New Rear Latch Design

Matt Mar 11th, 2004 Link

finally. i'll be making an appointment at Knauz soon.

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Matt G. Mar 11th, 2004 Link

I'll be adding this to the Spring fix-a-thon that Knauz will be performing on my car in the coming weeks.

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Gabriel Bridger Mar 11th, 2004 Link

fix-a-thon – nice

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Matthew Gifford Mar 11th, 2004 Link

Yeah. I need to get that pothole damage taken care of once and for all. It drives me nuts to know that there are probably things bent on my car.

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Faith Mar 11th, 2004 Link

what is the pothole damage on your MINI? we had a cracked strut mount on the front passenger side – it's a plastic piece, you can see it under the bonnet over the wheel well. we didn't know it was there until we hit a bad pothole on the driver's side (which busted both left tires) and our SA pointed out the likely pre-existing damage on the passenger side.

the dealer said it wasn't warranty so we had our own mechanic fix it. one of the mechanics in his shop said it shouldn've been warrantied b/c several MINIs have had the same problem.

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Elmor Fudwell Mar 11th, 2004 Link

I wonder if this is what I've been hearing coming from the back. I wasn't sure if the windows were about to pop or maybe that the car had become like gumby and was about to twist out.

At first I thought that it was because I had the seats down and the shelf was making noise laying on the seats. The noise kept happening.

Hate to have a two year old MINI sounding like a loosey goosey American car that rattles. Will this be a warranty issue replacment?

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GJR Mar 11th, 2004 Link

I don't have the hatch rattle, but I have every other rattle imaginable. On an '03 MCS with only 7000 miles :(

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Matt G. Mar 11th, 2004 Link

Faith, I replaced the two right wheels not long after it happened. If I let go of the wheel when coming to a stop, it pulls right. And there is a faint out-of-alignment-type sound coming from the rear of the car. The place I take it to swears it's in alignment.

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Josh Mar 11th, 2004 Link

That happened to us on our Jetta, but not from a pothole, instead when it slid on ice into a curb. They had to replace a bent tie rod. If only the car had DSC like our Mini.

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steven Mar 11th, 2004 Link

Do the 2004 Mini Coopers have the rattle issue in the boot?

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Tom D Mar 11th, 2004 Link

Does anyone have a MINI service bulletin# for the hatch rattle?

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Tom Sizemore Mar 11th, 2004 Link

Wonderful! Nice to know that there is a proper fix. When I mentioned the hatch rattle to the MINI tech a couple of months ago he said the only thing that could be done is to wrap some electrical tape around the loop on the latch. Now I'll insist on a proper fix.

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Lucas Mar 12th, 2004 Link

This redesigned hatch — how different is it? Any visual differences? If so can someone provide photos?

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Mike Mar 12th, 2004 Link

I knocked my alignment out by a pothole. I cost $250 to fix and the flat tire sensor had to be recalibrated, it kept comming on because of the alignment.

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Matt G. Mar 12th, 2004 Link

My flat tire sensor kept coming on because I had two bent wheels that were leaking air. :-)

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andy Mar 12th, 2004 Link

also have the rattle, but not limited to the boot. Sunroof rattles quite often also. Anyone else having this problem. In addition to that i have the CVT transmission, and i am having a problem with it that the dealership just cant seem to fix. In warmer weather, when at a stop light, the idle suddenly jumps to almost 1500rpm, and the car tries to take off, have to put it in neutral to get it to stop. People at dealership said it was a common problem, but that there was no fix for it, so i “just had to deal with it” Anyone else having this problem, maybe even know of a fix. Car hasnt been to dealership in 6 months, so maybe they finally fixed it. Let me know.

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Jason Livingood Mar 12th, 2004 Link

Don't think this is new – the resdesigned latch was released in 2003. Got one on my 2002 and it solved the rattle and problems closing the hatch wonderfully.

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Gabriel Bridger Mar 12th, 2004 Link

No it's not very new but I wanted verify that it does work. Like I said I've been meaning to get mine done for months.

I also noticed that there are lots out there still with hatch rattles – so I assumed it wasn't widely known.

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Gilbert Mar 12th, 2004 Link

My Mini have that problem, while driving and hitting a humps or pot hole you can hear rattle, I went to my fav. dealer and told them about this rattle issue, they said that it is the muffler shield. they align the shield but, still there, I think you guys are right, but will you please inform me what we can do to this issue? thanks

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Maxwell H. Mar 13th, 2004 Link

I've gotten my latch replaced twice in the past two months. The exhaust vibration (stock!) still makes it rattle nearly as often as before. I'm wondering when they began the new latch assembly. Any idea, Gabe?

