I'll tell you what, I love this car...but sometimes it's hard to love!

My drivers side window quit working today. It's been a little slow during the auto up and down when the door opens and closes lately, but I didn't think anything of it. Today when I got in to drive home from work it was completely dead. The timing is perfect, I was just at the dealer (Rasmussen MINI in Portland OR, 3 hours away) two weeks ago and in Portland again last weekend, but it waits until I'm home to die. I didn't have a trip to Portland planned for a while, but now I'll have to go get it fixed.

I've been really happy with the car since I bought it (17 months ago) even with about 5 trips to the dealer. I've been lucky not to have leaking coolant tanks or the mysterious yo-yo, but my last car (1994 Blazer) hasn't been to the dealer 5 times since I bought it in 1997!! This just seems like the straw that broke the camels back.

Once I cool off I'll love this car again...right now I'm just too pissed!

_________________

_________________

"JIMINI" - 2003 BRG MCS

Premium, Sport, Cold Weather packages, plus leather

 

I had the same problem. I would let the car sit for a couple of days and the drivers window would not go down. I play with the switch and it starts to work. The motor dies again and I take it into the dealer for repair and they "could not duplicate" the problem. Two days later, the motor dies completely and I take the car in, a part has to be ordered so it sits and waits for a new motor. Are the window motors a defect in the MINIs as many have seemed to die within the past year?

 

Did your window exhibit any symptoms before it died? My driver side window is squeaking now after only 15,000 miles, and I'm assuming it's just the rubber that's rubbing against the glass when it goes up and down, but the passenger side doesn't do this.

 

We replace quite a few window motors at our dealership. Hopefully Mini will improve the design.

 

no thread hijacking intended, but after only 850mi, my driver side window is also squeaking. i tried listening to the passenger side window and it also squeaks, but much less.

part of the package i guess.

 

I tried listening to my windows and all I could hear was little voices saying "drive faster, drive faster ..."

 

>>Did your window exhibit any symptoms before it died? My driver side window is squeaking now after only 15,000 miles, and I'm assuming it's just the rubber that's rubbing against the glass when it goes up and down, but the passenger side doesn't do this.

The past weekend when it was warm the window started squeaking when it was going up an down and was moving in a very jerky motion. It did that last summer when it was warm also, so I didn't think anything of it. The squeak and jerky motion might be a sign that the motor is failing, or the jerky motion could be the window sticking to the gasket around the window and causing the motor to overload and fail. It's pretty hard to tell.

I'll call Rasmussen and see what they think the problem is. Since I live 160 miles away they've been really good about having parts in stock as long as I give them a few days notice. I've never been stuck at the dealer without the parts they needed to fix my car. The service has definitely been one of the high points of owning this car. Second only to how fun the car is to drive!!

 

Just a quick update on my drivers side window...

The window started working again on Saturday (maybe because of good karma because I was going to a MINI meet). Who knows if it's a motor that's failing, a loose connector, or what. I'll call Rasmussen to see what they say and have it looked at the next time I'm in Portland, but who knows if they'll be able to duplicate it or not.

I'm just hoping it doesn't die in the DOWN position!

 

Aren't British sports cars great?

 

BTW anyone that has a window issue like this... I do... just ball up your fist and put a decent smack right about the speaker with the bottom of your hand. Like Colt 45, it works everytime... Until the motor finally dies I suppose.

 

I had the same thing happen just a couple weeks ago. Do a search, there are several threads/posts. But, just like MrWhoa said, a good thump to the door panel, and my window started working again, at least for now!

 

JCIP - Looks like I'll be seeing you in a few weeks. Will your MCS be shipped in for her annual physical?

 

when my window stoped working the I called the dealer and they were like, "lets go ahead and replace the motor and the scizzor arms. Let me make sure we have the parts." They did have the parts so I brought the car in and went to work. They called me back like an hour later to let me know one part was broken and they didn't have another so they had to order it. They would get the part the next day but they gave me a BMW loaner because of the delay. That's what your dealer should be doing.

 

Had the same thing happen to mine, recently. It had happened once before and started working the next morning, so I didn't call the dealer. Called the dealer this time and the SA said that they were aware of the problem. I told him it may start working again and he said the contacts in the motors are a poor design and will sometimes not work. He had motors in stock, but said they are all claimed before they come in. (They get about 15-20 per shipment.) He said he would have the parts department put my name on one from the next shipment and would replace it next time I brought the car in.

Excellent service and response, in my opinion, and this dealership has apparently seen several of them fail and replaces them, no questions or "we can't reproduce it" issues.

If your's EVER does it, I'd make an appointment with the dealership to have it replaced as soon as you can. Like you said, it would suck if it was stuck in the down position.

-Rob

 

Ha had like happened to mine when it only had 1,000 miles on it. Went to the dealer and they replaced the motor for the driver's window. was happy until last week, when it was dead again... had to pay a toll and was embarrasing to have to open the whole door to pay. The guy at the toll and the guys at the line just laughed at me...

Am taking the car to the dealer for the yearly maintenance in a couple of weeks. Lets see how it goes.

Saludos de Guadalajara... Esteban

 

>>Ha had like happened to mine when it only had 1,000 miles on it. Went to the dealer and they replaced the motor for the driver's window. was happy until last week, when it was dead again... had to pay a toll and was embarrasing to have to open the whole door to pay. The guy at the toll and the guys at the line just laughed at me...
>>
>>Am taking the car to the dealer for the yearly maintenance in a couple of weeks. Lets see how it goes.
>>
>>Saludos de Guadalajara... Esteban
>>

My pasenger window did this the other day.. I just kept going up and down with the button a million times, and now it works again.. this is the highly advanced method of fixing things... :smile: