Hi, "Check soft top" warning comes on whenever I start moving from standstill. Also roof does not operate at all - nothing! All hydraulic lines, electrical connections, microswitches, clamps, etc are in perfect condition. And interestingly, when I use the door switch to open the boot the display says "Finish soft top motion". Grateful for any suggestions!

If the top of your 2013 Mini Cooper Roadster is not retracting, there could be a few possible reasons why. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Check the hydraulic fluid level: The retractable roof on a Mini Cooper Roadster is powered by a hydraulic system that requires hydraulic fluid to function properly. Check the hydraulic fluid level in the reservoir located in the trunk of the vehicle. If the fluid level is low, refill it to the recommended level and try to retract the roof again.
2. Check the fuse: The roof system may have a dedicated fuse that could have blown, preventing the roof from retracting. Check the owner's manual or the fuse box to locate the fuse for the roof system and replace it if necessary.
3. Check for obstructions: If there are any obstructions or debris on the roof, it may prevent it from retracting properly. Inspect the roof and the tracks for any debris and remove it carefully.
4. Reset the roof system: If the roof system has become out of sync or is stuck, resetting the system may help. Refer to the owner's manual for instructions on how to reset the roof system.
5. Seek professional help: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, it may be a mechanical or electrical problem that requires professional help. Contact a certified mechanic or dealership for diagnosis and repair of the roof system.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you may be able to identify and resolve the issue with your Mini Cooper Roadster's retractable roof.

Find the two plastic caps sitting behind the sun visor on either side of the car. Gently prise them out, be careful as years of sun may have made them brittle. Behind the caps you should see a hexagonal head that the manual roof tool fits into (failing that use an allen key). Turning these hex heads will unlock the front soft top locks. (can't recall if it was clockwise or anti-clockwise, so be careful!). I found that you need to start one side, then unlock the other side, then come back to the first side and finish the job off. At this stage you should be able to lift the top up slightly to see it's no longer engaged in the front locks. Now move to the boot.

In the back of the boot you should see two small pieces of the trim that will lift out. These will be located on each side near the boot hinge mechanisms. Lift the trim peices out and you should see a lever (mine is made from cad plated something or other, ie it's a gold colour) and it will have red paint on it.

Fit the spanner/wrench end of the manual roof tool, or otherwise a 10mm open ended spanner, onto the small nut welded into the end of that red lever. I started on the left side(passenger side), levering gently down will unlock, and gently up will lock). You may need to alternate between each side, undoing a little and then swapping. NOTE: I found the levers won't budge unless the soft or hard top 'pins' are physically sitting in the lock holes. Don't force the levers as they should move quite easily.

Now that you have both the front and back locks undone, the last part is to unlock the tonneau or rear deck (soft top roof compartment). To do this you need the 10mm spanner/wrench again. You will find two hex heads tucked down in between the roll bar and the side of the interior trim (about 6-8 inches from the door frames), fit the spanner onto the head and turn until the tonneau cover releases. You should now be able to fold the soft top down by first raising the rear section of the soft top until the back lip is pointing to the sky, then lift the front section along with the rear section down into the compartment. I guess getting it back out is a reverse of the procedure above. Hoepfully I've got it all right as I've done it from memory.

Have you checked the fuse and the relay? If the system isn't getting power it could be triggering a fault and turning the roof off.

Sounds like you have blown a hydraulic hose that operates the top mechanism. You will probably need to find a local mechanic that is experienced with hydraulic operated tops or a dealership. But check you owners manual. Most manufacturers have a manual way of operating the top to allow you to secure it until repairs can be made.

Don't touch it! it's very converluted and even the experts have trouble.
sorry I can't help more. But half the car has to come apart.

I had the roof leak issue once and found Liquid roof
Watch Corporate Video to fix the leaks. It helped me hope it will help you also. Thanks

The system is operated by hydraulic pressure the pump you hear is the hydraulic pump running, but your fluid has leaked out due to a problem in the lines or the cylinders that lift the top, you have to tear it apart and find the leaking parts.

The control module has set a fault and it will have to be reset. They are sensitive to voltage & must have 12 volts to operate properly.
The windows and top will need to be resync. I cannot find any information regarding the diagnostic procedure for the roof .. it states there is a procedure to diagnose the fault with the number of flashes the switch makes .. a dealer may be your best option on this fault .. I hope this helps some.

in side the roof some hydraulic cylinders for operating your soft top now one cylinder leaking that's why oil leaking need to be replace new hydraulic cylinder is this information helped you?

Your softop is actuated via hydraulic rams that close latches and pull cables too move the soft top. It is a common failure. I'am assuming that it is the front latch ram's located above the windsheild.If not they are all very similar. If it is an easy one to remove or if you can see it closely-there will be a mercedes part number on the ram. it will start with a 129 prefix because your model is a 129. it will be followed by a 3 digit number and then a 4 digit. If you can read the nunber call a dealership or independent german garage and give them the number and they can order it for you. Your owner's manual should explain how operate your top manually and how to bleed your hydraulic system. I know from experience with these tops tha if you leave your key on and partially operate your roof to expose these rams it will self retract every 15 minutes so do not have your hands in the way and take your key out of the ignition because once you loose complete hydraullic pressure the roof will move. Good luck