Hi guys,

It's snowing here. Seriously don't think my doors are frozen shut though because I've heat-gunned the door jams, and have had the car in a heated garage for several hours now and they still won't open.

Door locks operate like normal. They move up and down on the doors, looks like it's unlocking. My back hatch is working fine. However, I can't open either door from the inside or outside.

Any ideas?

 

Of course as soon as I post this I try again and they open... There was a definite difference in the way the handle felt though. When they wouldnt open, it still felt locked. Is water getting in the door somewhere and not letting something unlatch maybe??

 

I'd sure like to get to bottom of this. My '03 MCS has done this two me twice, both on cold weather days at a local ski area, in the last 10 days. The door latch feels like nothing is engaged. Door lock does move ***** up and down but nothing else. Really unsettling.

 

I read a Technical Bulletin that advised replacing the exterior door pulls with a modified version that didn't allow water to enter the mechanism causing it to freeze up. Apparently a known problem on early Gen 1 cars.

Eric

 

Thanks! I just found that in another thread. Apparently dealerships do not honor the repair out of warranty. For the first time ever, I'm wondering if I made a mistake buying this car....


rt

 

How long have you owned this car?

 

Less than a year but with plenty of money in unscheduled service at the dealer where it was sold new. Why do you ask?

 

I was trying to understand why you felt you made a mistake in buying it.

I just bought mine (used) and purchased an extended warranty with it that will cover my car for the next 3 years or until 130k miles. The power steering pump ($600 p&l) and the door actuators ($410 per side, p&l) are items which seem to fail and are both covered among other things. I'll probably break even with the cost of the warranty.

I anticipate replacing the power steering pump soon, since it's starting to whine like the hydraulic system in a Boeing 737.

 

Hopefully I anticipated the pending power steering pump failure by upgrading the PS fan, but we'll see how that goes.

Window lifts have been replaced, clutch screams like Chewbacca when cold. Great car to drive, but I've owned 5 Bimmers, and only one previous car was even remotely close to this one in terms of reliability and quality control issues.

we'll see, I guess...

 

Oh, I forgot to mention, this is with 48,000 meticulously maintained miles. I know the original owner. He was a detail driven submarine nuclear engineer, believe it or not, and took care of this car.

Don't get me started on the stuck moonroof... ;-)

 

I seriously doubt a MINI can be as rewarding AND as troublesome as a Land Rover. Purchased new - by the time it turned 49k miles (factory warranty expired at 50k), it was on it's second engine, 2nd intake manifold, 2nd set of tie rods, 2nd center driveshaft bearing and carrier, 2nd 6-disc CD changer, 2nd roof rack, 2nd Mass Air Sensor harness, 2nd set of Harmon Kardon speakers...... I could go on and on, and on and on......

Enjoy your MINI. I plan to as well.

 

Sorry, and no offense intended, but comparing to another poorly engineered and/or executed vehicle (which, for the majority of us owners is more a fashion statement than a off road vehicle) is a bit of a false argument.

Let's talk Miata, CRX or MR2 instead? ;-)

 

Offense?? None taken. However I must say to the LR's defense, it was formidable in the deepest NY snows, torrential rains and kept my family shivering (in A/C) while sitting in the worst summertime NY / NJ / CT traffic.

When it WAS out of the shop, it was the daily driver of choice. It also stood up to some of the most pothole ridden and crumbling roads that exist in the Northeastern US.

These two marques are more related than you think. They were both ex-British companies taken over by BMW. (Well, LR's been divorced and re-married twice since. )

 

You are absolutely correct about the Bimmer connection... I guess I bought off on the "German engineering/English style" marketing, as I've had great luck on the Teutonic side of things... And it is ironic that the Penta Chrysler motor built in Brazil has been flawless to date (who do we blame for the poor placement of the power steering pump & fan, anyway?)

 

Oh yes, and even though many of the parts failed (and boy did they ever fail), the thing never stranded me or my family, and somehow always managed to limp back to the dealer.

 

The pump was probably designed by "outsourced" and "off-shored" BMW employees.

Okay, now I'm being mean.

I'll apologize for that remark about outsourcing.....

 

Oh, I'd enjoy full credit for the comment if I were you. Sort of like an unintentional pun, if you nail it, don't apologize!

 

Maybe the pump should have been made in Brazil, like the engines! The Brazilians seem to make a mean Regional Jet aircraft. I think Embraer is the manufacturer of them (the aircraft that is).

 

Back on topic, my June build '02 recently had a similar cold weather door stuck (driver's side). Seemed to happen when I left the garage and drove a ways in the frigid cold, all of sudden no longer working with me in it. Kind of hard for a 6' guy to climb out the passenger door. I believe it is moisture in the latching mechanism, solved with a couple shots of WD40. Problem hasn't reoccurred since. The lock mechanism and bowden cable was just replaced last year. I find the MINI still reliable at 102,000+ miles and if something does fail, easy to diagnose and repair. I do occassionally lose the passenger side window motor, but work it a little as I hit one of the many low manholes or potholes and it jumps back into action.

 

ToBFree, thanks for getting me back from my tangent.

Now that's what I'm hoping for. Simple fixes that don't require a credit card or a quad digit cash withdrawal.

 

I think you're right. Been on many. Not much for creature comfort. The Canadian Bombardier that pushes 620 knots + is a badass commuter in my book. But there is NO forgiving the Canucks for their crappy beer.

 

Cool. Where do you squirt the WD-40??

 

Yeah, you'll still have those days. My last such experience was last summer when I had to replace the left-side tie rod and both control arm bushings, along with an oil change and alignment. 4-digits but a nicely tightened up front end. Good side was I spotted my 2010 MCS while wandering the Classic lot. Returned to buy it the following week. At least it gets to sit in the barn under cover through the winter. I pulled the cover last weekend and it was such a thrill to see a clean MINI with no road salt on it. I can't wait for spring.

Best luck with your MINI.