[Ginger]

My MINI One (April 02 build) is being recalled for the for the much talked about hand brake problem. Now I don't have a problem with the recall itself (although it's a bit a pain!), but the lack of information from the dealer.

I had to call the supplying dealer to see if my car was affected, it was, but there has been no correspondance from them.

So if you've not heard anything, can I suggest you call your dealer to see if your car is affected.

Has anybody else had similar problems with this recall?

[MiniMan7]

My Mini has not been recalled for the handbrake... and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't. I might call my dealer just to double check.
Is this recall only on RHD cars?

[billyboy]

Only found out about the handbrake recall when I booked it in to fix the drivers seat. Also had the bonnet insulation replaced! Why? I don't know.
I guess if the problem isnt serious then the dealers will let you know at time of servicing etc.

[Rob.]

I haven't received any recall letters and I have had to approach the dealers myself to get things done. If I wasn't pro-active and made the service appointments I still wouldn't have had any of the 'quality enhancements'.
MINI UK tell me the handbrake is a 'recall' and dealers are advised to send out letters asap. I still have nothing from the dealer. It would be interesting to see what would happen if one of the un-recalled cars rolled away and damaged something or someone. Why no letters MINI UK?

[Kinster]

I had it done last year when I checked it in for other faults

[billyboy]

I never trust the handbrake on any car, always leave it in gear, just in case!

[R1]

Mine was done when at the dealers having the lights and stripes fitted. No recall note though.

I didn't know anything about it before hand, I just noticed it on the worksheet!

[cooper4us]

The recall only applies to MINIs sold in RHD markets.

[DJC]

Hello, my Cooper january 2002 build has now been in twice for the handbrake. Once it just rolled down my drive, lucky not to hit anything, and had a recall letter last month, and the work was down on monday. Seems they also replaced the bonnet insulation and a BC1 module. Fingers crossed that it will not have to go back again !! Good luck.

[Minty]

i got a phone call for this recall, and booked in ASAP. there should be a vehicle enhancement too, this is the sound mat under the bonnet.

S

[MiniMan7]

I would hate for my car to roll down the driveway!

[AidenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by R1
Mine was done when at the dealers having the lights and stripes fitted. No recall note though.

I didn't know anything about it before hand, I just noticed it on the worksheet!

Same here, had it done today when car was in to have drooping lights sorted !

[Nonraps]

I've not received anything from my dealer - which doesn't really suprise me ! Does anyone know what age of car these recalls effect ?? Mine's a Nov 02 build.

Cheers

[KenL]

It's been mentioned on MINI2 before. Don't know the exact date but I remember thinking mine was OK and it's a July 02 build.

[cheekygrin]

this really ****es me off that MINI owners are, all too often, notified about recalls.

Mine had/has to go in for the gearbox and handbrake recalls and i had to contact the dealer to find out if i needed to go in both times.

Just rang this afternoon to see if i need to bring it in for anything and was told to come in for the handbrake recall. Booked in for next week now.

not good enough if you ask me. they know our cars and where we live.

sheesh

[retroom]

Quote:

Originally posted by billyboy
I never trust the handbrake on any car, always leave it in gear, just in case!

Make sure the handbrake and not the transmission is carrying the load of the car when it's parked.
It's not good for the transmission to carry the static weight of the car.

I wouldn't leave the manual transmission in gear when you parallel park because if someone bumps into your car and your tranny is in gear it could chip a tooth.

retroom

[KenL]

I thought the clutch would protect the gearbox

In the UK we use our handbrakes religiously but that's not the case in the US. Is that because it's OK to leave an auto car in "park" without the handbrake?

[retroom]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
I thought the clutch would protect the gearbox

In the UK we use our handbrakes religiously but that's not the case in the US. Is that because it's OK to leave an auto car in "park" without the handbrake?

The clutch is there to help you change gears it doesn't protect anything. If you leave it in gear when parked the clutch is engaged so the force of any blow will transmit through the drivetrain.

People in the US who don't use the parking brake don't know any better! I caught my wife doing it, with both a manual and automatic tranmission, I asked her to use the parking brake all the time.

Also a good rule of thumb, with an automatic transmission, is to set the parking brake first before putting the transmission into "Park".

retroom

[ricardo]

Quote:

Originally posted by billyboy
Only found out about the handbrake recall when I booked it in to fix the drivers seat. Also had the bonnet insulation replaced! Why? I don't know.
I guess if the problem isnt serious then the dealers will let you know at time of servicing etc.

Booked mine in for other work last week and was told that it also needed 3 lots of "recall" work. The dealership said that the selling dealer should have written to me to tell me about the need to have the work done. This seems a bit strange to me. Surely it's a bit lax to leave important recall notifications in the hands of the dealers? I'd have expected a centralised mailing from MINI UK.

[Simon Jackson]

My Mums Cooepr went back last week for Airbag light to be reset. Nothing mentioned on the Job sheet about Recalls, enquired why, and told it prints out automatically with them on there! Hmmm, I said, can you double check? Came back with the latest two on there! My S goes in Next Tuesday for the Handbrake recall.