Hello,

My GF has a 2003 Mini R50 that is having intermittent electrical issues. The R50 will lose almost all electrical functions (power steering, headlights, radio, dome/map/dash lights, reduced engine power). I have never seen it do this (it started before we moved in together) and the car is 75 miles from us at her parents so I've only been able to troubleshoot on weekends we're there.

The car was at a "mechanic" for over a year. In that time, they changed the battery, alternator, some supposed "harness" and the blower motor resistor and then they just gave up and gave it back to her. It's been sitting for a few months now.

My initial thought is that it is a BC1 issue due to all the functions that cut out. Unfortunately the brake lights do not go on like almost all th eBC1 issues I've read about. I checked the passenger floor and its not wet, the BC1 has the black cover fix, and the sunroof drainage tubes are not clogged/still connected. We have been unable to force the R50 to go into this mode nor does anything force it back to normal.

I noticed that the previous owner (she's owned it for 4 years?) installed a trailer light harness and the aftermarket driving lights (Connected to the yellow/green wire from the BC1). I disconnected all of that in hopes that maybe they were shorting it out somehow.

I'm hoping to get the Mini by us in the spring and drive it to work daily (my commute is only 5 miles so if anything happens it's not a big deal). I'm thinking of just buying a used BC1 off eBay and having it programmed to see if that solves the issues but don't want to waste the $300 on the BC1 and programming if this is not the issue though so I figured I'd ask you guys to see if there's anything you guys have seen before.