I have a 2018 Clubman S which I took possession of in 2017. In Aug 2020 my battery went dead and had to be replaced by the dealer. That was 3 years.

Yesterday, March, 2014 the car would not start, but made a short groaning noise. The MINI log came up on the center console, and I thought I saw the yellow check engine light on the gauge on the steering column. I charged the battery for an hour and it started. I had the battery replaced at the local garage who works on BMWs and Minis. He related the battery. It had lasted 3 and a 1/2 years.

Is there supposed to be a low battery warning light? Last week I had driven 450 miles from Buffalo to Long Island. It would have been a disaster If this had happened then. Very worrying.

Is 3 to 3 and 1/2 years the norm for the life of these batteries?

Thank you.

 

Hello,

The problem might be that the system was not reset with a new battery, most MINI dealer will do this and as the battery ages it will charge it more. Maybe they did not reset it?

When they are not reset that causes them to not follow the charge life.

Also when you store the car for long periods and don't trickle charge it you will kill batteries. I know as I store both my MINIs.

It will get a low battery light only if the alternator goes. On the battery it will not start or be very weak and then click, click, click..

 

When my battery went dead on me, same thing with no warning. I actually can't think of any warnings from any of my wife's or my former cars either. Typically you come out in the morning and click, click, click...if you are even that lucky. My OEM battery went out in 2022, so just a bit longer than yours. I haven't checked on it lately to see how it is doing, but I did register it to the vehicle so I didn't end up with a shortened life. As I understand it, if a new battery is not registered to the vehicle, it will overcharge it and drastically shorten its life. Of course, battery life can be effected by a lot of things like general car use, temperatures and vehicle condition, so targeting a lifespan is a really tough deal. 3-1/2 years isn't 'horrible', but that can get pricey with our AGM batteries.

 

One battery warning is the auto stop/start. If that isn't working, it means your battery either needs to be charged or it needs replacing if charging doesn't fix it.

 

Mine went out last year in my 2017. It had lasted 4 years since a 2019 replacement. I did get a warning first. I have turned off a lot of optional things like path lighting, welcome lights, etc that are on after the engine shuts off in hopes of extending the life of the new battery.