Hi, has anyone have this problem? I've had my CMS All4 since 11/11/11, it's been in the shop twice & going for a third time for a dead battery after sitting for a couple of days. I've even installed a trickle charger after the second time it died. They (dealer) said they had it hooked up to a computer to see if any modules weren't going to sleep. They tried to tell me that the charger was affecting it & I told them that it was installed after it died the second time.
I got it back after 2 days & they said that they could not find any problems. After getting it home, it was parked for 3 days. I went to use it today & the battery was dead, even with the trickle charger hooked up.
It's frustrating cause I was going use it for an out of town trip & enjoy the drive in my new mini. Anyone have any thought?
They did replace the battery the first time it died.

 

Leave it with them until it is fixed.

 

My batteries in the convertibles will run low but still start the car if I let them sit too long without starting. It can only take a few days of inactivity in my experience so I also keep a trickle charger connected. The MINI batteries have minimal reserve capacity a result of their compact size to keep the weight down.

 

sounds like to me there is a bad ground somewhere causing a drain. hope they find it for you soon!

 

Thanks guys, I disconnected the battery cables and have it a low charge now. I might take it on my out of town trip only cause this is what was going to make long awaited vacation more fun, just motoring. I like the cars they've been loaning me, I dislike it cause they have windshield decals saying that its a loan car courtesy of... It just gives off the message that my new car is in the shop more then in my driveway.
I did by a portable jumper battery just in case I decide to take it. I'm waiting for the dealer to call me back.

 

My car sits for a week at a time and never have any problems starting. I did replace the original battery at the 3 year mark.

 

Yeah, like BrianZooom said, it could possibly a bad ground or it could also be something that's staying on and draining the battery. When I started it today it had the car up on a hoist symbol showing. When I checked to see what it was, it said that "their is excessive drain on the battery while the car is sitting idle".
Might take it to the dealer only if they rent me a car or remove their dealer logos of the windshield, or I'll just rent and have them reimburse me. I've been planning this vacation for about 6 months. Would be nice to take the Mini.

 

Took CMS on vacation to Vegas. Taking to Mini dealer here in Vegas to have battery replaced. The battery is not holding a charge.
On the up note, got a lot of looks & thumbs up on the drive out here.

 

Took CMS on vacation to Vegas. Taking to Mini dealer here in Vegas to have battery replaced. The battery is not holding a charge.
On the up note, got a lot of looks & thumbs up on the drive out here.

 

Well I found out from the dealer here in Las Vegas ( Desert Mini ) that it was the Ultragage that I had installed that was draining the battery. It wouldn't let the car go to sleep. They told me that if it wasn't a Mini item, I could not install it, otherwise the repairs wouldn't be covered under warranty. Well, that's something new that I've learned today.
I notice that ScanGage is advertised on this site. Anyone with ScanGage run into similar problems?

 

All4Fun,

I am having difficulty buying into that excuse. The OBDII plug is generally powerless and dead when the ignition is off. I have the ScanGauge II plugged into my BMW and do not experience the dead battery issue that sometimes happens in my MINI. But again, I often go weeks without driving my MINI. I have the same battery issue with my Expedition that I also don't drive very often. I keep all these on a battery tender.

 

I'll take the car back to the dealer once I get back home and have them recheck too. I have 3 other cars that have the Ultragage and they don't have problems with the charging system like my Mini does.
The tech told me that if it wasn't made by Mini that I shouldn't use it. I was going to get an alarm installed & Viper told the installers not to install it & to wait. Something about the electrical system that was different. So, I have to wait until they come out with something for the Mini. So, does this car's electrical system differ from other makes?
I'm new to Mini so I wouldn't know. I'm old school so I'm not good with all this computerized stuff.

 

Well, I had the car sitting in the hotel parking lot for at least 24 hours after seeing the Mini dealer in Las Vegas. I had them disconnect the UltraGauge before leaving the dealership. When I went to start it, the car fired right up. I didn't have to jump start it like the previous days. I guess the UltraGuage did have something to do with draining the battery.

I'm finally back in LA, I'm going to let it sit for a couple of days & see if it goes dead again. I do have a trickle charger installed on the car but I'm not going to plug the car in.

If it does go dead or weak again, I have an appointment scheduled for this Thursday at So. Bay Mini.


**2012 Countryman S All4, Light White, Mini Connected, Navigation, Turbo Muffler delete pipe, K&N air filter, Window Tint, Blackjack on mirrors / door handles / scuttles. Wheels, exhaust, & lowering next.**

 

There are a couple threads on dead batteries, not sure if the issues there are the same as you are having. Sounds like yours may be accessory related versus a bad batch of batteries.

Only thing I can say is that you should call MINI Usa and let them know. If there are enough issues reported there may be more emphasis on finding a cause and a possible service bulletin to get the garages 'in the know' that this issue is occuring.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tery-died.html

 

It appears Ultra-Gauge is aware of a problem with their units and both MINI Coopers and Ford Focus vehicles. As indicated in the link below, the way the UG works it prevents the MINI's electrical systems from powering down until the battery is drained.

http://www.ultra-gauge.com/customer_...php?article=16

 

Thanks for the info. Since the UG has been disconnected the car has been starting ok. The car sat for 5 days after coming back from vacation and I did get the "excessive battery drain warning" when I started it. I haven't seen it again so far so I'm just keeping an eye on it for now. If it comes on again I'll take it back to the dealer to get it rechecked.

Has anyone have problems with the ScanGauage?

 

I have a 2012 CM-All4 and had a problem with it not starting properly after I drove it a couple miles in very frigid temps (minus 17F). Wisconsin can have some brutal winters, and my car sits in the driveway overnight. Anyway, I waited an hour or so and then it started again. I took it straight to the MINI dealer, and they recharged the battery for me, and cautioned against driving it on so many short trips. I can't really see driving it twice as far just to keep the battery conditioned, so am wondering if a battery tender or a trickle charger would be a better option. Anyone have any experience with this problem, and which would be more suitable to my issue?

 

no problem with the scangauge II draining my battery

 

Also wondering if anyone has used a solar powered battery charger for this purpose?

 

SpeedyDD, I've been using an Exide trickle charger for when I'm not using the car. I've found that if I let the car sit for more then a week without hooking it up to the charger my battery is too weak to start the car. I keep it plugged in now for when it just sits.