I had a problem the other day which made me think that if there's no other way to get into the trunk, then MINI might have screwed up.

Here's the story: I was driving down Las Olas Blvd last night when all of a sudden my car just died. I don't mean it turned off, it died completely to where the hazards wouldn't even turn on. I had no clue what it was. I had been rear ended two weeks ago and I just got the car fixed. I also had them install a Borla Exhaust, so I thought it might have been the exhaust installation. I wanted to get to the battery, but guess what, since the car was dead, I couldn't even open the trunk. Unless there's a latch on the inside, then there is no hope. No electronics where working.

So I had to climb in from the front, lift open the shelf in the back, and pull down the back seats. Then while sitting in the back seat, I had to open up the floor to check on the battery. I moved the ground wire a little bit, and all the lights came back on. So this must mean that the ground wire was loose, but it didn't seem that loose. I tried to tighten it up today, but I didn't have that much luck, just a little more secure.

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

There is a cable under the back seat manual release for the boot. Depending on year it is on the pass side or middle.

 

There is an emergency release under the back seat. It's in the owners manual.

 

If a battery cable is a little bit loose, it's to loose, period.
Use the proper size wrench on it and all should be fine.

Mark

 

My 2003 doesn't have the release cable under the rear seats...

The only time my trunk was not working, I had important papers I needed in the trunk, so I had to squeeze my arm between the rear seat and the cover, and grab one of the release handles to get my papers back...

 

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it.