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Elmor Fudwell Mar 13th, 2004 Link

Thanks for posting this topic.

For a couple of months now I've noticed rattling from the back of the car. More noticeably for sure when I have the back seats folded down for my dog to ride. I thought the noise was coming from the shelf that was placed on the seats. Though I have not done much research, I've often thought that it was something of my doing: i.e., storgae of small plastic items in the back bin.

After reading this, I've come to recognize that it is the car and not something that I'd put into it making the noise.

I've made an appointment to have the latches replaced and at the same time have the computer updated so that some features previously programmed will now be functional again. I'd though about having the back fog lights programmed also, though from my conversation with the dealer, I'd be charged $150.00 for the programming and a new toggle plate that does not even have the front fog light switch.

Again, thanks for posting this topic, as it's relavancy has helped me with a warranty issue.

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Noemi Mar 13th, 2004 Link

Does it cost anithing to have this fix, or is it covered under warranty?

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Elmor Fudwell Mar 13th, 2004 Link

It is my understanding that it is covered under the warranty for the hatch latch replacment.

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cooprss Mar 14th, 2004 Link

The 04 models have the new latch plus 2 more rubber bumber stops mounted near the bottom to help stabilize the hatch.

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Ron Ruggiero Mar 14th, 2004 Link

Yes, it looks different–its black instead of silver. SA said it was a wee bit thicker too. And, Yes, its covered by the warranty. Just got mine done about a month ago–it definitely eliminates that dull “thud” or “clunk” sound coming from the rear of the car when going over all sized bumps! (If you're wondering what's causing the sound–have someone push down hard on your hatch when stationary–if you hear the same sound–its your latch!! :) )

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R Mar 15th, 2004 Link

Is there a part number for this new latch? When my dealer installed their last fix some months ago the upper right side of the hatch rain gutter no longer aligns with the roof gutter. So if this is something new maybe I can tell the dummies at Assael what the number is…………….R

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Elmor Fudwell Mar 15th, 2004 Link

I'm just back from having the replacement performed on my '02 MCS. The replacement, wish I could've watched, is done though I'm not exactly sure what.

The car is quite. On the way home, I intentionally drove on a road with lot'sa bumps. AND I didn't hear the same ol' rattle coming from the boot area. WOW, nice…Though I hate to say on one our two dips in the road ( I mean this is a realy bad road it more resembles a street in NYC) a little squeak could be heard.

Had the car programmed with the 36 release. A couple of times pressing on the gas after making a turn, I literally thru my head back. The car has more spunk than before. I mentioned to the dealer that I'd found on the release 35 prior to having the car reprogrammed, that I'd found the optimal outside temperature in the 64° range. Otherwise, the car would drive rough and generally felt like that I had to really press the pedal…whick felt lackluster.

As another aside, has anyone seen an issue with the rear latch sill on the bumper losing paint?

This spot would be near the bottom of the hatch opening and the top of the bumper. Mine has lost paint on the right hand side of about a 3 inch long strip and 1/2 inch or so wide.

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KenL Mar 16th, 2004 Link

Did anyone have a loud bang/knocking noise going over bumps at low speed (not just a rattle) before having this done? If so has it now gone with the latch striker replaced with the black one?

Is that all they did or is there a new re-design of the lock also?

Thanks, Ken.

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Noemi Mar 16th, 2004 Link

I have a B/W MC and I don't think I have the problem, I just thought if it was something to worry about in the future I would have them change it…..

Totally out of topic question!

Is the rear fog lamp also cover under warranty? and if not , does anybody know how much it is $$$$ (USA)

Thank you guys!

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Elmor Fudwell Mar 16th, 2004 Link

As I had also considered the addition of the back fog lamp, I checked into the price.

Where I'm located, one dealer quoted $150.00 for the entire set up: labor and new toggle control panel with rear fog toggle (it appeared they would not let me have the control panel with all of the toggles, I'd only get the full lineup once I got front fogs added). Seems silly that to save effort they would not go ahead and add the toggle control panel with all of the switches.

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Noemi Mar 17th, 2004 Link

Thanks…. I've been thinking about this for awhile now…. or to make them into brake lamps…. I still need to see if it is worth doing (What kind of light you get).

Thank you for your response.

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Slowride Apr 8th, 2004 Link

Does anyone have the part/bulletin #??? I had the Hood rub done and when I brought it in the Service Rep thought I was nuts. So a number would be great to speed things along :) On another note anyone have the Mini Car Cover? Any comments good and or bad???

Thanks, Slowride Indi Blue MCS

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