MINI Convertibles - how many hours top down in yours?
Discussion
Having owned convertibles for over 30 years, I chose the Convertible Pack for my daily driver R57 Cooper SD as heated seats & a wind deflector really make it comfortable to drop the top all year round - the Openometer came along free in the pack, which is just as well as I wouldn't have wasted any money on it otherwise. One of the least useful instruments you could have using up space next to the rev counter, imho.
Getting on for 3 years later, while out for a sunny Christmas Day drive today, I noticed that the Openometer screen in the trip computer says I've driven with the roof down for approaching 700 hours in total so far.
Now, whenever I reset my average speed in the trip computer, within a week or so it's back up or down to its usual 46 mph average - one of the benefits of living out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mostly empty roads for the commute - so that means I've driven approx. 32,000 miles with its top down, so far.
So, anyone else got an Openometer, and how many hours in total does it say you've done with the top down in yours?
Also, has anyone else with a MINI convertible on here had your roof wear itself out yet, rubbing itself together while folded down on top of the boot?
I'm on my second roof after the first was replaced under warranty for premature wear, and then the second one similarly began wearing through the outer layer where it also rubs itself together while down.
So I've added some small areas of additional sacrificial material (stick on velcro loops) where this roof rubs together, and that's prevented the second roof from wearing itself out like the first one.
Surely MINI endurance tested the cars with the roof down, or am I one of only a few MINI convertible owners to have the roof wear itself out through having the top down often enough, while still in the warranty period...
Getting on for 3 years later, while out for a sunny Christmas Day drive today, I noticed that the Openometer screen in the trip computer says I've driven with the roof down for approaching 700 hours in total so far.
Now, whenever I reset my average speed in the trip computer, within a week or so it's back up or down to its usual 46 mph average - one of the benefits of living out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mostly empty roads for the commute - so that means I've driven approx. 32,000 miles with its top down, so far.
So, anyone else got an Openometer, and how many hours in total does it say you've done with the top down in yours?
Also, has anyone else with a MINI convertible on here had your roof wear itself out yet, rubbing itself together while folded down on top of the boot?
I'm on my second roof after the first was replaced under warranty for premature wear, and then the second one similarly began wearing through the outer layer where it also rubs itself together while down.
So I've added some small areas of additional sacrificial material (stick on velcro loops) where this roof rubs together, and that's prevented the second roof from wearing itself out like the first one.
Surely MINI endurance tested the cars with the roof down, or am I one of only a few MINI convertible owners to have the roof wear itself out through having the top down often enough, while still in the warranty period...
Interesting I used to a have an R57 Mini Cooper Covertible it was one of the launch cars an 09 plate & had a problem with the roof , one the straps on the folding frames ripped off the inside of the hood meaning the hood would not correctly seal when it was up. It was going to need a new roof ( skin ) according to Mini & Mini were not interested in helping towards the cost. I was very annoyed the car was only 4 years old & I really looked after the roof I even bought a Mini cover to protect it from the elements. I will never get an other convertible. I used to have the roof down a lot & I think on the openometer I had got it up to near 600hrs.
i think you are one of the few rag top owners who drives with the roof down.
I very rarely see a mini roof down, and wonder why they bother buying them. I have an MX5, and my roof is always down unless it's raining......and then if on a faster road leave it down if doing at least 50 as I don't get wet unless it's raining hard
I think (and I'm not having a dig) that they are bought by most with a view of having a convertible, but not bothering, so if there are rag top issues they rarely come up, and when they do out of warranty.
I read once i think that mercedes tested their SLK roof some 20,000 times non stop, changing the temp from very hot to cold to make sure it worked ok....that's quality testing
Like the rag down metre reading...didn't know they did that
I very rarely see a mini roof down, and wonder why they bother buying them. I have an MX5, and my roof is always down unless it's raining......and then if on a faster road leave it down if doing at least 50 as I don't get wet unless it's raining hard
I think (and I'm not having a dig) that they are bought by most with a view of having a convertible, but not bothering, so if there are rag top issues they rarely come up, and when they do out of warranty.
I read once i think that mercedes tested their SLK roof some 20,000 times non stop, changing the temp from very hot to cold to make sure it worked ok....that's quality testing
Like the rag down metre reading...didn't know they did that
Cleaned and re-waterproofed the roof for the winter.
1100 hrs top down now showing on the "openometer".
Some new areas of wear have begun to appear along the sides above the doors, and on the rear three quarters now.
Additional sacrificial stick-on velcro loop material successfully applied & working well
1100 hrs top down now showing on the "openometer".
Some new areas of wear have begun to appear along the sides above the doors, and on the rear three quarters now.
Additional sacrificial stick-on velcro loop material successfully applied & working well
Spunagain said:
Hi Miglia
That wear should not be there. Get it replaced while you still have a warranty.
