MININurse and I were in Frederick today. I parked the MINI in a parking spot and the spot had a slight downgrade. The next thing I know, Soulfire is rolling backwards and HITS another car. (*&@W&*@*&@(@#(*@(@(*@ !!!! I apparently didn't engage the E-brake!!!! There is a slight ding in the rear bumper and scratches. The innocent vehicle had real minor damage.

 

I guess this just REALLY solidifies our possition on getting an Aero kit!!!

 

I've done the same thing... within the first month or two of having my car - it was in the parking garage at Pentagon City... I returned to my car after having lunch at a restaurant, and the mall security people had blocked off vehicle access to that row, because my car had rolled out of the space and hit the concrete pole... also blocking the lane in the process. Fortunately, the damage was very minor, since it was low speed. Thank GOD that it didn't hit another car, or it would have been a lot more complicated to deal with a third party. To this day I still haven't had it fixed, I too had contemplated whether I should get the aero kit bumper or not...

 

Sorry about your luck....that sucks. I did the same thing when I first got my MINI and was not use to setting the e-brake. She started rolling but I was able to stop the roll with my super human strength or luck.

 

In addition to the E-brake, I always leave the car in gear. I don't know what the pros/cons are, but I've always heard that is a good idea.

Just a though -

 

I thought I'd started this thread... I too am an idiot!

But then I started reading, and the posts didn't seem familiar....

Parking brake = good idea.
Leave in gear = good idea.

Matt

 

That sucks, but if you want to feel better, read the thread about the poor guy who went outside today only to find his Mini had been stolen

 

Mini reccomends that you adjust the p-brake so that it stops after 8 clicks..... If you want to do this, remove the boot around the handle., and pull up the handle a few clicks. There is a nut that adjusts the brake tension, crank away to set as needed!

BTW, getting the boot off is a biatch!

Matt

 

I will admit I don't know many technical details about cars....does the e-brake issue only apply to manual transmission cars? I have an auto tranny, and I never set the e-brake. Could I be in trouble one day?

M

 

you should really use both. In case of failure of one, the other is there. While it's less likely for the auto to wander on it's own, the thing that locks the tranny has been known to brake every now and then.....

Matt

 

It is really funny because my hubby is very cautious about using the e-break and this has NEVER happened before. SoulFire is almost a year old. I don't know! So we are even more cautious about it now! And we are leaving it in gear now too! Im more embarrased than upset. :impatient
I've never had a problem with it with auto trannies but I do recall when I was a child sitting in the car waiting for my mom and our station wagon rolling down the driveway while in park....Just a thought. Scared the beetlejuice out of me

 

but they do happen. Also there was a thread of a couple of people who swore that the parking brake was set and came back to find their car had rolled.

What it comes down to is that the chances of a problem are very, very small. But it takes almost no effort ( just good habits) to make sure that you are covered.

Matt

 

I read that one as well, that did really suck.

 

I heard that if you park an automatic on a hill w/o the e-brake and it rolls back/forward slightly when you let off the brake, you can get a transmission lock. That is where the gears are engaged and you cannot change from P to D, R, N, 3, 2, 1 and you have to rock your car in the opposite direction of the lock.

 

Sorry guys.....glad it wasn't worse.

 

Ahhhh! My buddy PRINDLE (P-R-N-D-L)! As a young teen driver I had the unfortunate incident of driving a 1976 Chevrolet Vega (bright canary yellow) that I inadvertently allowed to roll down a rather nasty embankment in Ashland, Maine at Jud's Bon Appetit. "Don't set the parking brake, you'll be screwed if it freezes," said my father. It was July of course. The car wedged itself between two saplings, busted off it's 1976 style aero kit and busted all four shocks. When the tow truck pulled it out it bent the unibody front frame. What a mess. My dad ended up selling the piece of crap - we all cheered when it went away.

 

Wow, you had to drive a Vega?!? I tip my hat to you, sir

--Karen

 

that was supposed to be a small Camero?

but some have made some nasty drag cars out of them....

Matt

 

wow. mine must be really off. the first click comes after a very short movement. there is a LARGE (comparatively) movement before the next 3 clicks, then a huge effort to get to the 5th click, and that's all that is possible w/o abnormal effort. if i had to locate the "clicks" on an even scale, i'd say they come at 2-6-7-8-9

 

at your next service. They will take care of it for you.

Matt

 

I think I get four clicks.

 

The first day I had my Mini I went out to find it had rolled out into the street TWICE! I can't even learn from my mistakes. Now I ALWAYS leave it in gear and the PB on.

 

" A grey MINI?? (it was one of the first MINIs aorund not sure what to call her) with license plates MD... IS rolling out in the parking ..."

Annapolis Public Library silence was interrupted by this announcement
the grey MINI was my '03DS CS left in the parking lot w/o e-brake an on Neutral... everyone looked at me as I dashed outside and as I walked back in.. embarrassed :(


MD STREGA2

 

Thanks for all the posts people, I feel alot better.