[A13EX F Cooper S]

Hi guys I had my mcs in for a bit of work the other day and got given a 06 plate cooper fited with the retrofit start button.

dont get one they're crap!
1) you have to mess about with the ignition onto position 2 before pressing start which you will forget to do every time.

2) it also didnt last very long before ****ing the car up....
the car had 2000 miles on the clock i lifted the steering column up a little and a bit of smoke came from behind the rev counter and at the same time all thie ignition died and therefore nothing worked on the car hadnt blown a fuse as far as i could see so mini assistance had to come out to recover my courtesy car

[Paul]

Surely 1) is just how they work. If you forget to turn the key.. well? And has 2) been confirmed as a problem with the push button start?

[minicabrio]

Absoloutely Paul...

You have to turn the key before you push the button. Its the same as any other BMW starter button in that the key must be in place, you have to dip the clutch then press the button.

Smoke from behind the rev counter? There's a lot of electrics in there that could have shorted out. The starter button may not have been to blame!! Also, the bulk of the button is behind the dashboard fascia, so if it was the button smoking its unlikely you would have seen it.

[A13EX F Cooper S]

just seems a bit of a coincidence for a car with that fitted to go wrong, it was a 50a fuse that blew behind the dash.

but personally i feel the button is a waste of time unlike in the one series etc the key just plugs in and the button starts and stops but the mini is just useless you might aswel turn the key one extra position to start the car.

[JG.26]

I've never really seen the point of a stop start button, seems a complete waste of time if you have to insert the key in the ignition anyways.

I have to admit I do like the keyless entry on my Suzuki Swift, you have a normal transponder with integrated key for emergencies. So long as you have the transponder in your pocket then you just walk upto the car press a little button on the door handle for unlocking, great in the rain and saves fumbling with the key and then you start the car with a twist barrel on the steering column. The car locks itself when you leave it, although you can lock it manually. Seems better in my mind than the start/stop button as you don't have to get your keys out

[Shorty]

I've had mine fitted for 2-3 months now without any problems...

But I have to agree, it's a bit of a waste of time

[mikeythemini]

Sounds like the wires have been run in badly - & been trapped by the column brackets