I don't want to lose all of the unique computer characteristics when I change the 12V battery, but I don't see any threads about saving computer memory during battery replacement.

Have you tried to connect one of those devices from amazon or made your own? Seems like this type of thing will work, but I never assume anything with a mini anymore, considering what's required to replace the battery in terms of coding type and registration!

I know in my '96 Ranger, it is very hard to complete the cycle so that I can get it smogged (California), and there's no reason to go through it all if I can avoid it.

Here's the type of thing I'm looking at,

in case somebody has experience with this.

update: i bought one that runs off a 9v battery. the instructions say that it doesn’t work on all cars. i’m not sure if the ad says that. i’m pretty sure this will not work on a modern mini given that so much stuff gets energized with key-on and engine-off. i think this is for older vehicles with limited electronics. otoh, i bought a modern battery charger that has a mode designed to maintain memory while changing batteries, which i think is a safer bet.

 

On our 06 R53 I changed out an eight year old Walmart Everstart H5 with another as a
preemptive measure. All I had to reset was the clock. I did not use a memory saver. All other systems were unaffected.

 

Thanks for that!

I should have said that this is an F60 2019 countryman ALL4, so I'm thinking it might be different, but not sure at all!

 

Car runs great after changing the battery. There aren't any trouble codes showing, but it did wipe out the OBDII smog readiness. No big deal, just trying to avoid it. I know that some cars have a more difficult time getting through the cycle.

I posted the other screens in a different thread, but here's the main status using the OBDLink free app that came with the OBDLink CX dongle,

 

I am also looking into this problem and i found my solution here thanks.