Window Freezing

Subbies also have frameless doors, believing that it is better (safer) to incorporate that material into the rest of the body structure. At the time I owned one, I lived somewhere with not-infrequent ice storms, yet never had a problem.

Now OTOH, the passenger side window of my current car (which has frames) doesn't want to roll down when it is cold, due to the glass sticking to the seal...

 

Even after I scrape the ice off the bottom of my side windows, they frequently fail to drop when I open the door. I can hear them trying, which is distressing. It gets cold in Germany, so I must assume BMW/MINI anticipated this problem and it won't cause window-motor-burnout.

 

My Beetle convertible had frameless doors and this product was recommended by VW and it worked.

 

The presenter begins by saying if your MINI's side window doesn't drop but you manage to get the door open and then you close it while it's still stuck in the fully raised position you might break the window. I can't understand how a product that lubricates the window seal can help a window that remains stuck in the fully raised position after the door is open, when the window is no longer in contact with the seal.

 

It's a preventative measure. Just like getting a colonoscopy. Do something to prevent future death.

 

Interesting product, certainly worth a look. I've always used a thin smear of petroleum jelly on all my Mini's, which has worked well, though admittedly, only as far as -1 or -2 degrees go. I seize up at those temperatures, so if it was -20 or more... it would be, stuff the car... hibernate!

 

I use a silicone lubricant on my door seals and boot seal to prevent freezing. I’ve had a few cars with frameless windows and the silicone lubricant has always worked well. I’m currently using the WD-40 version of silicone lubricant and seems to be working well so far. I put a sealing strip around my charging port door as there always seemed to be a lot of water in there after rain. A user on the MiniF56 forum did it on his car so I thought I’d try it too. I coated it liberally in silicone lubricant after it was installed so that it wouldn’t freeze shut, and after heavy rain, snow and freezing temperatures here over the past week, there was not a drop of water inside the charging port.

 

I'll look into this. I admit my Mini is garaged and hasn't had issues. I'm never out long enough to get full freeze overs when I'm not garaged.