Handbrake failure on 2009 Mini Cooper

[CTMA71]

Hi,

I got my Mini Cooper Graphite on the 28th May 09. Absolutely love it, but on the 12th June, I left it parked on my driveway with the handbrake on, and 20 minutes later it had rolled down the road. Just had to pay £800 for the damage I didn't have the car in gear. I had a BMW 1 Series prior to this and never had this problem in 2 years. I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced this problem, or am I just unlucky!

I am still awaiting a reply from the dealer. I don't hold out much hope!

From now on I will leave it in gear but this doesn't alleviate a potential problem! It is dangerous.

Still love the car though!!!

[KenL]

Read the manual carefully. I think it might say you should also leave the car in gear.

This is a known issue with modern cars with all round disc brakes. It is possible for the discs to contract when they cool so the pads are not so tightly holding on.

No reason not to leave the R56 in gear as you cannot start it without your foot on the clutch anyway.

I hope you get your car sorted OK.

[CTMA71]

Thank you for your meassage...
I have read the manual, and it doesn't say anything about leaving the car in gear. It states that the 'Handbrake is primarily intended to prevent a stationary car from rolling away'.
The dealer told me that they had never known this on models post 2003. Call me negative, but I'm sure I am not the only one who has experienced this problem.

Caroline

[Lawrothegreat]

I do sympathise with you especially as it is a new car, but one should never leave a car in neutral on a slope relying on just the handbrake. Handbrakes do fail and more often than you would think. I automatically leave mine in gear even on the flat but on a hill leave it in first if pointing up the hill, and reverse if pointing down the hill. Unfortunately I very much doubt you'll retrieve any financial assistance from BMW/MINI for the repairs, but I hope it looks nice and new soon.

PS If it isn't in the manual, you should find it in the highway code. (goes and hides!)

[CTMA71]

Hi... Thanks for advice. I do leave it in gear now. But, for 2 years, I didn't have to with my previous car on my driveway. If handbrakes do fail, then why isn't this being addressed by the manufacturers?

I still think that a handbrake should hold on a slight incline. Why have one???

My car does look new once again, thanks to the £800 makeover...It's fab!!!!

[Jimuth]

Seen threads like this before - and since reading them generally keep my car in gear on most inclines.

As said above, you have to use the clutch to start the car, so there's no real reason not to do it.

It also does say it in the highway code, along with moving the wheel so the car doesn't roll out into traffic.

It becomes 2nd nature after a while.

[MINI Sales Man]

The MINI handbrake is fantastic, far better than the BMWs...I don't want to cause offence but I know why your car rolled. You have done what I have done before and not pulled the handbrake all the way up properly.

Sounds daft but I have noticed it before as well, we used to have to park our demonstrators on a slope and unless the handbrake was pulled up tight all the way they would gradually roll forwards so I have first hand experience of what you have suffered...I once found my demonstrator had rolled off the forecourt and about 1/3 of the way across the road!!!!!

I would bet 100% as long as the handbrake is pulled up all the way you wouldn't have to leave it in gear.

Gutted to hear that this has happened and that you are out of pocket but hopefully this will let other forum memebers aware of what happens

[DaFlake]

Yeah, it is great....

I have read and spoken with far too many folks for this to be a coincidence. My advice to you MINI Sales Man is to knock off the selling here on the forum. Far too many folks here have a technical background and you trumpeting the praises of MINI won't last long. We know where the shortcomings of the car are and most of us don't have a problem discussing them openly.

Caroline,

This is a common issue and sadly one that MINI will not step up to. The problem is exactly what is stated above. The disks contract when cooled thus releasing the car and allowing it to roll. Sadly, your drivers handbook (it has been quoted several times) requires you to leave your car in gear on a slope thus leaving a loophole for MINI to escape responsibility. You should do this for every manual car that you own as it provides a secondary means of safety.

I'm sorry to hear about your problem and good luck getting MINI to respond.

