Freezing Door Handles

This might cause a run on door handles ;) I wonder if MINI USA anticipates the likely reaction when this news hits somewhere like MotoringFile!

Ian – I thought about that. I’ve been told we’ve created a run on other parts due to some previous stories. We’ll see!

One thing I should say is that if you don’t have an issue I’m sure MINI would appreciate not getting your door handles replaced.

I can speak to the improved door handles… I have an early ’05 MCS that was of course built after 04/04. In Chicago we’ve had a few nasty days and my door handle has not frozen at all. So it does work (but I have no idea how rampant the problems were/are on older models).

Funny I dont have this problem…MINI is never out in the cold, and kept in a heated garage. :) I might still ask for it at my next servicing.

This is great news. One of only 2 problems that we’ve had with our ’04 EB MCS (built 09/03) is a passenger handle that sticks in the ‘pulled-in’ position whenever the temperature gets below ~40 degrees (the driver can just open the door from inside, so it’s not been a big deal). Otherwise, we’ve had over 16K trouble-free miles of motoring.

I dont see how this could not be a recall. If there are obvious prolems with the handle, it doesn’t make sense to leave out those who’s warranty are expired.

If they fixed this in 4/04, why didn’t they issue a warranty then so that 01/02/03 MINIs could get the fix under warranty?

Nicholas – this fix is provided under warranty.

And in terms of why this wasn’t an official recall – I would guess it only effects those of us in cold climates. Because of that it wouldn’t have made sense to recall all MINIs.

I don’t agree with the whole, only those of us in cold weather need to worry about it. Fact is, it’s a bad handle design. So say I live in California now, but what if in a few years I decide to move somewhere cold? My handles will freeze then and I would have to get it fixed with my own money?

heck no! I go and get it fixed no matter what because it’s just plainly a bad handle and needs to be properly taken care of.

in terms of Nicholas’ remark, i’m guessing that he means he’s over the miles mark for the warrnanty and i’m sure there are many others who are out of warranty due to miles.

anyways, i didn’t mean to be rude or anything with my previous comment although rereading it, it sounds kinda mean.

Just in case your mini dealership isnt in the town you live (like me) this is the quick way to open your doors when they are frozen

Jiggle the black clicker on the handle up and down a few times and then try and open it normally. It seems to work for me (when im trying to get in from the OUTSIDE)

For all the griping that this is not a full recall, just be suprised that there is even a fix under warentee for this. Most car companies would just tell you tough s if your doors freeze. It’s way cool of MINI to care enough about their customers that there’s a free fix out there.

PandaMINI, Hey fellow WNYer, stop on over at the club message board (you can get there by via my blog, just click on my name)…

About time! I haven’t washed my car in over two months to avoid frozen doors (last year I learned the hard way – once the water gets in, it takes 2-3 weeks to dry out completely)

If the door handle is frozen isn`t it possible to lower the window with the key and open it from the inside?

His IP and location were just sent to Comcast’s (his ISP) abuse department. His IP was also banned.

I guess since this is my first car I don’t know much about how company’s deal with things like these. so you’re saying most companies would just leave their customers out in the cold? sounds quite lame to me.

oh and what’s a TSB?

Slightly off topic here, but not entirely since lots of the last few posts have referenced the new changes in the MINI in 2005.

Any progress getting a pdf of th “new” 2005 manual. It should include information on the post-January additions and changes.

Anyone…?

Thanks for the official notice. I bought two ’03 MCS’s and had horrific experiences with both in NW PA winters. Our new ’05 MCS works fine and we just had my son’s handles changed over last week. I put my query to some of the Mini forums and got the standard..’it’s not the handle, you just have to clean the snow from the lock crap..’ I can’t believe there are some people out there who think this was a trivial matter. My wife was locked in her car one day and could not exit. What if you needed to exit in an emeregerncy situation?? My ’05 has been good all winter so the fix seem to be OK.

MINIUSA took my MINI from Alaska to Seattle to fix the frozen door locks. Now they have my car in Seattle and are refusing to send it back to Alaska, saying that they never made the promise to begin with. They also refuse to allow me to speak with the Western Region Manager, saying that “he is on a busy travel schedule and is unable to speak with customer.” If you have any information about the Western Region (Ontario,Ca) please contact me immediately. jaegerak@gci.net, my car has been in Seattle since 1 Dec 05 and I cannot get anyone to listen!!

Mini Roadside Service took my car to Seattle, it was then finally repaired and sent back to Alaska after nearly 40 days. Now less than one year later the DOOR LOCKS are FROZEN again. If it was up to me this car would be GONE!!! My wife loves her mini and will put up with their substandard designs and piss-poor service.

I live in Kodiak Alaska, and bought my ’04 MCS (11/03 build) used. I’ve been locked out of my car on many occasions this winter due due to frozen door handles. Decided to do a quick search on the web and found this site. After taking a look at this TSB, I’ve determined that my car has the older design door handles.

My car is still covered under warranty, but we don’t have a dealer anywhere in Alaska. I don’t think I’ll be able to make a road trip back to the “real world” before my warranty expires next year. Any ideas for how I can go about getting the updated door handles?

dasuncion@g$$mail.com (remove dollar signs for my email address)

I was locked out of my 2004 S yesterday in not very cold New Mexico. Once I got the door open, the button stayed depressed and the door wouldn’t latch. It just bounced back open. There was also an interestingly familiar (for owners of original Minis at least) burning insulation smell that went away after I chipped the ice away from the handle and popped the button back out. Slightly scarier, I was locked into the car about an hour later when the inside handle would not release the latch (I got out the passenger side). I’ll talk to the dealer after the holidays.

I got locked in again twice today. After dozens of pulls on both door handles–nothing worked. I restarted the car and the drivers side opened. I thought that was the trick–more power and the door opens. Ten minutes later I got frozen in again and starting the car didn’t help. After five minutes of pulling on the handles and some fairly firm thumping on the door panel near the lock button it suddenly started working again. This strikes me as really dangerous. I can’t believe there isn’t a recall to fix this. Are the doors really totally electric? If the battery dies do you have to break a window to escape? I love my MINI, but this is worrisome!

I have a 2005 Mini. I live in Sunny CA. My driver side door handel does not work from the inside. I have to roll down my window and open it from the outside. I have called my dealership, and am waiting for a call back. My warrenty just expired….I hope they will fix this on thier dime seeing how they know that they have a problem with the handles!