Another handbrake failure but this time with a £1000 worth of damage

[matt.morrow]

I was sitting in my local Burger King, when I watched a little yellow Mini One roll down the hill all alone, cross the lane of traffic and crash into the Halifax window. Only to be joined a few minutes later by it's very upset owner!

The car then turned out to be owned by a guy in my class.

I believe it was the same fault as mentioned caused this.

[diverse]

How many is that now?

[diverse]

I just been emailed the independant engineers report, last line of it reads.

"It is our consider opinion that the problem is due to a design flaw and not down to driver negligence."

[m1les]

I have just asked a freind about the adjustments on the parking brake for the MINI, 1st click - no action, 2nd Click - light comes on and the car should be held in position, 4th click - a force of 700-1200NM should be exerted on the brake. 7 clicks and re-adjustment required.

No mention of heating or adjusting when the breaks are cold.

Out of interest, I believe that there is a recall on the new Mondeo for exactly the same reason where the parking brake is not holding. Hope it helps.

[diverse]

my dealer has been curiosly silent!

glad to be exchanging cars tommorow, unless dealer breaches our contract that is!

[diverse]

At last, BMW have agreed to cover damage to dealers car and are taking mine back!

Dealer haven't done plate TFR, need to get cover note biked from London (and i'm not paying for that!) but we will now be geting our S 2morrow!

[Jazzy Jase]

There does seem to be a problem with the handbrakes on MINI's.

I parked on my driveway this evening, got out to open the garage door and the car started rolling down the hill.

I was nearly knocked over by the open door and I had to dive inside the car and pull the handbrake further up.

When I park I always leave the car in gear, and I will now always make sure the handbrake is pulled very tight.

[DJC]

Just to let you all know that i came home tonight and my Mini rolled down the drive. My wife found the car in the road ! My other car is a 10 year old Nissan Primera with discs all round and that has never rolled off the drive. The recovery man has just looked at it and found nothing. This does not fill me with confidence at all. Will ring dealer in the morning and see what they say.

[Big]

I'm sorry for your misfortune and for your auto. Hate to change the subject mid-thread, but where did you get the wheels from?


Dealer option or aftermarket?

Hope you get back to motoring soon.

[Coati1]

Quote:

Originally posted by diverse
Even the after sales manager asked me if i knew that when disc brakes cooled they contracted, i said i did now, and i have checked and double checked, there is nothing in the handbrake section of the handbook that tells you to overapply the handbrake to compensate disc cooling!

On a lot of cars, my WRX included, the handbrake doesn't actuate the rear discs at all, instead it uses small drum brakes inboard of the rotors.
Is the MINI different? The person who told you this theory is a sales manager, not a service technician, right? He may not even understand how the brakes work...

[diverse]

They found nothing wrong with mine (mini assist) anyone wants to use me as a reference to help u guys in any way i can, here are the details:

Mini Cooper
D2ONE
The supplying dealer refused to take or look at car becuase of a conflict of interests, they were Whitehouse, Keston/Hayes (Kent)
I got an independant report from company on:

http://guideto.iaea.org.uk/

It cost £75 plus VAT, there is an issue with these cars and don't be fobbed off!

BMW are paying for repair to dealers car and my car (which goes back under rejection 2morrow!!!)

I am not happy with the service i got from the supplying dealer, but they will PAY for that!