Having shelled out a small fortune just the installation costs after 4 years, I really recommend they sort it now.
Good luck!
Too late for another replacement roof covering under warranty, as the MINI's almost 4 years old now. The sacrificial self adhesive Velcro loops are doing a great job of preventing the wear marks which develop where the canvas rubs together on itself while folded, evolving into holes though. That wear should not be there. Get it replaced while you still have a warranty.
Having shelled out a small fortune just the installation costs after 4 years, I really recommend they sort it now.
Good luck!
I'm expecting the roof cables to snap from the frequent lowering & raising the roof gets before I have to replace this second roof covering. Or maybe it's the lowering & raising the roof gets almost every journey, that's keeping its mechanism in good working order...
Petrol Ped said:
I know what you mean about the Openometer being a waste of space but I really love mine. I've clocked up just short of 84 hours in 14k miles in my JCW Roadster
Me too now. It just took me 700 hours in the MINI with the top down to appreciate my Openometer 
How is your Roadster roof faring so far? Any wear marks starting to appear where it folds onto itself yet?
As the roof is smaller / lighter, Roadsters might not rub on themselves as heavily as the larger 4-seater roofs do.
Anyone else with a MINI Convertible or MINI Roadster?
Honsta said:
Miglia888, were you the blue MCS convertible I saw driving down last year on the M20 towards Folkestone? During Le Mans weekend? It was hammering it down but you still had the roof down
I was in the GP going in the same direction.
Hon
The one and only... I was in the GP going in the same direction.
Hon
It was a pleasure to share some miles with you during our journey
How's your lovely GP going?
Miglia 888 said:
The one and only...
It was a pleasure to share some miles with you during our journey
How's your lovely GP going?
Fair play to you, despite the horrendous downpour, you both still had grins on your face It was a pleasure to share some miles with you during our journey
How's your lovely GP going?
The GP is doing great. It's currently put away now until the spring but no worries as I'm having a hoot in a Panda 100HP at the moment
I should be down at Le Mans this year (camping booked), so maybe I'll see you again on the M20.
I remember having a chat to you and you mentioned about a monthly supercar meet somewhere near you? Where was that again?
Miglia 888 said:
Me too now. It just took me 700 hours in the MINI with the top down to appreciate my Openometer
How is your Roadster roof faring so far? Any wear marks starting to appear where it folds onto itself yet?
As the roof is smaller / lighter, Roadsters might not rub on themselves as heavily as the larger 4-seater roofs do.
Anyone else with a MINI Convertible or MINI Roadster?
My roof is fine. Clearly a different design to the standard Mini Convertible. I would prefer it to be lined but in a way quite like the exposed metalwork.How is your Roadster roof faring so far? Any wear marks starting to appear where it folds onto itself yet?
As the roof is smaller / lighter, Roadsters might not rub on themselves as heavily as the larger 4-seater roofs do.
Anyone else with a MINI Convertible or MINI Roadster?
Honsta said:
Miglia 888 said:
The one and only...
It was a pleasure to share some miles with you during our journey
How's your lovely GP going?
Fair play to you, despite the horrendous downpour, you both still had grins on your face It was a pleasure to share some miles with you during our journey
How's your lovely GP going?
The GP is doing great. It's currently put away now until the spring but no worries as I'm having a hoot in a Panda 100HP at the moment
I should be down at Le Mans this year (camping booked), so maybe I'll see you again on the M20.
I remember having a chat to you and you mentioned about a monthly supercar meet somewhere near you? Where was that again?
We're doing the Le Mans Classic in July instead this year, so won't be there for the main event in June. Have a good one.
Missed the last local supercar meet myself, but there's an example photo from it below with a few of the cars there.
Next supercar meet isn't scheduled yet afaics - will probably return in the spring once the supercars emerge again.
Thread with location is here - keep checking for a new thread on the Herts Beds Bucks section, and bring your GP along - it would be most welcome
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Miglia 888 said:
As long as we keep the speed up we stay nice & dry through even the heaviest downpours - rain just goes over the top at speeds above 25 mph or so
We're doing the Le Mans Classic in July instead this year, so won't be there for the main event in June. Have a good one.
Missed the last local supercar meet myself, but there's an example photo from it below with a few of the cars there.
Next supercar meet isn't scheduled yet afaics - will probably return in the spring once the supercars emerge again.
Thread with location is here - keep checking for a new thread on the Herts Beds Bucks section, and bring your GP along - it would be most welcome
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Oh wow, that looks awesome.We're doing the Le Mans Classic in July instead this year, so won't be there for the main event in June. Have a good one.
Missed the last local supercar meet myself, but there's an example photo from it below with a few of the cars there.
Next supercar meet isn't scheduled yet afaics - will probably return in the spring once the supercars emerge again.
