This is my first Mini and my first car I have experienced this with. Sometimes when I brake when there's a lot of snow\ice out the brakes make a sort of grinding noise. The braking motion itself seems rough. Is this normal? I've never had this in other vehicles I've own.

 

Abs?

 

Does it mostly happen when you haven't driven the car for a couple of days and the last drive was wet/salty? Mini discs rust quite quickly and if you don't drive the car for a few days, the first few times you brake, you may be wiping surface rust off the discs which produces a rubbing/grating sound. If so, very normal, at least for Minis, and not something to be concerned about.

You can check, if you remember, by looking at the discs through the wheel spokes before setting off when the surface rust can be clearly seen.

 

gravelly chattering noise and feel when braking on snow/ice? ABS.

 

Which tire option did you get? Some folks take delivery of their cars on summer tires....very hard rubber in the cold....grips very poorly below 40°f....
Also as noted....the rotors do rust very fast...so a bit of extra noise for the first couple stops till you polish off the corrosion.....

 

Thanks, Have only noticed it in the winter when it's very cold. I do have the stock all season tires. Cristo described it better than me. I think this is the first car I have had with ABS. Thanks for all the response.