

*hits self over the head with Hammer*

 

That's the same explanation they gave me. The service rep told me that they are "smart" windows and they remember their location...except when they're stupid and they forget! Whomever came up with this nonsense had too much time on their hands. These so-called smart windows add unnecessary complexity to the car without adding any value. What's wrong with "roll up until you meet resistance" and "roll down until you trip some switch in the door?" Why turn the operation of a car window into rocket science? This is not a problem that we should have to deal with at all and certainly not over and over and over.

The last time I took it in for this (a couple of months ago), they tried to reprogram the window module and it wouldn't respond (according to whatever proprietary diagnostic scanner they use), so they disconnected the battery (I don't know for how long) and when they reconnected it, the module responded and they were able to reprogram it. Of course, that meant I had to reprogram the radio and all the other settings for both my keys.

So for the folks far away from the closest dealer, if the reprogramming instructions I posted earlier in this thread don't work, disconnect the battery (a minute is probably more than enough time) and then see if the reprogramming procedure works.

And my window still isn't fixed. It functions, but it's not fixed. Sometimes it will roll up 3/4 of the way and then drop back down. It may do that once or twice, but then it will go all the way up. I've stopped rolling up both windows at the same time because that seems to trigger it more often than when I do them one at a time. It's stupid to have to do stuff like this. I feel like Fred Sanford with that desk he had to bang twice and slap on the side to get the drawer to open. You shouldn't have to resort to tricks like that on a brand new car that's still under warranty.

 

I've had my 2010 (build date 11/09 but in dealer inventory 2/10) for 8 days now. Threads like this make me nervous!

 

The sad truth is that these cars are not Hondas or Toyotas or even late-model American cars...you will more than likely have to get unscheduled repairs. You can look at the J.D. Power reliability ratings or Consumer Reports to see that. I had to get towed back to the dealer before I'd had my car two weeks because it started running on three cylinders instead of four because of some defective part. I've had more unscheduled maintenance on this car in less than two years than I had on the Accord I traded in for it that I'd owned for ten years.

I do enjoy driving this car, but I'm going to have a decision to make when the warranty is up. Trust me, the warranty is not some marketing gimmick. These cars come with a warranty because they need to. I'll either pay for the extended warranty or trade the Mini for something else. Everybody's getting on the fuel-efficient bandwagon now and putting effort into developing good four-cylinder engines, so there will be more and more compelling competition to the Mini going forward. If somebody can put together a fun, stylish, fuel-efficient and RELIABLE car, I'm in it. I love driving this Mini Cooper, but I hate having to keep taking it in for service.

When I got my window serviced the last time, they also had to replace one of my fuel sensors because I'd go 150 miles before the first light on the fuel gauge went out. I think there's a thread on that too. These cars just have a lot of gremlins in them. Hopefully, you won't have as many as I do, but it's unlikely that you won't have any.

 

I hope you are wrong Honestly, I have really bad luck with any Japanese cars except Mazda. I came from (and still have) VW's and Jeeps, so I'm hoping my good fortune will continue with this MINI. Euro cars just feel better to me, but if its not reliable, I'll get a Fiesta when it comes out.

 

jujucooper,

Just remember that you RARELY hear of the good cars and how well they run.

Mostly you only hear complaints, but also remember that for every one complaint there is probably 200 or more that have no complaints.

Personally I have only had one warranty issues.
1. The rear hatch door cover on one of the rear barn doors on my clubman was slightly warped - dealer repalced without question.

Other than that my only complaint is that they only do oil changes when the car tells them or every year which ever comes first. So I had to pay for some oil changes during the maintenance plan time.

Great car no rattles except for some I caused when I replaced the speakers in the car. And when i asked the dealer what they would do to correct them they said "Here is a roll of felt tape use this between the panels and the body." They gave it to me for free. And I had expeceted to pay for it as I was the one who had caused the problem.

So don't fret to much over what people complain about hear. Some of them are just complainers like the person who adds racks, bike trays and bikes to his car and then complains about wind noise. Well with all of that on your roof it will cause wind noise no getting around it.

 

That's why I referenced J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. It's not about personal opinion. They use one yardstick to measure everybody (J.D. Power uses "problems per 100 vehicles"). None of the problems I've had were due to modifications or misuse.

 

Thanks
This actually works, and works very well.
My issue was with the driver side window would not go up automatically only, and this reset precedure worked. I think the problem in electronic, not mechanical.

 

OK, so I'm new to MINI, but not electrical gremlins (having owned two Jags). Maybe it's a British thing

Now I've got the driver's window gremlin: it doesn't do the 1/4" drop when open/close thing and if I raise the window, it goes back to half-open. :( I guess I need a re-flash and will twist the dealer's arm to get that done quickly.

Just for my newb edification, can anyone tell me what PUMA and FRM mean?

Thanks much.

 

Try the windows reset procedure described above before you make the trip to the dealer. If you are out of warranty, a reflash at the dealer could cost you some labor.

 

AFAIK any reflash for the windows has been covered by Mini regardless of your warranty period.