17 replies to this topic

[Heidi]

Hi guys, wondering if anyone could help me out. I've got a 1991 rover mini cooper carb model, with a tilt glass webasto sun roof. I try to keep him covered but when he gets caught in the rain the sun roof leaks like mad. I've removed it dried it all out, looked at the seal and the seal seems perfectly fine. The water seems to be coming through the hinges, so iv tightened them and that still hasn't made a difference. I'm looking at putting some new seats in him and I don't really want to do that until I can stop it from leaking.
Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem and managed to solve it?

Thanks a lot
H

[miniman86]

I know someone who has a 1275gt with a leaky sunroof, he said that smearing vasoline around the seal helps it to seal better, are you sure its leaking from the hinges, or is it more a case of its coming through the seal, then running around it and dripping down from where the hinges are?

Alex

[ibrooks]

Without pictures it's a bit difficult to make specific suggestions. How are the hinges attached to the car and glass? should they have rubber/fibre washers/pads to act as seals maybe these have perished or gone hard and aren't conforming to the shapes of the roof and the hinge any longer.

If you think it's the hinges try something like duct tape around the outside of the actual glass and see if it stops leaking.

Leaks can be a real pain to track down as the water can get in at one point and then creep along a seal to appear somewhere totally different and sunroofs are notorious for problems. When the manufacturers fit them nowadays they simply accept that they will leak and incorporate a drip tray around them with drain pipes that drop down the A, B and C posts to hopefully dump the water on the road (some just drop it into the sills and rely on the drain holes in there to let it out and onto the road).

Iain

[Heidi]

Thanks for the suggestions, will try the vaseline idea. I will also try and get some pics on today. And I'm not 100% that the leak is coming through the hinges, that just seems to be where the water comes dripping through. Iv tried putting tape on the actual glass and that hasn't helped either. I know it's quite unlikely to stop the leak completely, I just need to improve it as it is rapidly ruining my seats.

[Bungle]

the seal is 20 years old it might look ok but i bet it needs replacing

[Heidi]

Some picture's. They're not the best but very difficult to get at the right angle. Hope they are helpful. I couldn't take any pictures of it open obviously as it is taped up.

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[ibrooks]

I'd suggest more tape as a first hit (having removed the stuff that's on there now first). Use a triple row - one set just on the glass but close to the edge and a second row on the roof and a third row bridging the two. Make very sure it's clean so the stuff sticks properly and makes a seal. Then we are looking at a session of sitting inside the car whilst someone else sprays the hosepipe at it whilst you look for the leak.

Iain

[AVV IT]

Trust me you can adjust and fiddle all you like but it will still leak, they always do!! The only real option is a complete new sunroof assembly, or at the very least a new seal and hinges, (the hinges corrode with age and weaken, reducing their ability to pull the glass down and provide a water tight seal!) Somerford Mini - Click Here supply complete sunroof assemblies and spares for most of the "Tudor-Webasto" sunroofs that were fitted to mini's a standard

Personally though I'd spend your cash on getting rid of the sunroof completely, weld on a new solid roof panel and then fit a new headlining!! (no more sunroof, no more leaks, no more wet carpets & upholstery, no more problems!! )

[minisilverbullet]

Trust me you can adjust and fiddle all you like but it will still leak, they always do!! The only real option is a complete new sunroof assembly, or at the very least a new seal and hinges, (the hinges corrode with age and weaken, reducing their ability to pull the glass down and provide a water tight seal!) Somerford Mini - Click Here supply complete sunroof assemblies and spares for most of the "Tudor-Webasto" sunroofs that were fitted to mini's a standard

Personally though I'd spend your cash on getting rid of the sunroof completely, weld on a new solid roof panel and then fit a new headlining!! (no more sunroof, no more leaks, no more wet carpets & upholstery, no more problems!! )

I had this with an old VW golf i had, tried everything, new seal (X2), tape. These all worked to an extent but, if you where going around a sharp corner the water would pour right over your head = not good.

In the end it turned out to be the hinges, i replaced the whoel lot with a secondhand item, and it was as good as new!

