Just had my first real problem. Spoiler started to open at 50, but not completely. Then it started to beep with error telling me it couldn't come all the way up. I tried using the manual control but it wouldn't send it up, and it wouldn't go down. It's cold here with light snow and it's probably part of the problem. I'm sure the dealer will fix it. The bigger problem is the sound. The system is beeping (like when you don't wear your seat belt.) It won't turn off, constant beep-beep beep-beep, beep-beep beep-beep, over and over again. Called the dealer, no way to turn it off. I was thinking of ripping out the speaker, but that's probably not covered under the warranty... I'll let you know what they did to fix it.
That's just one of the reasons I went to the JCW Fixed Spoiler. If you can't get it into a warm area to melt the ice you will need to see if you can clear out enough around the support hinges to get it to operate. The chime might be driving you crazy....just wait until it goes into limp mode to prevent you from driving faster than MINI thinks is safe without the spoiler deployed.
I join with others in asking that you let us know how the problem was resolved. My Roadster better not start such shenanigans.
I had this happen in my Roadster and the bonging does drive you nearly mad. Particularly as it won't stop if you slow down below "spoiler-speed" or even stop altogether. If you stop and switch off the ignition, it doesn't start again - until you drive off when it continues, even if you don't go over 50. And the warnings on the Visual Boost screen are dire - I felt the "you will be struck by a thunderbolt if you drive anywhere" was a bit excessive..... I confirm that it causes no problem - once the spoiler un-freezes, it works fine and all the warnings go away. I think spoiler behaviour may not be the same in all cars/countries but in my car if I put the spoiler up manually when stationary, it stays up forever until I manually put it down, so that's one way round the problem, as long as I know to do it in advance - and don't mind looking like a ****head for having the spoiler permanently up.
On my US car if I put the spoiler up when stationary then it stays up until I go above 50MPH then drop back down below 30-something, then it goes down (at least that's what I remember it doing, but I am getting old...).
I took the car in yesterday. As soon as they were able to look at it they tried to lower it manually, and it worked. It had been in the garage for a short time, so I assume it was frozen. (Your suggestions of a heated garage may have worked.) They checked all the error codes but didn't find anything wrong. They also examined it for mechanical issues and couldn't find anything. They did say this was the first spoiler problem they'd seen. Because it's an active part, I'm assuming it won't be the last.
Man that is a pretty poor design if a bit of ice & snow makes it go all wonkie. Didn't they test the coupester & roadster in winter conditions? Glad you got is sorted....
Actually, they probably didn't test in the right conditions as mine was definitely caught out by a 'British winter' - wet snowfall at maybe 31F, then a slight melt to 33-34F and a re-freeze to 29-31F. In most countries that would be a complete thaw in the middle or it would have been dry snow to start with - it's only hovering around freezing that seems to do it.
That's similar to what happened. We had an ice storm - worked that day, then a slight melt - worked that day, and then about an inch or two of snow and that's when I had trouble. I'm glad it's taken care of, but I'm not sure if it's the last - I'll update this thread if it happens again.
I'm sure one of you vendors will come up with a "spoiler pre-heater" that will solve the problem. Jim