Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Adjusting Hood (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works)
The battery ground lead must be disconnected on vehicles with active pedestrian protection!
Read contents of BODY, GENERAL .
The GAP DIMENSIONS specified serve as the basis for the adjustment work.
Make unpainted surfaces visible by also shifting the hinges. Touch these up in the appropriate color.
Do not damage adjoining body parts.
Necessary preliminary work
- Remove left WINDSHIELD PANEL COVER .
- If fitted: Remove the ACTUATOR .
- Check the correct installation of the cable for hood lock. Refer to REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING CABLE FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOCK, FRONT (IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT) or REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING CABLE FOR FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOCKS (IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT) before starting the adjustment work.
The stop screws must not be damaged or missing, replace engine compartment lid hinge if necessary.
The stop screws are preset and must not be used to adjust the engine compartment lid!
Slacken nuts (1) on left and right.
Engine compartment lid must still just be able to be shifted. Adjust engine compartment lid laterally and in longitudinal direction.
Tighten the nuts after adjusting the engine compartment lid.
Tightening torque 41 61 1AZ .
If the adjustment range is not sufficient, release screws of engine compartment lid hinge on body and shift hinge in longitudinal direction.
Height adjustment at hinge:
Slacken screws (1) and adjust hinge.
Tightening torque 41 61 2AZ .
Remove stop pad (1) at the hood (2).
Stop pad (1) is no longer needed.
Height adjustment at strikers:
Unclip the anti-twist lock (1) and remove.
Adjust the height of the engine compartment lid by turning the striker (2) towards the front panel.
Height adjustment of engine hood/hood to side panel by means of stop buffers. Refer to ADJUSTING/REPLACING BUMP STOPS or ADJUSTING/REPLACING BUMP STOPS .
Incorrect adjustment results in either flutter of the hood or sluggish unlocking.
After the adjustment
- After adjusting the engine compartment lid, check gap dimension between headlights. Refer to 63 12 009 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING RIGHT HEADLIGHT or 63 12 140 REMOVING AND INSTALLING (REPLACING) LEFT HEADLIGHT - LED TECHNOLOGY - or 63 12 143 REMOVING AND INSTALLING (REPLACING) RIGHT HEADLIGHT - LED TECHNOLOGY - and engine compartment lid and adjust if necessary.
- Tighten all screws and nuts to specified torque.
- Touch up unpainted surfaces in the appropriate color.
- If necessary, adjust side panels.
- If fitted: Install ACTUATOR .
- Install left WINDSHIELD PANEL COVER .
- Connect battery ground lead.
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.