15 replies to this topic

[dmayes12]

Hello People!

My quarterlights are leaking on both sides in my 1993 Mini Tahiti! I bought it and it has come with opening rear quarterlights which fair enough look great but leak water thru the seals!

I have replaced the seals on both sides to new seals! I have put packers under the opening mechanism to make the window pinch more against the rubber seal but still no! The water just trickles around and under the seal until it stores up and seems to get sucked thru the seals and drips into the car on both sides at the top and the bottom!!

My floor is now soaking so all carpets up and drying out. I want just to have as much as possible a water tight mini. Urghhhh!



Now looking into the original specs of my Mini Tahiti I think it may have come with the fixed non opening windows! I think someone has bodged the windows into frames and put them on the car. They arent exacly the cleaniest looking fitment in the frames.

I am not bothered about having opening rear quarterlights. So I may just replace to the fixed non opening type.



My issue is, is there a better seal to stick with the openers? Or is the glass a different size for non opening so I would need new glass? Also correct me if I'm wrong the fixed quarterlight seals would be like a windscreen seal that sort of pops the windows in place?


Thanks peeps!

[[email protected]]

POST EDITED TO CORRECT ITEMS THE ANORAK POINTED OUT WERE ORIGINALLY INCORRECT. ALL EDITS IN CAPS.

Bump.

Hi Passed Test. Hopefully you got your leak sorted all those years ago...

For others coming across this thread in a new search (like me), here are the best answers I can give to your questions - PLEASE TAKE THEM WITH A GRAIN OF SALT AS I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY Mini FOR 6 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY PERSONALLY DEALT WITH OPENING QUARTER LIGHTS:


Q. Was my Tahiti a fixed window?

A 1993 Mini like your Tahiti would be considered a "MK3 on" model SPECIALLY A MK6 AS THE ANORAK POINTS OUT, BUT *I DO NOT THINK* THE REAR WINDOW APPERTURE SIZE CHANGED AGAIN AFTER MK2 - SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG - and WAS offered "cheap and cheerful" with a fixed window NOT with an optional opening one. (THANKS TO THE ANORAK FOR THE CONFIRMATION ON THAT).

The hinges on an opening MK3 are not the sturdier piano-hinge style of MK1 and are instead a very simplistic affair, adhered to the body only with some tiny sheet metal screws, relying instead on a very tight squeezing of the rubber seal to stay in place. I THOUGHT YOUR OPENING ONES might have actually been a "factory fitment" BUT AGAIN, THANKS TO THE ANORAK, IT'S CONFIRMED THAT SOMEONE LIKELY MODIFIED YOURS. THIS *MIGHT BE* THE REASON FOR YOUR LEAK IF THE WINDOW'S ALIGNMENT IS NOT QUITE RIGHT.


Q. Is the glass a different size for non-opening, so I would need new glass?

Fixed and opening ARE different. And fixed window glass for both the smaller opening of the MK1 and the larger opening are no longer available (NLA) from our host, but you can get glass from other suppliers or even polycarbonate from the likes of ACW Motorsport Plastics in a "Choice of fitment options for rear quarter windows: to fit back into standard rubbers, to fit back into opening chrome frames or to be bolted/bonded."


Q. Is there a better seal to stick with the openers?

There's really only one opening 1/4 light seal out there, carried by most suppliers and from our host here: http://minispares.co...ic/EAM7724.aspx (simply cut it down at the top center for the smaller MK1 window size)


Q. Are the fixed quarterlight seals like a windscreen seal that sort of pops the windows in place?

Yes, but without the plastic tightening insert that the front and rear windscreens have. You can only get the longer seal today, see here: http://minispares.co...ic/JRC2673.aspx (and again, you simply cut it down for a MK1 size).


Most of these bits can be seen here: http://minispares.co...s.aspx?3~23~235

**************************************************

On to why I was searching this out...

My right rear quarter light has always leaked.

I took the whole window off and discovered the original seal had separated from the "clampy part" and so I installed a new seal and the leak was much reduced, but still there at the top edge, about three quarters of the way back (imagine the 10 o'clock position of the glass when viewed from outside).

So then I shimmed the catch/latch (making closing the window much snugger), and that got rid of more of the leak...but there is still a drip in heavy rain.


So I'm considering removing the window & seal and gently bending the body outward at the leak spot (to improve the glass to rubber contact there) as well as putting some silicone sealant into the "clampy channel" of the seal, (basically a bead right on the edge of the metal opening in case the leak is a wicking issue between seal and body).


Does anyone have any other thoughts on other possible next steps?



PS: the bottom of this window used to scrape the body too... so I simply shimmed the lower hinge and that tilted it up just enough. That said, I don't think that had any effect on the leak, positive or negative.

Edited by [email protected], 07 November 2017 - 01:06 PM.

[[email protected]]

POST EDITED TO CAVEAT THAT I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN Mini WINDOW REPLACEMENT AND HAVE ONLY REPLACED MY REAR SCREEN ONCE AND ONLY WORKED WITH OPENING QUARTER LIGHTS. ALL EDITS IN CAPS.

