[gazxxxx]

i parked my mcs on my girlfriends drive last night and after about 5 mins i heard a car alarm which sounded very similar to mine, when i looked out the window, my car had rolled into my girlfriends garage!

Has anybody else had any problems with their handbrakes failing? and yes, i know, i should leave it in gear!

[KenL]

As the brakes cool they contract, this reduces the amount of grip the pads have on the discs.

This has been reported on earlier version MINIs as well as many other cars.

This is why it tells you to leave it in gear in the manual

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

This has been reported on earlier version MINIs as well as many other cars.

That it has, as I found out to my cost when I had to have a 3 day old Mondeo ST220 dragged out of the ditch at the bottom of my mum's drive a few years back...

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

This is why it tells you to leave it in gear in the manual

...which is why I always check I've left the car in gear now!

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Mondeo ST220

Off topic, but that is a good car.

One of my pals has had a few Mondeos - always been impressed by them.

[caesar]

The following precautions apply to all cars that have rear disk brakes: -

a) Always leave the car in gear
b) When applying the handbrake first press the foot brake hard then apply the handbrake
c) By doing the above you will avoid stretching the handbrake cable
d) This is especially important if the brakes are hot, when they cool the brake pads will have less grip on the disk, and car could move.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

caesar,

You can add to the list; on a steep hill, it's worth turning the steering into the curb before locking the steering.

Incidentally, I first had this problem on a Citroen XM. Its handbrake worked on the front discs (that's Citroen for you ) and the problem was even worse as the front discs can get much hotter than the back ones and have an even greater potential for contracting as they cool

Tigger.

[Lordy]

yep me to , it happened last december, read the manual they say it has to be left in gear,

[KIM FURNESS]

I have the new model Mini One, bought in April 2007. On 28th December I parked it in a car park, which was on a bit of a slope. When I returned to the car, firstly I thought it had been stolen and then saw it planted in a wall at the back of the car park, approx. 1 foot from a new Porsche!!!! I have 2 witnesses who will vouch for me that the handbrake was on.

I took it back to Stratstone Mini in Harrogate, who didn't question me, they just took it away. They told me they had checked the handbrake and there is nothing wrong with it, but they had squared up the belly plate. They said they needed to do the body work and replace the rear bumper. I have asked for a quote, but feel that it is their problem. I have done nothing wrong.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Did the dealership cover the cost of the body repair work?

Kim

[Lawrothegreat]

I don't think you have any come back on a manufacturer if you haven't left a car in gear. Sorry to sound harsh. Handbrakes shouldn't be 100% relied on as components can and do fail - and a rolling car is dangerous. If pointing up a hill, leave the car in a forward gear such as 1st, and if pointing down hill leave it in reverse. As Tigger says if its really steep turn the wheels in towards a kerb. Good luck with repairs though.

[DaFlake]

These are the first instances of this happening to the new models that I have seen.

Yes, you should have left it in gear (no need to preach) and as others have pointed out, you are going to have a small battle to get MINI to cover it as it really isn't their fault.

That being said, I wouldn't get angry with them. Work with them and see if they might be a little generous and help you out on the cost. Otherwise, it might be worth going to a independent to get it repaired. Dealers charge way to much for body work....

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

Dealers charge way to much for body work....

That's true, however having the car repaired by a bodyshop rather than a dealer may void the cars anti-corrosion warranty - not sure on that but worth checking

[jords]

Definitely leave em in gear. I just parked up today, nose pointing downhill, with nothing but a flimsy looking wooden barrier between my car and a very steep drop, and applied the handbrake. Luckily I also left it in gear, as when I returned to the car 1/2 hour later and got in and pressed the clutch to start it (handbrake still applied), it began to roll forward. Had I not left it in gear, I suspect it may have returned to find it at the bottom of a rather steep hill

I will ALWAYS leave in gear from now on.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

That's true, however having the car repaired by a bodyshop rather than a dealer may void the cars anti-corrosion warranty - not sure on that but worth checking

Good point... In the USA we don't really worry about things like that but if in your area they are that strict, then best to look into it.

[TheBigNewt]

Kim: You mean you authorized bodywork by the dealer and didn't happen to ask them who's going to pay for it? Assuming they will pay for what amounts to an unwitnessed parking lot collision is probably assuming a lot IMO. I'd guess they would tell you to file an insurance claim.

