29 replies to this topic

[silver_toes]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice on an electric folding sunroof I have on my 1997 Cooper.

The sunroof has shrunk considerably, you can't quite see daylight through the gaps but it's not far off. The black vinyl also has a couple of small tears in it.

I'm assuming there's nothing that can be done to rectify a shrunken sunroof and I'm expecting to have to replace it.

Questions as follows
is this sunroof the same as the one fitted to the British Open classic limited edition ?
Is the sunroof the Hollandia 400 which is still produced by Webasto
Somerford minis appear to be one of the only places where I can find a new vinyl roof, does anyone else know of any other suppliers ?
Has anyone ever replaced the sunroof and how difficult is it ?

I don't have many technical skills and am worried about writing off a new sunroof in the process of fitting it.

All the electrics appear to be fine.

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Liz

[MaxAndPaddy]

Hi Liz I know in the past some have used this spot http://www.autoroofs.co.uk/

Not sure if yours will be the same roof as the 1992 British Open Classic without seeing pics

[surfblue63]

The Hollandia 400 is still made by Webasto

http://sunroof.webas...landia-400.html

There's a dealer search facility on the page.

[welshdan]

i had one trimmed in black mohair by a local retrim speciallist. it is far nicer than the canvas was. it cost a fraction of the cost of a new one.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Black Mohair? ....is that waterproof?

[finch661]

glad someone is bringing this up :) i have a Tudor Webasto (or Webasto Tudor) folding roof on my mini, and it is also cracked. its the manual one (no fancy voodoo electrics), and just wondering if this is the same as the Hollandia 400 or British Open roof?

step by step on removal and refit http://www.sporting-...com/Webasto.htm

Edited by finch661, 05 April 2012 - 04:37 PM.

[welshdan]

yes its used in many of the more upmarket cars. it doesnt shrink either.

[silver_toes]

The webasto doesn't shrink ? I assume the ones fitted to late coopers (or mine at least) weren't Webasto then.

I notice from the webasto stock list that the fabric part is much more expensive than the one you can get from Somerford mini's.

Here are some pictures illustrating my problem

Hope these links work

http://i1255.photobu...er/IMAG0675.jpg
http://i1255.photobu...er/IMAG0674.jpg
http://i1255.photobu...er/IMAG0673.jpg
http://i1255.photobu...er/IMAG0672.jpg

I'm surprised after searching around that I can't find more info on these sunroofs, were they not very common ?

Edited by silver_toes, 05 April 2012 - 05:01 PM.

[Bungle]

stick [img] in front the link and [/img at the end

i missed the last bracket off so it was a broken link

Edited by Bungle, 05 April 2012 - 05:04 PM.

[silver_toes]

Sorry, new to all this. hope this works.
should the 2 lines on the fabric run along the 2 lines on the roof fitting ?

Edited by silver_toes, 05 April 2012 - 05:13 PM.

[silver_toes]

Thanks for the link finch661. Are you planning on replacing your roof any time soon ?

[finch661]

no problem :) i am wanting to, but i have many other things to fix first. my roof is different to your one, different material but then mine was fitted in 1985, as a post buy fit.
my plan was to remove the whole sunroof, as per the instructions, and then remove the skin. next it would either be buying a direct replacement or taking it to a local trimmer/coach builder to make a new one. on that link, the guy managed to make his own!

[[email protected]]

Hi Silvertoes,

 

Yes, the edges of the fabric SHOULD be covering the black frame underneath.  Your roof has likely shrunk (like mine), but it could also be that the tension cables that run inside the fabric edges and are affixed to the front and rear corners are rusted away or broken - when the top is closed completely, these cables act like springs to stretch the top tightly against the curve of the roof and the sunroof frame.  They are always competing with the frame ribs that want to bow the top up and stretch it inward like an hour-glass figure.

 

If you can easily get your fingers underneath the edge of the top when it is fully closed, these cables might be your problem and there is a post on this site that describes how to replace them:

 

Look for the MR J, Location: Doncaster, Posted 22 December 2011 - 12:06 PM comment here: http://www.theminifo...ebasto-sunroof/

 

Jim

[finch661]

holy thread revival

[silver_toes]

Ha ha, holy thread revival indeed.

 

As an update, I fitted a new fabric roof supplied from a well know mini specialist and it was simply rubbish. As a consequence 2 years later I am looking to replace the roof again

 

:-(