Didn't really see this info on here so I thought I'd post. My car came with a Sears "International" battery; my wife's came with a MINI replacement battery. Mine just failed earlier in the week to the point where it wouldn't even take a jump start.

I went to Sears and ended up paying $145 (!) for a Group 47, which was the correct size based on what I brought in and their book. Put it in and thought now might be a good time to fake up a hold down strap since my car didn't come with one because the Sears International was shaped differently on top than the original MINI battery.

Once in, I thought I'd take a picture of my battery and my wife's to compare the installs and to see what the hold down strap should look like:


My car


My wife's car

Now I know where MINI gets its batteries! The shape is practically identical. I just have to get a hold down strap and won't have to fake one up.

Val