Stumbled on WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, HAVING ALREADY REPLACED MY REAR SCREEN AND ONE OF MY REAR OPENING QUARTER LIGHT'S SEALS - ADMITTEDLY NOT THE FIXED TYPE - like a good video for ONE WAY TO install the rear windows (main along with fixed quarter lights)

 

https://youtu.be/8h4iwyJurSE

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER TECHNIQUES OUT THERE THAT ARE EASIER, BETTER, AND LESS STRESSFULL ON THE NEW SEAL THAN THE STRING METHOD SHOWN HERE. PLEASE DO AS MUCH RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN AS POSSIBLE AND POST YOUR OWN QUESTIONS ON THIS FORUM SO THAT EXPERTS WHO HAVE REPLACED THESE WINDOWS SEVERAL TIMES (I'VE ONLY REPLACED MY REAR SCREEN ONCE) CAN PROVIDE MORE GUIDANCE.

Edited by [email protected], 05 November 2017 - 02:40 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

if your going to offer answers to questions i would suggest you get the answers correct first

 

the tahiti was a limited edition and had a fixed spec. being based on the sprite model it would have come with factory fitted FIXED windows... no option for opening ones !!! if you wanted opening ones you would have to buy a cooper, a mayfair or a mayfair based limited edition.

 

by Mk3 on i guess you mean Mk4, Mk5, Mk6 or Mk7 ??? a 1993 mini would be a Mk6. don't go reading parts websites and expecting them to understand the Mks of mini. Mk3 on is a cop-out statement and only applies to a handful of parts.

 

the "bodge job" would NOT be a factory fitment. the spec was fixed. fitting rear opening windows is a very common owner mod and is very easy to do. 

 

 

i would suggest you keep your "helpful" facts to yourself until you have a little more experience to understand what your "copy and paste" ing

[Northernpower]

What THE ANORAK said^^^^. One of the main differences between this site and the facebook type sites is we have a very knowledgeable group of members who have years of experience. It doesn't do the site any good when new members read a few indifferent articles and don't fully understand the complete picture and start to quote sections from them out of context, we need to stick to facts, but also, we don't need to discourage them from asking questions, just from answering them incorrectly. The new members are the ongoing lifeblood of the forum.

Edited by Northernpower, 05 November 2017 - 10:28 AM.

[[email protected]]

THE ANORAK is absolutely right - I should not have speculated on the Tahiti model as I have not personal experience or knowledge of that particular model.

So no worries, I'm not discouraged, and I do apologise for the incorrect answer about the particular Tahiti model.

In my defense, I saw that no one else had even tried to answer his questions and so I tried to, caveating upfront "here are the best answers I can give" and including "...might have been offered..." so that when someone else searches for help for their current issues - like me - might see some answers as opposed to an unanswered post (remember the original post is 7 years old and the original poster had likely solved his issues). It's always disheartening to find a post with your exact issue and no answers posted to it.

I'll edit my posts to clarify my lack of specific knowledge for anyone who might come along afterward now.


Now you seem to know the models inside and out THE ANORAK... Is there a place on the web where one might be able to look up the Tahiti and see that it only came with fixed quarter lights? If so please post it. (Thanks in advance).

I'd also welcome your suggestions on any other thoughts on other possible next steps to finally solve the remaining drip leak on my passenger side quarter light (the reason I was searching this site in the first place!).

Thanks!

PS I've read - and not contributed to tens of posts on this site because I had no personal experience with that particular component on my Mini. I've only ever posted against topics where I thought that I might get help or could provide help based on my personal experience. I made the mistake this time of commenting on the Tahiti model, which I have no experience on and I want to apologise to the community for that. I will stay within my realm of experience only going forward.

Edited by [email protected], 05 November 2017 - 01:29 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

you want to look at a Tahiti... google

 

you want to stop the window leaking... fit fixed windows

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the google suggestion THE ANORAK, 'Tahiti mini limited' turned up this seemingly useful page for researching specifications...

https://en.m.wikiped...imited_editions

It doesn't actually say that the Tahiti has fixed quarter light windows, but it does list the other models that you named which do, and it denotes: "opening rear quarter windows" or some variation thereof for each of those, suggesting that any model that does not say "opening rear quarter windows" on this Wikipedia page would instead be of the fixed type, like the Tahiti.

I wonder if this page was available seven years ago when the OP was trying to figure this out...?


Interestingly, there were two models listed on that page that appear to miscategorized according to the 'based on the sprite model model it would have come with factory fitted FIXED windows' comment that you posted.

I'm hoping we can trust these posted brochures for correctness:

http://www.roblightb...x-brochure.html

http://www.roblightb...pe1509933622900

And if so, then the Mini 35 & Mini Equinox may be incorrectly classified in the Wikipedia page as "Based on: Mini Sprite" because both appear to be correctly listed to have "Opening rear...windows".

