[MiniCool]

would like to know if anyone with a 2003 model make has experienced hand brake failur as with the 2001 and 2001 models?

Regards

MiniCool

[KTC]

hi-
i may have experienced a hand brake failure tonight. i know you didn't get any replys to this thread here, but does anyone have any information on this, especially for 2003 build dates? all help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks!

[GirlyRacer]

I have a March 04 build, and my handbrake failed the other night.

The car rolled down the drive into the middle of a main road, narrowly missing two stone gateposts!!!

No harm done, but when the car goes into BMW tomorrow (to have the windscreen replaced under warranty) I'll be definately mentioning it!!!!!

[KTC]

Thanks very much for the link Max. Glad to hear your's turned out ok. Mine was not so lucky--rolled down a hill, over a lamp post, through a fence, took out a large bush, and went over a 5-6 ft. wall. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but I'll have to wait and see what the damage is, but the car looked very sad. I've found lots of helpful info tonight through your link. Thanks very much.

[MartynC]

My son parked our Mini 1 on a hill today, put the handbrake on, went into a shop and when he came out it had rolled backwards, down the hill, over a junction and into a lamp post. It is now in the garage being assessed. The police report confirms that the handbrake was fully on.
Is this a common problem?

What, apart from leaving in gear and pionting wheels in can be done about it.

Has Mini issued any statements on it?

[KTC]

Hi-
I had a similar problem with my Mini. I'm still trying to sort it out here in the states but a friend of mine in England said that someone he knows with a Mini had had it recalled because of the brake problem. You might want to check with your dealer to find out how they are handling these cases. Good luck!

[Burnout]

I had the same thing happen to me, my friend had driven my car. he parked it on a hill with the ebrake fully engauged, but he left the car out of gear. when I came outside the car hadd rolled down the hill a little ways fortunatly a small snow bank in the road stopped it just a few feet away from a brand new jag!

[etclarke]

i parked my two month old cooper-s on a friends driveway last night, with the handbrake fully on. Around 10 minutes later i heard the alarm going off, so dashed outside to find the front end of my car indented in the side of his house. Concerned i went straight to the local dealer today, who have checked the car over declaring nothing is wrong and told me to write to mini concerning the warranty cover for the damaged bumper. Has anybody spoken to mini about the cooling rear brakes??

[M3Sid]

Had the handbrake fail twice now ('Jan 03 One) even though on both occasions the car was parked in 1st gear - should it have rolled even in gear? Sorry, did try to search but couldn''t find anything but is there a service bulletin for this problem? Everyone get theirs fixed under warranty without dealer hassle? Thanks for any help.

[M3Sid]

Okay, local dealer wants £45+vat for half hour labour of adjusting handbrake. Can't believe it's not covered under warranty seen as enough people on here have mentioned it for BMW GB to accept this as a widespread problem.

Can I suggest people contact BMW GB about this problem rather than shutting up and putting up with it. Meanwhile, I'll have a look through the warranty booklet over the weekend and see why it would not be covered and chase it up iwth BMW GB on Monday. Keep you posted.

[M3Sid]

It seems the local dealer and BMW GB are refusing to cover this under warranty. Any lawyers out there who could help me deduce whether I have a claim seen as the warranty booklet is not clearly worded to say that it shouldn't be included. Thanks.

[Dave Delicious]

Mini Handbrake Failure


This is so annoying - the very same thing has happened to me. I parked the my 3 month old cooper on an incline and put the handbrake on 3 notches and the car was completelty stationary - came back 10mins later and it had rolled into a lamp post - 500 quids damage to rear panel.

The dealership and BMW Mini customer service says the handbrake is fine and I mustn't have applied it 'properly'. - They also say that I should have had it in 1st gear and said that even the handbook says this - They also say that they have no intention of paying for the damage.

The handbook says:

'the handbrake is primarily intended for preventing a stationary vehicle from rolling away....when parking on a slope apply the handbrake, because even engaging first or reverse gear may not prevent the vehicle reliabley from rolling away'

Unless I am blind, this caption says nothing about having to use both gear and the handbrake to secure the car.

What BMW Mini are essentially saying is that the handbrake will not do reliabley the job for which it was primarily intended: holding the car stationary.


I have heard that BBC Watchdog are interested to hear from anyone who has experienced this problem:

write to

BBC Watchdog,
201 Wood Lane,
London
W12 7TS

[scooperman_uk]

ive got the opposite. over excitable hand brake.

when driving i often find that the handbrake warning light is lit. Bumpy roads on a few occassion have flipped the handbrake up a few notches and engaged it. dealer is going to look at it.

as a force of habbit of owning old cars i always leave the car in gear...

[Widgey]

Dave Delicious,

My handbrake failed recently and my pride&joy rolled into a 4x4 after I parked on an incline with the handbrake applied. Damaged tailgate and all the aftermaket chrome trim I have added to the car ('02 build MINI 1, specced to Cooper std). BMW (UK) have agreed to fix all the damage. New tailgate + all the necessary trim items to return it to it's former glory will be fitted/painted/fixed next week. As I work for a BMW/MINI dealer hope I'm not getting different/preferential treatment to fix my car. "Regular" owners should get the same treatment. Component failure=repair. It's the bottom line! Anyone reading this thread should dig their heels in! Don't get fobbed off! Having said that, they'll probably fire me for being honest/upfront about handbrake issues on this thread!

The more we swap stories/info on this site, the better it is for MINI owners!