Hi all! I've been lurking about for a couple of years, but I've finally decided to come out of my shell, as it were.

I've got a 2005 mini that I just love. She's my second Mini. After my first, I just couldn't bring myself to drive anything else.

I do have a question though, that perhaps more experienced Mini owners could help me with?

... I can't find a keyhole anywhere on my car, except where you insert the key into the ignition. What gives? Did that fancy chrome package that came with my car include door handles with no keyholes? And if that's the case... OMG... can I get a handle that I can use my key in?

Any advice would be super stellar!

cheers!

 

The driver side door handle should have a key slot ...

RealOEM - Part 51217198471

Perhaps a previous owner fitted some sort of overlay.

 

Welcome to NAM! Post some pictures of your MINI for us when you can. I believe the driver door handle should have a key hole. 51-21-7-198-471.

 

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard "Your car should have a lock on the driver's side door"...

I KNOW that it SHOULD have a lock. That's why I posed the question... because my pretty girl clearly does not have one.

So...thoughts? I know that when I purchased her, the prior owner told me that she'd had an entire chrome kit installed. The chrome IS very pretty, we get quite a few looks. I'm thinkin' that for some strange reason they wanted the car entirely secure from the outside?

something... I've never seen a car without keyholes before (except maybe Teslas)

 

It could be because of the kit. I listed the chrome handle above that has the keyhole that you can purchase. You just don't have a key tumbler. Door handle 51-21-7-198-471 and I believe #3 in the diagram is the catch with key 51-21-7-074-440. So I believe it comes with a key, may not be the same one it comes with the car.

 

So there's no chance that the tumbler for the current key is hidden underneath that thing?

Bugger me. *excuses self to swear like a pirate for a few moments*

This all started because my key (the flatish one with three buttons, eagle button in the center) has been acting wonky. Sometimes it won't open the car, which is rather a problem when one does not have a bloody keyhole! We SUSPECT that the battery is going bad. I've spoken to Valvashon about having the key repaired (probably needs a new battery installed), but I'd not have another key with which to drive my car that will allow me to lock her up at night.

GAH!


I do appreciate your link to the proper kind of door handle.

grr. so frustrating. I just want a keyhole back.

 

It's probably a passenger side handle mounted upside down, or a passenger side handle from Europe.

I've thought about doing this to my car. I would actually prefer a cap for the keyhole to fill in the big notch in the handle since I haven't figured out how to get into the car if needed without a slim jim.

 

IT looks pretty slick... until your key battery starts to die and you can no longer get into the car.

I've heard the newer models do have a cover thingy that goes over the key hold, but I've also heard that they break quite a lot as well.

 

It could be! If you do have the contact info of the previous owner you could ask if it's still there or if they still have the stock parts. (I'm not sure how long you've had this MINI so sorry if it has been a while). Otherwise, you'll want to take the handle off and inspect to confirm if it does or does not have the unit. As far as the key, I'd start with the battery as well and see if that makes a difference, then go from there. If you have any questions or need further assistance with this please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

 

Thanks!

I did reach out to the previous owner (owner #2), and he stated that the car came to him with these crazy doors. He does not have the first owner's info any longer, so dead end there.

I WISH I could easily get into the key to replace the battery. Unfortunately, these darn keys are welded shut and are not made to have the battery easily replaced. Though... I DO live with a computer engineer (he's familiar with working on circuit boards) so maybe if we could locate the battery for the key we could make a go of it.

PelicanParts doesn't happen to sell those specialized batteries with the 90 degree posts do they?

 

I ordered the factory chrome kit back in 2004 for my 2005...
I bet the prior owner wanted a SPECFIC look...
So they got an ENGLISH handle (keyhole is only on the drivers side door)....so he would not have any keyholes so the car would look "smooth"...one of the style over function folks....

 

You're welcome. Hm, I stumbled upon this thread here about the key for the '05 MINI. Looks like the '05 keys battery is charged by the ignition switch and not easily changed as it is soldered in place. Some good info in this NAM thread here as well as to what to possibly do. Specifically post #14 and #16.

 

As a sanity check, examine the handle closely and make sure that it isn't just a decorative cover attached over the standard door handle. Compare it to the one on the passenger side.

 

*headdesk*

*gets another dollar for checking for the umpteenth time*

here are closeups... no cover. I WISH there were one!





top side of drivers side door handle





underside of drivers side handle





straight on, drivers side door handle<br/><br/>

 

Yea, I bet the owner ordered like UK handle for the driver side for a clean look. Which is the same as the US passenger side just flipped. I remember people asking to do this back in 05'

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51217198472/

 

I can't for the life of me figure out WHY anyone would do that... just seems completely silly. o.O

 

Cleaner look, like a shaved door handle mod but for MINI with genuine parts. Also the F56 MINI have a cap cover now for a cleaner look I guess.

 

It is a clean look, but boy howdy does it equal one heck of a panic attack when it's 100+ outside and your car suddenly decides it doesn't want to open. (I had, fortunately, left the sun roof open so my very athletic son just hopped up and over into the car to unlock her manually with the key in the ignition.)

I'm not a mechanic or anything, but I like to think that I know my way around the car that I drive. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I realized there wasn't a keyhole on the door!

It IS a sleek look, I'll give you that. I've never been stared at as much as we are in this particular little car. My son says that's because she looks like a wee little race car, what with her racing stripes and all. Definitely going to swap it out for a handle with a keyhole though. In the event that either the key, or the actuator go out, I'd like to have an alternative to get into my sweet ride. :D

 

yes, i know , power is off, I dont know another way to open the car unless you break the glass or slim jim down to the lock portion.


You can get the driver side handle from us but the lock itself its coded ( keyed by MINI ) and you can get it from the MINI dealership , they will need all your info and stuff *** its a theft relevant part.

51217074428 CATCH WITH CODE

Thanks

 

Go big or go home.



Known in the showcar world as a "shaved" door handle, with a motor that pops open the door when unlocking. I think this image is just a Photoshop, though.