I'll leave that little mystery for someone more familiar with the "based on" information to confirm that the Wikipedia page has it wrong based on your post.


Anyway, thanks also for the suggestion of replacing my opening windows with the fixed type as a way to solve my leak.

Unfortunately as I live in NYC our Summers get quite hot and having the ability to open those windows makes a big difference in cabin temperature, so that's one solution I am less inclined to pursue.



So in other words, I'd still welcome suggestions from others on possible next steps (other than converting to fixed windows, of course) to finally solve the remaining drip leak on my OPENING passenger side quarter light.

(The other side doesn't leak so I feel that I should somehow be able to make this one watertight too without resorting to swapping it out to a fixed type)

[skoughi]

Trying to chase leaks can be an utter pain, being methodical I think is the best approach. I seem to gather that you've replaced the rubber seal that holds the glass into the metal surround? If not then check this. Also I gather that the window itself was sitting a bit on the low side as you said it scrapes the body when closed? Try to get the window in the center of the aperture by any means that doesn't result in something getting broken! Did you check or replace the rubber seal? There's so much text I can't remember! Any cracks or damage to this will probably result in a leak. Also check that the window is having an even pressure on the rubber seal, by that I mean is it "in or out" at the top when closed. Then finally check the metal seam that the rubber seal fits onto is an even distance from the window when it's in the closed position and hasn't been bent out of shape. If none of that helps then fit fixed ones!

[THE ANORAK]

Of all the minis I've had, all the ones with opening rear windows had rot in the rear bins. The ones with fixed did not.!!

As for the based on... who knows, but opening rear windows are easy to spot because of the chrome trim.

It would be interesting to see if these " based on sprite" models with opening rear windows have two clocks or three, meaning rev counter or not. If they have two clocks then they are based on the sprite or city and the windows have been fitted as a model specific upgrade. NOT as a factory option.

[[email protected]]

I think you are onto something with your suggestion to check the metal seam for trueness skoughi, as I've already worked through each of the other steps you've suggested and each has improved the water-tightness as I've implemented them - heck, there was a time I couldn't even wash the car without getting water in there.

 

I really appreciate you for taking the time to list them all!

 

I'll post again once I've devised a way to measure the distance in a manner that might pinpoint the looser (and hopefully leakier) spot.

 

Thanks again for the thoughtful, step by step suggestions!

[[email protected]]

That makes sense THE ANORAK, hence your very sensible recommendation to switch to fitted.

 

Unfortunately I'm certain the wife would let me take the Mini out even less often in the Summer when she's traveling with me if it didn't have the opening windows (she was a little flabbergasted when I told her I bought it and it did not have air conditioning!)

 

Just out of curiosity I'll see what I can dig up about the clocks (I realize now after a bit more reading that there really wasn't much of a "factory option" process for Minis, it was more like "this is what we're selling now" as you point out when you say "model specific upgrade").

 

Learning more all the time because of folks like you taking the time to share and mentor!

 

Appreciate your help and quick replies.

Edited by [email protected], 06 November 2017 - 01:44 PM.

[[email protected]]

Hey all!  A couple of additional google searches dug up this Keith Mainland "Classic Mini Specials and Moke" resource here which says about the Mini 35 and the Equinox: "...with two-dial instruments...".

 

If it is a trustworthy source, then kudos to THE ANORAK's more recent post that said "If they have two clocks then they are based on the sprite or city and the windows have been fitted as a model specific upgrade. NOT as a factory option." because it proves that not only did the Wikipedia post probably get the "Based on: Mini Sprite" part right for both of these models, but it also proves that unlike the Tahiti, there were some rather obscure models that could be had from the factory with the "upgraded" opening quarter lights (if you consider rust in the rear bins an upgrade! :-( 

Edited by [email protected], 06 November 2017 - 11:07 PM.

[[email protected]]

I've just re-read skoughi's post and realized there was one thing I had not yet done because I didn't catch the nuance in his question/suggestion: [have you] 'replaced the rubber seal that holds the glass into the metal surround? If not then check this'.
 
I didn't realize this wasn't just one, non-user serviceable piece.

After I check the body for trueness I'll look into that next!

Edited by [email protected], 07 November 2017 - 02:37 PM.

[Johnmar]

if your going to offer answers to questions i would suggest you get the answers correct first

 

the tahiti was a limited edition and had a fixed spec. being based on the sprite model it would have come with factory fitted FIXED windows... no option for opening ones !!! if you wanted opening ones you would have to buy a cooper, a mayfair or a mayfair based limited edition.

Just a side note: This might be different for NON UK- minis:

Our mini Tahiti 93 SPI (LHD) was from factory delivered with opening rear quarter lights. Perhaps because it was a made for the continent, but is definitely has opening rear quarter lights. Thats how my girlfriend received it from the Rover dealer when she ordered it new.
The same was the case for her '93 Tropic (limited edititon, like the Polynesian) that she flipped on the roof while driving (within 500km from new)  resulting a ordering the mini tahiti.

Edited by Johnmar, 05 December 2020 - 11:51 AM.