My daughter just bought a used 2007 Cooper S. It has the exact same issues. This will be the first thing I will deal with. It needs a good bit of TLC. Thanks for the video.
@@ScubaMoto Just installed the new latch/handle last night. Solved the issues and she’s happy that she doesn’t have to keep jumping out and closing the hatch every time she starts the car. Thanks again.
What do the 4 screws actually screw into? The brackets have small rubbberlike inserts that do not really give a securely attached feeling and the screws dont snug up tightly. Is there any resolution to the unsnug screws?
The four screws go into what is called a Plug-in-Nut. It's plastic. Search P/N 51137416329 These types of body nuts are typical of most vehicles. If a previous owner over-tightened it, the plastic threading may have stripped. The plastic may also have become brittle and simply cracked. First confirm that the screws are centered by trying each screw without the handle in place. If the plug-in nuts have loosened up but are not broken, you might get by with a larger screw or insert a short length of thin zip-tie along side the original screw to tighten it in the nut. If the plug-in Nut is broken, then confirm the part number I gave above is for your vehicle model and year and replace as necessary.
The F-Series unscrew from the inside. 2015 was the transition year. Pop off the interior hatch card and it's held on with Torx screws that you remove from the interior side of the hatch.
The piece in the video is still working great and it has also dropped in price considerably since the after-market supply is competitive. We also confirmed fitment for our R56 before the purchase. Most vendors selling these have good ratings and a good return policy in case there is an issue. You could choose to buy direct from MINI using your vehicle's VIN for absolute certainty. We have no inventory of these nor any relationship with the vendors linked in the video description. The links are there for convenience. We simply make an effort to find sellers and items with good ratings. Commissions occur under certain conditions and do not affect price. If people report consistent issues with one, we switch to another vendor. I always recommend keeping everything needed to return items in case of defects or fitment issues.
If the vendor says it won't work, I would definitely try another vendor. Once they say it won't work, you've lost your return option. Good luck with it.
That does sound like a stuck hatch switch button just like the video. The button switch was stuck depressed. You could keep it closed by resetting the lock mode with the key fob since the ECU responds to the hatch button in a toggle manor. I don't know what year you're working on, but just make sure the hatch handle/switch you buy is compatible with your vehicle year/model.
