[hag6]

Is there a knack to closing the bonnet/hood? My Cooper's bonnet is lopsided. One side fits snug against the seal below the headlight while the other side reveals a gap. I don't want to press on the bonnet after letting it drop as suggested in the manual. Is there an adjustment to even this out.

 

[opal]

Open the bonnet again and drop it from about 12" and if it still isn't fitting correctly take it to the dealers for adjustment.


I agree don't push down on the bonnet as I have seen several new cars in showrooms with dented bonnets as it is virtually impossible to close it by pressing as it requires a lot of force. The manual needs changing in my opinion

 

[uke]

What opal said.

My MA advised to not press the bonnet, he said "the metal is thinner", and there have been several customers who dented the bonnet by pressing on it. His advice was to just drop it from 12 inches. I hate doing that, but there is a nice solid sound when it closes properly, and my bonnet remains dent-free.

 

[radiocaf]

What opal said.

My MA advised to not press the bonnet, he said "the metal is thinner", and there have been several customers who dented the bonnet by pressing on it. His advice was to just drop it from 12 inches. I hate doing that, but there is a nice solid sound when it closes properly, and my bonnet remains dent-free.

Agreed, I always think I'm going to damage the car by dropping it, it just seems unnatural.

 

[stevens]

on the R56 you had to press over both of the latches with each hand (check where the bonnet hatches on each side fit and place your hands around here) then press down firmly when you close e.g. close bonnet so it clicks in gently, then press firmly over the two closing points (if that makes sense). On the R56 sometimes one side didnt click properly and made the bonnet look lop sided.

 

[jeremybingham]

No no no donyt press on anything- a good drop height does it-if you press the bonnet YOU WILL dent it; it is for pedestrian safety! Grrrrr

 

[stevens]

No no no donyt press on anything- a good drop height does it-if you press the bonnet YOU WILL dent it; it is for pedestrian safety! Grrrrr

Cant see how pressing on the area where the bonnet catches are will damage it, if that was the case then the the fact the catch is there could damage the bonnet if it was mis-aligned? I dont have my F56 yet but the missus R56 is sound around this area, agreed dont press anywhere else though as its not re-inforced. Happy to be proven wrong

 

[jeremybingham]

See what you mean,but mine shuts well with a drop so won't risk it.if not then that may be the answer

 

[stevens]

If it is indeed shutting correctly on both claps then DO NOT push on it though trip to dealer to resolve, the missus R56 generally does shut as you have said though just dropping it safely.

 

[Tiger]

Cant see how pressing on the area where the bonnet catches are will damage it, if that was the case then the the fact the catch is there could damage the bonnet if it was mis-aligned? I dont have my F56 yet but the missus R56 is sound around this area, agreed dont press anywhere else though as its not re-inforced. Happy to be proven wrong

I think Jeremy hit it... it may trigger the built in pedestrian collision safety hoo hah. Maybe trigger isn't the right term since it's a passive system, but it's early here and I'm only half into this cup of java. Spring? Activate? Hmm... I'll just go with, "It'll jack up yo Mini."

I remember the first time I heard about pedestrian protection... I had this vision of a combination of a train's cow catcher and an external airbag that deploy from the front of a car heh.

 

[hag6]

thanks for the advice. I managed to get the bonnet to sit evenly. It requires a good distance to fall and I guided the bonnet's decent by hooking my hands through the headlight access holes and pulled down hard.