I've had my MINI for under 2 months, and it has 3000 miles. The other day, I left work, and the comfort access opener didn't work. I dug my key out of my purse and could open it without a problem. But then when turning on the car, I got a message that said "Increased Battery Discharge." I turned the car off and on again, and the message disappeared. I called the dealer, and they told me to bring it right in. They checked the connectors to the battery, and everything looked okay, so they gave me a loaner and told me to leave the car.

They just sent me a report saying they topped off the oil. I don't know a ton about cars, but does that even make sense??

 

Since you have comfort access, did you place the key close (within 15ft) to the car? if so, the mini can't 'sleep'; hence, constantly draining battery by leaving electronics on ready mode as if you're about to start the car. there was some who had cd player constantly spinning and was fixed under warranty. good luck

 

Nope. It was in my purse at my desk. My car was out in the parking lot. I came straight out and tried to unlock the door to head home.

 

Oil level has nothing to do with battery issue...dealee was just letting you know they checked you oil level, and it needed some....hint, start checking your oil. Mini's tend to burn a bit...many mini's, even very new ones have gotten new motors cause folks ran low.

 

I guess I need to learn how to check oil! I figured it would alert me if it needed oil.

So why am I getting this message? I'm just worried that my battery is going to die suddenly!

 

It might have been a one time event...it might reoccur....can only wait and see...might have had a light stuck on, or just a flakey sensor, or a onetime electrical gremlin...cars thses days are more computers than anything and starting it a seconf time seemed to have "rebooted" it...and the dealer looked around and did not find anything obvious. So enjoy the car, and keep an occasional eye on the oil...tge car holds about 5 quarts....more than one low is bad....and new motors sometimes burn a couple of quarts during the first 10,000 miles...some much more, and with VERY long oil change intervals on a mini (if you follow the factory schedule ), getting 2+ or even 3+ low is possible if you do not look...and that is "boom" territory for a motor....
Once you get to know the car, and you know how much it typically uses, i bet you can just check it every few fillups, or even every 1000 miles or so...
Good luck, and enjoy!!

 

PS
Sounds like the did what it was intented to do...
It sensed its battery was getting low, so it shut off nonessential stuff, and saved enough power to start, and let you know there was an issue. If it continues, speak to the dealer, so theu can investigate more.

 

Thanks!

 

For the benefit of anyone else with the same issue, I think I figured out the problem.

When I picked up my car, I asked why I got the message. They weren't sure--they said it might have just been a computer glitch but I should tell them if it happens again.

I picked it up Thursday; when I left work Friday, I had the same issue. I didn't have time to bring it in, and again when I turned it off and then on again, the message disappeared.

I just was eating at an outdoor cafe, and the alarm went off. There were NO people or cars moving near the car; I was 15 feet away. I went over, unlocked and relocked. 2 minutes later, the alarm went off again. Well, it's a nice day, and I had the sunroof cracked. I closed it. No alarm. 20 minutes later as a test, I re-opened the sunroof and locked the car. A minute later, the alarm went off!

The two days I had the battery message were the 2 days where there was 0% chance of rain, so I'd left my sunroof cracked at work! So the alarm was probably going off and on for 8-10 hours straight. That is why my battery was drained. At least that's my current diagnosis.

That makes more sense than low oil!