I need some help...When I trun off my key and try to open the drivers side door it will not open (passangers side opens?? )....I have to activate the toggle switch on the center dash panel. Can anyone help me. Thanks, Ron

 

Have you tried taking the key out of the ignition ...that unlocks the doors automatically on mine....also try pulling the handle twice. When you pull once that unlocks the door..the second pull opens it. Hope that this helps! Happy Motoring!

 

I found the problem...I had to take off the door panel and found the cable from inside latch to the outside handle is secured by two plastic fastners and has slipped. I took some duct tape and wraped around the cable (BMW calls it a Bowden cable) about 1 time as if you put to much tape you will crack the plastic fastner. You will have to try moving it either way until you are happy with the it. Thanks for your reply, Ron

 

OK, so I looked at this yesterday b/c my passenger door wouldnt open. No big deal, figured it was frozen, and I could still motor. But today the mini allowed me to get in to drive to work, but upon arriving to work the drivers door no longer opened either. So I was completely trapped. I drove to my local BMW dealership where we let the car thaw out. That was it, the weather has been so cold that the doors both froze shut. They also notified me that the door latch on the '03 is defective and there is a replacement part available, but of course since Mini has disowned me (over 48000 miles) I am on my own.

 

Having the door unlock when you remove the key from the ignition is a programmable feature in 05-06 cars.

 

This happened to a friend of mine. It is kind of funny now.. but would be a bit paniky at the time...

I just imagined that TBS commercial... "what is funnier, a mime pretending to be trapped in a box, or a mime ACTUALLY trapped in a box"

SOMC

 

ROFL. Those are good commercials..

Since your dealer said it was a defective part, isn;t the WARRANTY to 50k miles and only the free maintenence up to 36k? Or do I have that backwards?

Cheers!
Me.

 

do thay come with a free roll of duct tape now? or did you have to purchase it? this should have been corrected in a recall by now yeah?

 

Here in Canada... Warranty = 4yrs, 80,000km, and for those that got it.. and had to pay a bit extra for it... FREE MAINTENANCE = 3yrs, 36,000, so basically 2 oil changes... maybe 3, if you never drive ur car, as you have to change it at least once per year.

J