[Ruby888]

Ive had my gorgeous mini cooper for just 3 weeks though its a 51 plate. It decided to take itsself on a mini adventure without me by sliding from the parking space I left it into a wall. Very upset I called the dealer who came and collected it, they say they can't find a fault and suggest I haven't put the hbrake on hard enough. It was still actually on and had to disengaged to drive it off the wall it had collided with. Has anyone out there have any similar tales to tell as I'm facing a pretty hefty bill and would value some anecdotal evidence to try and persuade the dealership that there is a fault. I should mention that the car stayed put for approx 15 minutes to my certain knowledge before . The dealer also tells me that the car was recalled for handbrake problems back in March 2003 but is not at liberty to give me any proof of any remedial work dome at the time, can they deny me this ?

[Capsaisin]

I would have thought all the info about your handbrake recall was on their BMW computer. If the dealer is evasive, my guess is the work wasn't done.
If you search mini2 you will find lots of reports of "mini adventures" due to handbrake letting go.
They are supposed to have fixed something on later cars, I think all the info you require is on mini2 somewhere.

[Ruby888]

Called BMW Mini as read all the info on the threads thought I had a case for them to answer. Spoke to a guy in Customer services who tells me that many of the stories on this site are not true as he claims that some repairs done by previous owners have used non BMW Mini spares therefore the damage caused is not always BMW Minis fault.

The guy also mentioned the cooling of the brakes causing the car to roll away he says it needs to be checked by a BMW Mini Technician (I thought the dealership had done this already in house and concluded no fault found). He is calling rydale to discuss.

My car is 5 years old but I bought it from a main dealer (Rydale Newport) 3 weeks ago, and thought I was getting a 'cherished mini' with a full BMW MINI service history.
Customer services seem to be saying that this means nothing if non conformist parts have been used, so I guess I have to wait and see. At the moment Ive no confidence at all that this won't happen again and maybe this time some one could get hurt.

[Capsaisin]

Well wait a minute, you haven't fitted any parts? You cannot be held responsible for anything that happened to the car before you bought it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The dealer/BMW warranted the car as seen. If he didn't check it out before sale that is their problem. That's why you have a Mini cherished warranty with it. If there were non-standard parts fitted and that would invalidate the Mini cherished warranty, then they should have replaced them before sale!!!
At the moment you are clearly being given the standard treatment, BMW taking the line that none of this is their problem. Hopefully, if you persevere with it they will fix it as a "goodwill gesture".
I would expect even a backstreet cowboy car seller to do something after only 3 weeks ownership.
Claiming that many of the stories on the Mini2 site are not true, does BMW no favours whatever IMO.

[roland2003]

Hi Guys,
Heres 4 things that may have had something to do with the problem;-
- Seized handbrake cable .ie only working on one side ?(common)
- Seized sliders on the rear caliper so only one pad pushing on the disc? (my car )
- There is a lot of rearward bias on these cars, meaning the rear disc gets much hotter than most. As it is hotter when you park up ,it will contract back more, effectivly relieving the clamping pressure of the pads on the disc as it cools.?
-The 'clicks' are widely spaced on the lever ratchet system.The 'click' you were on may not be enough to hold the car once cool, yet the next click requires 3 shreaded wheat and most people only eat 2.
Any one or combo of the above is highly likely to cause the problem you had.
Best Regards Roland GTT
The make of disc or pad isn't going to effect anything,as you say you bought it from the dealer with aftermarket brakes, so is up to them to warranty the car as is or change the brakes back to stock before selling the car.

[DJC]

Hi, the same thing happened to my 51 plate Cooper. My wife returned home, got out of the car, then about 1 hour later it was in the road !!
When the dealer fixed it this was what i was told, " the handbrake ratchet mechanism was faulty, did not engage properly when pulled up". Was told it was not my fault. She could not possibly have forgot to leave it on as it would have knocked her down, as she got out of the car !!
I would try and be a bit more forceful with dealer first. All the best, regards Damian.

PS Will have a look at my paperwork and see if the parts they fitted to mine are listed on the there.

[rellik666]

I too have had a handbrake fail, as posted here already. All I will say is that I always put my car in gear on a hill and make sure that the engine has "taken the strain" and pull my handbrake on untill I can physically not move it anymore. Which causes some problems when I want to undo it in the morning. This is a common problem and at the time I knew nothing of this site or the problem and put it down to my own stupidity. Which cost me a new bumber and side panel. As well as the worry it might happen again!

Keep on at your dealers.........

And why would we all lie about it?????

[Maz]

Bought my 51 Cooper new and the handbrake failed within the first month. The dealer did a quick fix and advised me that it was caused by the Handbrake being designed for LHD and so was not engaging properly. The handbrake mechanism was replaced as part of a BMW recall about a month later. No problems since. Get in touch with MINI directly to check of your MINI has had the recall work done. If not, then the dealer is at fault because they have failed to check and carry out the recall work.

[Capsaisin]

Designed for LHD
What was that comment above made by BMW Mini "Customer services who tells me that many of the stories on this site are not true "

Well there's a thing!

[Ruby888]

Rydale Newport took the car to be put through a rigorous test they tell me on Friday no fault found with the handbrake . Armed to the teeth with print offs of this and other threads my husband and I were ready to put up an almighty fight only to find that on arrival at the show room Rydale seemed to have had a complete change of heart.

The reason ... quite simply they decided to embark on a damage limitation exercise...why this sudden change of heart ? Put quite simply it seems this rigorous testing seemed to be nothing more than a beefed up MOT. Did the car pass NO it did not, strange when the same car was MOTd the day before I took delivery only 4 weeks ago to the day. It seems the rear brakes were corroded something they claim cannot effect the handbrake but still certainly falls a long way short of the warranty expectations I thought I could expect form a main dealer.

So to cut to the chase Rydale are repairing Rubys body work (£1,500). replacing the rear brake discs and pads and are jolly relieved I dare say that me being a fair mind person am not taking them to the cleaners.

Thanks to all of you who helped me with this !

[-=cHiLli=-]

I would have thrown the car back at them, from what I can remember the cherised agreement has somthing about returning the car within a month or so many miles for an exchange.... dont quote me but do look it up... i would certainly be after some serious compensation for that one...

High horse now dismounted....

I have been quite impressed with the whole cherished cycle, the warranty cover was great... however you still are at the dealers liberty when they hand the car over, im sure they dont tell the whole truth behind the cars sold... i know mine has a conspicuous past...

Good luck...

i++()