[CTMA71]

Thanks so much for your responses. I will definitely leave it in gear from now on. I don't want to have to pay out again for a new car!
I do not believe that on this occasion I am to blame for this problem. I can say with all honesty that the handbrake was fully on. I have always been very careful about this. The handbrake is not as good as my BMW. My BMW never rolled in 2 years.
I would not have complained to Mini had I thought for one moment it was human error. After 3 days, I still haven't heard from Mini, despite them saying they would contact me the day after my complaint. I will wait!!
Thanks once again for all your remarks and advice. This is my first Mini...and I love it despite this hiccup!!!
Cheers.
Caroline

[Angib]

Stretch in the handbrake cables can also cause this fault and that is the manufacturer's responsibility, so it is not at all clear that this fault can be blamed on you without further investigation. I reckon Mini need to pay, on balance of probabilities, if not customer goodwill.

Look on the bright side: years ago I had a brand new Panda run away in similar circumstances. Luckily the steering lock made it run in a curve and only split its rear bumper when it smashed into some paint drums - had it run straight back it would have gone straight over the unprotected edge of the shipyard's quay into a river.....

Andrew

[Josh01]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Sales Man (original)

The MINI handbrake is fantastic, far better than the BMWs...I don't want to cause offence but I know why your car rolled. You have done what I have done before and not pulled the handbrake all the way up properly.

Sounds daft but I have noticed it before as well, we used to have to park our demonstrators on a slope and unless the handbrake was pulled up tight all the way they would gradually roll forwards so I have first hand experience of what you have suffered...I once found my demonstrator had rolled off the forecourt and about 1/3 of the way across the road!!!!!

I would bet 100% as long as the handbrake is pulled up all the way you wouldn't have to leave it in gear.

Gutted to hear that this has happened and that you are out of pocket but hopefully this will let other forum memebers aware of what happens

I agree with Minisalesman on this one as I got a 57 plate ex demo only 2 months old. In the second month of owning it it happened to me, woke up in the morring to find mini restting against wifes mazda, luckly I was packed close behind the wifes mazda so no damage to mini. Since then I make sure I pull the hand break as well sa I can some times it feels up but I double check and now over a year later it's never happend again even on steep slopes (yes I still leave mine in netural.

It's always sad when one gets dammaged but hope its all fixed now.

[Paul]

Lots of reports of this over time, and always the advice is keep it in gear, but it is quite a common issue.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh01 (original)

(yes I still leave mine in netural.

I wouldn't with OEM brakes. You are asking for trouble. Besides, you handbook states you should leave it in gear.

[MINI Sales Man]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

Yeah, it is great....

I have read and spoken with far too many folks for this to be a coincidence. My advice to you MINI Sales Man is to knock off the selling here on the forum. Far too many folks here have a technical background and you trumpeting the praises of MINI won't last long. We know where the shortcomings of the car are and most of us don't have a problem discussing them openly.

Caroline,

This is a common issue and sadly one that MINI will not step up to. The problem is exactly what is stated above. The disks contract when cooled thus releasing the car and allowing it to roll. Sadly, your drivers handbook (it has been quoted several times) requires you to leave your car in gear on a slope thus leaving a loophole for MINI to escape responsibility. You should do this for every manual car that you own as it provides a secondary means of safety.

I'm sorry to hear about your problem and good luck getting MINI to respond.

Woah! Didn't exactly see where I have been trumpeting the praises of the MINI. I know they have more faults than I care to list. All I was saying was what I have expereinced myself and that they do have a fault with the handbrake...I was agreeing with the original thread and providing a solution to the problem.

With regards to loads of people on here having technical knowledge of the MINIs...so what? I am stating how to avoid it next time...no selling of anything on here..I never have and I never will.

My BMW/MINI handbrake comment may have been 'selling' but that is simply from first hand experience.

And I certainly don't have a problem discussing their shortfalls openly either

[MINI Sales Man]

Woops! Just re-read my first post and i didnt explain myself properly. Yep the handbrake is fantastic, its fantastic for handbrake turns which happens to pretty much every demo ran by every manufacturer all over the world...and in my experience the MINIs one is better for this then the BMWs.