Thread with location is here - keep checking for a new thread on the Herts Beds Bucks section, and bring your GP along - it would be most welcome
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'll make a note for March/April time and hopefully they will start them up again.
My brother-in-law lives down the road, so I'll have to make him aware of this so he can bring his XKR-S out to play.
Forgot to update this back in June when I passed 1200 hours, however 1300 hours came up this weekend to remind me, so that's another 10,000+ more miles enjoyed with the top down since Dec 30th.
Running Michelin CrossClimates for this winter in place of the Yokohama AD08Rs I ran last winter, and impressed with how well they grip in the greasy cold & damp road surfaces we get for months on end around here.
Ride comfort is significantly up, mpg significantly up, noise levels down, and they grip well right from the off at all temperatures.
Much closer feel to a decent summer tyre than other winter tyres & all-season tyres I've run previously, they'd be fine all year round.
The AD08Rs will be going back on after Easter though, as they provde another level of grip again for road & track use once warmed up nicely.
Have also switched to the Herts Beds Bucks PH car meet a few miles away in St Neots.
Next meet thread for January 2017:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
November 2016 meet thread with photos here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Running Michelin CrossClimates for this winter in place of the Yokohama AD08Rs I ran last winter, and impressed with how well they grip in the greasy cold & damp road surfaces we get for months on end around here.
Ride comfort is significantly up, mpg significantly up, noise levels down, and they grip well right from the off at all temperatures.
Much closer feel to a decent summer tyre than other winter tyres & all-season tyres I've run previously, they'd be fine all year round.
The AD08Rs will be going back on after Easter though, as they provde another level of grip again for road & track use once warmed up nicely.
Have also switched to the Herts Beds Bucks PH car meet a few miles away in St Neots.
Next meet thread for January 2017:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
November 2016 meet thread with photos here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Miglia 888 on Saturday 24th December 22:06
Forgot to update this last year when 1400 hours came up.
1500 hours clocked up this week, so another 10,000+ miles enjoyed with the top down since the previous update.
Anyone else with an Openometer, what does yours read now?
Btw, BenTC has resurrected the monthly Supercar meet at the Maypole Farm (last Sunday in the month) just off the A421 near Bedford again.
A great variety of cars with everything from a new 991:2 911 GT3 RS, via an Audi R8 V10 Plus, to a lovely Escort Cosworth, and a 60s Fiat 500 which had just been put back on the road, last month: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Next meet thread for Sunday July 29th is here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The St Neots Riverside meet (2nd Sunday in the month) is also coming up again this weekend: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
1500 hours clocked up this week, so another 10,000+ miles enjoyed with the top down since the previous update.
Anyone else with an Openometer, what does yours read now?
Btw, BenTC has resurrected the monthly Supercar meet at the Maypole Farm (last Sunday in the month) just off the A421 near Bedford again.
A great variety of cars with everything from a new 991:2 911 GT3 RS, via an Audi R8 V10 Plus, to a lovely Escort Cosworth, and a 60s Fiat 500 which had just been put back on the road, last month: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Next meet thread for Sunday July 29th is here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The St Neots Riverside meet (2nd Sunday in the month) is also coming up again this weekend: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
1600 hours appeared on the Openometer screen in the trip computer this week, so that's over 73,000 miles enjoyed with the top down since new, so far...
The Openometer also makes it into this month's (December 2018) Car Magazine Top 10: Bizarre Optional Extras list, at number 10 on the list inside the back page:
1 - Lavazzo Espresso Machine
2 - Doggy Seatbelt
3 - Bioweapon Defence Mode
4 - Drone Racing Module
5 - Flexfix Bike Rack
6 - Hondavac
7 - Falconry by Mulliner
8 - Ferrari Passenger Display
9 - Designo Granite Trim
10 - Openometer - "A timer, available on your 2009 2nd generation Mini Convertible, to count how many hours you've been driving with the roof down. No, we're not kidding. Yes, it was an option people paid money for."
Did anyone actually pay extra for the Openometer as an individual standalone option, or was it included in your Winter Pack alongside the heated seats & wind deflector at no extra cost, like ours?
The Openometer also makes it into this month's (December 2018) Car Magazine Top 10: Bizarre Optional Extras list, at number 10 on the list inside the back page:
1 - Lavazzo Espresso Machine
2 - Doggy Seatbelt
3 - Bioweapon Defence Mode
4 - Drone Racing Module
5 - Flexfix Bike Rack
6 - Hondavac
7 - Falconry by Mulliner
8 - Ferrari Passenger Display
9 - Designo Granite Trim
10 - Openometer - "A timer, available on your 2009 2nd generation Mini Convertible, to count how many hours you've been driving with the roof down. No, we're not kidding. Yes, it was an option people paid money for."
Did anyone actually pay extra for the Openometer as an individual standalone option, or was it included in your Winter Pack alongside the heated seats & wind deflector at no extra cost, like ours?
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