Comments on: The MINI Window Motor Issue

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:55:02 +0000

Thanks for the tip! Just banged right above the speaker on my 02 Mini Cooper S and it is now working. Thanks for saving me $500. Lets hope it lasts.

By: T D

T D — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:09:49 +0000

I have the same issue, brought it tot he dealership and they said that mini has a new bulletin for this issue, and if needed they will replace the module. But the update does check the entire car to make sure it is factory, (including the carp AMP). If you have replaced the amp with a third party amp. the update will stop and fail. I am have repalced the stereo amp and am having this issue. The dealer is stating that since I have changed the amp I am the one preventing the upgrade to fix the windows… So just a warning of what to expect with this window fix…..

By: Kay S

Kay S — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:11:33 +0000

Bill Watkins,

Thanks. I'll give your instructions to my mechanic. I'm don't think I have 5 hours worth of paitence :-}

By: Bill Watkins

Bill Watkins — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:05:44 +0000

KayS &Charlie…: If you look at my 2 messages above you will understand what the problem is and how it can be fixed. Mine works perfectly now.

By: Charliecolwat

Charliecolwat — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:26:39 +0000

Edie Oct 22nd, 2005 Link Thanks to Andrew Zimmerman!!!!! Closing the door with the toggle held down at the same time WORKED!!!! All the closed fist pounding and resets did nada but your remedy did.

Yep! Worked a treat on my 2001 model - thanks!

By: Kay S

Kay S — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:52:56 +0000

My ‘02 Mini driver’s side window started acting up about a year out of warranty. At first it was that the door didn’t close properly because the window didn’t dip. Then, like others have posted here, I could reset or beat the door and it would work. It ALWAYS works in my Chicago winters, but has totally stopped working when temperature goes up in spring. I wrote to Mini because I feel this is a design flaw. They told me to take it to a dealer to see what the problem is and they’d see what they could do. Bottom line is, dealer offerred a 10% discount on a $360 repair. Mini USA said regional manager could not do better than that. I declined their offer, will take it to my local mechanic who I think can do the job and to whom I’d rather give my money. I’ll also follow up with another letter to BMW/Mini and this time include a list of all my previous cars which I owned a minimum of 10 years and NEVER had an automatic window failure. Love my Mini, but not the BMW/Mini suits or service.

By: Becky B

Becky B — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:11:37 +0000

My 02 Mini has had the window motor problem for at least two years. I read about the “beat the door” technique and it got me through for a long time. Living in NH I can agree the problem only happens when it is hot outside. I am sad to say two days ago it happened agin and beating the crap out of the door has done nothing to help. I also cannot hear the clicking sound when I press the toggle so it is time to replace the motor. I was hoping they would come up with a new motor style by now to prevent this problem. ;-(

By: Bill Watkins

Bill Watkins — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:54:33 +0000

The reason that the window gets stuck in the up or down position is that the motor brushes stop at a position where conductivity is lost due to oxide on the commutator that develops from arcing. Bumping the panel above the speaker may jar the motor enough to cause the rotor to turn slightly to a more conductive spot.(This didn’t work for me however) The long-term solution is to remove the oxide as stated above. It requires a long T-handled Allen wrench to do the job. I put the rotor in a drill press and cleaned it with a fingernail file.

By: Bill Watkins

Bill Watkins — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:51:43 +0000

My 2002 Mini S driver’s side window would not lower. I found that there was voltage to the motor. I removed the motor by reaching up thru the speaker hole, removing the 4 screws at the motor flange which allows the stator can to be lowered exposing the rotor. By turning the rotor clockwise, the worm will unscrew and the rotor can be lowered. I found that the commutator was dirty, but the brushes were in good shape. I cleaned it up, reassembled and it works fine. This is not brain surgery, it’s more difficult than that. You have to work by feel with occasional updating with a mirror and flashlight, but it is possible. Mostly it requires patience; it took me about 5 hours.

