I have searched and found many threads related to the common glove box issues and many cool hacks to fix it. My problem seems to be a little unique and frankly with two small kids I don't have all night to search anymore I have a 2003 R53 and it is my first Mini, the car came with the glove box latch not broken but missing completely. Where the silver handle to open it is supposed to be there is a big hole. The previous owner glued magnets in to hold the door closed but I guess he never drove very fast because under any kind of hard acceleration it pops open. Other than the obvious take the door off and go without or buy a whole new box, has anyone figured out how to rig something through the hole in the box to just close it permanently? I really don't need it to work just stay shut. All the fixes I have found are contingent on the latch while being broken still being attached. TIA all ideas are welcome at this point.

 

is this any help from one of the listed vendors?
https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog..._pg1.htm#item4

 

Craigslist, junkyards, or here. . . https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...9-1/f11-1-2-3/

 

How handy are you with tools as something can most likely be made up although it might not look the best?


I vote with the junkyard/craigslist.

 

Actually Pelican $54 repair kit looked good for the price. And you can still use it.

 

There are plenty of folks on this forum who are parting out MINI's. I'm sure one of them would sell you a complete assembly at a very reasonable price.

 

I thought that as well but the last few that have come up the glove boxes have been broken

 

Handy enough, I am not really all that concerned with looks just want this closed and to stay closed lol

 

Yes if I wanted to buy the whole unit which is what I am trying to avoid. If the design is inherently flawed I dint want to buy a ticking time bomb to replace the bomb that already went off lol. The lock cylinder would work if only I still had the handle...

 

Well I wouldn't say in inherent time bomb as most of the ones I've seen broken have been the owner's fault or a collision.

 

Well I am new to the Mini scene but after finding the number of threads on a number of different forums about the "time bomb" I tend to believe it