2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Sun Roof Stuck In Open Position

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by Jason Montague, May 23, 2013.

  1. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :mad2: My Margi's(08 BRG R56 MCS/JCWm) electric sun roof is stuck in the completely open position(not the louver position)(he says as the thunder storms are even now rolling in:yikes:). I remember that there were problems with these sun roofs sticking and they were fixed under warranty(Margi's expired at 50kmi and she now has 75kmi). Was there a recall or just a fix under warranty? Does anyone know or has anyone had this work done and knows an approximate price?:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

    Jason

    If no help, I'll start with a Bentley R56 service manual and go from there. They are $85. on line. The motor is $338.14 Dealer but our good buddy eMINIparts has them for $287.42.
     
  2. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    There should be an allen wrench tool with the tool kit to manually crank the sunroof closed so that Margi wont get all wet inside.
     
  3. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: You're a life saver(and I don't mean that you are candy)! I've got my tool kit and allen wrenches galore. Would you happen to know where the 'crank apparatus' is located? If not I'll try Real OEM. :Thumbsup:

    Thank You,
    Jason
     
  4. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    The crank point on the R53 was near the front of the sunroof. I'd start w/ your owners manual... there should be instructions there on how to manually crank it shut.
     
  5. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    I found a video of the R50/53... the manual crank shut screw is on the center of the motor housing... front and center of the sunroof. The Youtube image below shows the motor... I think the manual crank location is the silver trimmed bit at the bottom center of the pic:

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blIdm7nz7yY]Mini Cooper Sunroof Repair (Part 4 of 4) by Zippee Gear.com - YouTube[/ame]
     
  6. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #6 agranger, May 23, 2013
    Last edited: May 23, 2013
    See the last pic on post #1 here: Mini R56 panoramic sunroof problem - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums

    The switches shown in that pic are on the headliner, so that is an R56 variant... should work like that for you.

    As a previous poster mentioned, the crank tool shown in the pic was stored in a tool kit that, in the R53, was wedged between the battery and the back of the battery box. Not sure where it hides on the R56.
     
  7. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: agranger and eMINIparts thank y'all very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Jason
     
  8. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Let us know how it goes & let us R56/55 owners know where the close widget is hidden. Good luck!
     
  9. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    The change is the newer sunroofs are a TINY BIT smaller....
    the change in the sunroof, as I recall, was because the tolerances were too tight...so on a hot day, the motor would turn off as a safety precaution thinking something was pinched in the window as it was closing...think it was just a warranty item...but you MIGHT get lucky...ASK.
    Regular lube was a temp fix...but replacement was the long-term fix.
    I'm wondering if the motor on it just died or overheated from the high load/heat.
    If it was me...if the fix (other than the motor swap) was not free, I would just lube it up, replace the motor, and keep going...the ENTIRE SUNROOF is swapped out for the fix.
     
  10. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    #10 Jason Montague, May 23, 2013
    Last edited: May 23, 2013
    :cornut:Crashton and all helpers. I'm getting there. Going slowly and deliberately. Putting parts in order of where they came from. Figuring out the nuances instead of getting a 6lbs sledge and chisel. Anyway just as I fully exposed the 'allen wrench socket', Lady Margi says "Jason, company's here. Tell them I'm busy. Can't do that. It's the Pastor from the church. Rats, okay I'll be right in." So I can't finish until tomorrow. I'll keep y'all posted. I am so proud to be associated with MINIacs like y'all who jumped right in to help. It is making the job so much easier with all of these positive waves.:Thumbsup:


    :

    :cornut:Thanks ZippyNH, we are definitely thinking along similar lines. Wangle a dealer fix-Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost all on me- Motor and lube. You think like me?:wink::wink::yikes::yikes: You must be a sick man.:lol::lol::lol:

    Jason
    PS- thanks to Nathan, I have a top secret email in to an unnamed agent at an unnamed dealership re: Warranty. It's so secret that AG Eric Holder has already called me.
     
  11. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: Got side tracked with family duties but roof glass now closed by cranking with allen wrench. Motor now working but only to open roof windows. It doesn't work to close windows, strange. There are obviously other problems, re stripped gears etc. I'll keep hunting.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  12. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: Left the roof glass slightly cracked open for cigar smoke ventilation.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  13. silky

    silky New Member

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    What I used to do in the Miata when it rained was keep moving...;-)
     
  14. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: Thanks, that's what I'll do.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  15. e46tor56

    e46tor56 New Member

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    #15 e46tor56, Jun 2, 2013
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2013
    The sunroof on the MCS did something similar yesterday when I held the unlock button to open the windows to let the hot air of it. It would pop up about an inch. I was able to close it after fiddling around with the button. To me it sounded like the track needs to be lubed. The temp was 96 degrees in the shade according to Bella.
     
  16. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: Yes! Lubed after cleaning with cloth, solvent, and small dowel rod with cloth soaked in solvent. Get into all rails, slots , and hinges in both the louvered and the wide open positions. Lube with lube of choice again with roof in both positions. Always be careful of delicate opening switch. Only push or pull switch to the (felt but not heard) click and no further. Going past the clicks will eventually wear out/brake the switch.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     

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