By: William

William — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:24:29 +0000

Bought a used 2004 MCS (manufactured 10/2003) about a month ago. Driver’s side window locked in “up” position, tried resetting dip…nothing. So tried the Fonzie bump and it worked! Actually had to hit the door panel pretty hard to make it work. Just before the window froze up, I was listening to the sound system pretty loud. Any correlation?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:10:51 +0000

Here's a different one. Driving down the road tonight the driver's window started oscillating between the up position and the 1/2" down position and the dome light came on while driving. I checked to make sure the door was completely closed, it was. I pulled over, turned the car off and on again and it was still doing it. It seems to stop for about 3 minutes then start up again. Up, down, up, down... I had to disconnect the battery for fear of it running down overnight.

Anyone had this problem yet? Anyone know how to fix it?

By: sharon

sharon — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:28:34 +0000

Yay! It WORKS! I just purchased a 2003 used MINI and was horrified yesterday when my driver's side window froze just short of closing. You know how the windows are designed to open/close to accomodate the seal? I noticed the window wasn't closing any longer.

Just now my 16-year old son and I experimented using the "closed fist on the door" method, and it WORKED!

I know it's s stop-gap measure, but boy--are we happy (for the moment)!

Thanks!

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:07:34 +0000

04 MC and hot sticky FL here; the shut-the-door-while-pressing-the-toggle-down trick fixed my driver’s side window that wouldn’t roll down (I also had the problem where the window didn’t adjust when I close the door, leaving a gap between the window and the car). Beating on the door didn’t work, nor the reset option. I have had this problem before, and had the passenger window motor replaced under warrenty. Ironic that it happened again today because I just received my title in the mail!

By: Garth

Garth — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:01:34 +0000

Fonzie fix in hot, stickie SC for the win. Thanks for the “tap.”

By: danfrom PA

danfrom PA — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:14:37 +0000

sorry my MC is a 04 not an 03 ,I don’t think it matters other then he fact I have about 30′000mls on the clock..I should also mention large amounts of water on the passenger floor, discovered that the water running from the roof escapes through a gully into a tube which is in the door and can sometimes detache and the water will run into the floor of ur MC….really thinking of moveing to a Japanese car..very disapointed..loved the MINI but not this one.

By: danfrom PA

danfrom PA — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:59:24 +0000

own a 03mc, was lucky with the tranny due to this websie, demanded they check it . found major problem ,7 days to warranty lapse had the tranny replaced (phew) today,, driver’s door window unmovable and rang mini of the mainline in Philly and told me I needed a new motor at a replacement cost of over $300 just for the part..pissed, tried the reset ,no joy then the Fonzie and to my relief it worked..Thanks guys. will be also be complaining to NHTA.dot.gov. Thanks again..

By: Ajana

Ajana — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:57:08 +0000

After replacing my second passenger window motor in my 04 Cooper I tried the “Fonzie” method when it failed again and it really did work!! WHEEEEE!!! Here’s to percussion maintanence.

By: Quillin

Quillin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:14:14 +0000

My '04 MINI has had the driver's window fail 3 times now. I am no longer under warranty and am pissed because I just had to replace my driver's Xenon headlight housing that mysteriously stopped working about 1000 miles after warranty expiration. That having set me back $1G and who knows what the window will cost, and given the fact that this is the third window motor failure and second headlight failure and my brake lights mysteriously stay one after I lock the car sometimes, I am seriously contemplating hawking the thing for fear of what is to come. I filed a complaint about the Window here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:50:42 +0000

I brought a 03′ Mini a month ago, but I’ve now got a problem where I come back to my car either after work or in the morning and the windows are about 1 sometimes 2-3 inches open when i have not opened the windows at all. Is there an easy cure for this?

By: Andre

Andre — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:42:00 +0000

I have an 03 MC and my driver side window was stuck in closed position. The reset din’t work, but a few taps with a closed fist made it move up and down again. Thanks for the tip! Andre