[Heidi]

That's brilliant, thanks a lot, and thankyou for the link I will order a new assembly I think. If that doesn't work I will look into getting rid of the sun roof all together (cost could be the stumbling point though).
Thank you for all your help

[Heidi]

Just wondering AVV IT, if it would be more cost effective to replace the roof and get rid of the sun roof all together. rather than buy a new assembly and then maybe having to continue replacing it. I'm a complete novice when it comes to mini's so not really sure how to go about getting rid of the sun roof completely and how much it would cost to do so.

Would be very grateful for any advice you could give me

Thanks

[Cooperman]

Just wondering AVV IT, if it would be more cost effective to replace the roof and get rid of the sun roof all together. rather than buy a new assembly and then maybe having to continue replacing it. I'm a complete novice when it comes to mini's so not really sure how to go about getting rid of the sun roof completely and how much it would cost to do so.

Would be very grateful for any advice you could give me

Thanks

Agree 100% with AVV IT. When a sunroof leaks it's a real pain. If you can find a new roof panel, remove the head lining, air-chisel the old roof off, MIG-weld the new roof panel on, paint it a nice colour and fit a new head-lining (without the sun-roof aperture) it would solve the problem.

[AVV IT]

Just wondering AVV IT, if it would be more cost effective to replace the roof and get rid of the sun roof all together. rather than buy a new assembly and then maybe having to continue replacing it. I'm a complete novice when it comes to mini's so not really sure how to go about getting rid of the sun roof completely and how much it would cost to do so.

Would be very grateful for any advice you could give me

Thanks

Removing the sunroof permanently involves removing your current roof panel & then welding a replacement roof panel on in it's place. You also need to fit a new headlining (the fabric lining that is fitted to the interior side of the roof) afterwards. The cost will be very dependent upon how much of that work that you can do yourself, obviously removing and replacing a roof panel involves a fair amount of skill and of course the ability to weld, you would also need to budget for a roof respray afterwards as well. Replacing the headlining is a notoriously fiddly job that involves removing all the windows in order to fit, but it does not actually require any specialist skills.

In terms of parts a new headlining kit will cost around £50-£60 and a genuine roof panel around the £300 mark, but most people get hold of a used roof from a scrapped shell instead, for more like £50 - £75. I understand that it is also possible to remove the sunroof and simply bond a fiberglass roof on top of the current steel one. I don't know much about this option, but I would imagine that this would probably be a much easier, quicker and cheaper option, so long as you don't mind having a fiberglass roof covering.

[Cooperman]

Just wondering AVV IT, if it would be more cost effective to replace the roof and get rid of the sun roof all together. rather than buy a new assembly and then maybe having to continue replacing it. I'm a complete novice when it comes to mini's so not really sure how to go about getting rid of the sun roof completely and how much it would cost to do so.

Would be very grateful for any advice you could give me

Thanks

Removing the sunroof permanently involves removing your current roof panel & then welding a replacement roof panel on in it's place. You also need to fit a new headlining (the fabric lining that is fitted to the interior side of the roof) afterwards. The cost will be very dependent upon how much of that work that you can do yourself, obviously removing and replacing a roof panel involves a fair amount of skill and of course the ability to weld, you would also need to budget for a roof respray afterwards as well. Replacing the headlining is a notoriously fiddly job that involves removing all the windows in order to fit, but it does not actually require any specialist skills.

In terms of parts a new headlining kit will cost around £50-£60 and a genuine roof panel around the £300 mark, but most people get hold of a used roof from a scrapped shell instead, for more like £50 - £75. I understand that it is also possible to remove the sunroof and simply bond a fiberglass roof on top of the current steel one. I don't know much about this option, but I would imagine that this would probably be a much easier, quicker and cheaper option, so long as you don't mind having a fiberglass roof covering.

If one had an old roof panel, or a fibreglass roof, it would be possible to cover it in leathercloth, like the old '80's Mini Special roofs, so long as the 80's-look is acceptable. Real 80's - retro.
If the roof and lining was out, I guess it would be easy to fit a Mk 1/2 head lining which is in 2 pieces and it easy to fit.

[andymini12]

I think you would be better to get a new sun roof of ebay or something.
i brought a sun roof off ebay and fitted it as i my car didnt have one and i wanted one.
have not had any problems yet.