Hey everyone, new mini owner and first time poster. I bought my mini used 3 weeks ago and have already had to put a timing chain in it. With the car off, (not started) I randomly noticed today that in my driveway which is a slight incline, or any slight incline for that matter, 1st gear alone is not holding the car from rolling backwards. I always use the handbrake but today took it off and let go of the floor brake by accident and the car rolled while in first gear. It rolls back slowly, a little bit every few seconds. I always use my handbrake but found this odd considering other manuals I've had didn't do this. What does everyone think, does their Cooper S Manual roll back on a slight grade in 1st gear. Is it normal?

 

Copied from the internet after Googleing "parking a manual transmission car":

"Just make sure you've got the handbrake firmly set. If on a hill, 1st gear if facing uphill; reverse if facing downhill. Just make sure to set the parking brake before releasing the clutch, so that the weight of the car is on the brake first; the gear is there only as a backup should the brake fail."

Back in the olden days when an automatic Xmission was an option, driver's ed was conducted in a column shift car at out school. This was taught as well as turning the front tires toward the curb or away from traffic depending on up or down hill parking. Now that manuals are the option, none of this is being taught at all.

 

Does it sound like the engine is turning over? Offhand, I would suggest you either have a worn out clutch, or if the engine is turning over, very low compression. On a slight incline, that is not normal, how many miles?