[KIM FURNESS]

No, I still haven't had it repaired. I have had an independent brake check carried out at the request of the Mini garage. Didn't expect it to show anything, as it took 6 months for this one failure to happen. The brakes are fine according to the test. Stratstone Mini have had the car in again last week to carry out more handbrake tests and said everything is working efficiently.

As you say, I should have left it in gear, although I was taught by BSM, a large driving instructing company in the UK, to leave the car in neutral when parked. (I passed my driving test in November 2007.)

Obviously, I have now learnt my lesson and will always park in gear with wheels into the curb and have instructed my friends who have the new Mini.

I will now give in and go and get it repaired. I don't want to claim through insurance, as it is my first year and the premium was £2500 without ever having had a claim!!!!!

[DaFlake]

Dang Kim, that is horrible. The MINI is not the only car prone to losing grip so I do advise that you do this on all cars. Anyway, thanks for keeping us posted and I hope you get your baby repaired soon.

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by KIM FURNESS (original)

No, I still haven't had it repaired. I have had an independent brake check carried out at the request of the Mini garage. Didn't expect it to show anything, as it took 6 months for this one failure to happen. The brakes are fine according to the test. Stratstone Mini have had the car in again last week to carry out more handbrake tests and said everything is working efficiently.

As you say, I should have left it in gear, although I was taught by BSM, a large driving instructing company in the UK, to leave the car in neutral when parked. (I passed my driving test in November 2007.)

Obviously, I have now learnt my lesson and will always park in gear with wheels into the curb and have instructed my friends who have the new Mini.

I will now give in and go and get it repaired. I don't want to claim through insurance, as it is my first year and the premium was £2500 without ever having had a claim!!!!!

Any vehicle that has rear disk brakes including the Mini has to be careful. If the handbrake is applied when the disk's are warm/hot and they cool down, then the disks contract and the brake will partially release.

To overcome this potential problem you should do the following: -

a) Before applying the handbrake press the footbrake hard down, then with your foot still on the pedal apply the handbrake.

b) Engage 1st gear or reverse depending on which way the car is facing.
c) Turn the steering wheel angle so that the front wheels will touch the curb if it rolls back or forward.

[grodenglaive]

Quote: Originally Posted by KIM FURNESS (original)

As you say, I should have left it in gear, although I was taught by BSM, a large driving instructing company in the UK, to leave the car in neutral when parked. (I passed my driving test in November 2007.)

That's driving schools for you, you never know who you might get. This was in the papers a couple weeks ago: they did some statistics in Ontario and found that accident rates among new drivers were actually higher for those that took drivers ed.!

[femstar]

Quote: Originally Posted by KIM FURNESS (original)

I have the new model Mini One, bought in April 2007. On 28th December I parked it in a car park, which was on a bit of a slope. When I returned to the car, firstly I thought it had been stolen and then saw it planted in a wall at the back of the car park, approx. 1 foot from a new Porsche!!!! I have 2 witnesses who will vouch for me that the handbrake was on.

I took it back to Stratstone Mini in Harrogate, who didn't question me, they just took it away. They told me they had checked the handbrake and there is nothing wrong with it, but they had squared up the belly plate. They said they needed to do the body work and replace the rear bumper. I have asked for a quote, but feel that it is their problem. I have done nothing wrong.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Did the dealership cover the cost of the body repair work?

Kim

Kim keep pressing on with your claim, I had the same problem with a MINI rolling backwards down a small slope and damaging a door. A rude BMW engineer looked over it and said the same nothing wrong with hand brake and I should have left car in gear. Anyway I rang MINI UK and sent a letter stating the ramifications of a child being behind the car or any other person for that matter. 2 weeks later my claim had been escalated the a priority and MINI agreed to perform all the work as a "gesture of godwill" and "brand loyalty". So a little perseverance may pay off.

[T8MS_X]

I've noticed the handbrake on my cooper s can be quite weak if parked on a hill. For instance i'll apply it normally and the car will still be rolling slightly. Not good.

Took the car in for some warranty work today and asked them to take a look at it, but because it's an alteration and not covered under warranty, I would be charged for it. I politely told them that I would by no means be handing over any monies for something that should most certainly be working fine on a one year old car.