Many moons ago, I posted a query regarding the location and disabling of the clutch/starter inter-lock. There were a number of replies, some of which were actually helpful.
Through the RealOEM link provided, I found the switch, but being somewhat addle-minded, I can't figure out how to disable said switch.
While I have no wish to start a lengthy debate (hah!) on the pros and cons of the reasoning behind my desire to defeat this switch, can someone provide me with some direction on how to go about accomplishing this?
I'll give you a dollar......

 

Quick answer: check your Bentley manual and see it the switch is normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC). Probably NO. If so, shorting them together would tell the system that the clutch is depressed.
Don't know why you want to do it, don't want to know. Wouldn't recommend it. At all. Besides the obvious safety issue, cranking the starter with the car in gear is really hard on the starter. Really hard.
-skip-

 

It may also be part of the BC module and not able to be defeated, like a lot of newer cars are.

 

My guess is that he wants to install a remoter starter for winter warm-ups

 

True dat, ScottinBend. There's a lot of interconnectivity in these little cars.

As for the remote start; unless I'm totally losing it, the worst thing you can do for a cold engine is to start it and then let it idle until it warms up. Start it, drive gently until operating temp is reached (remember, the oil takes longer to warm up than the water), then: W00T! Off ya go. I'll take an engine over a warm butt any day of the week.
-skip-

 

yeah, I heard this too, but always wondered how putting a load on cold engine can be better than just letting it idle for a bit.
Anyone know the answer, I'd be eager to discover the true logic behind this.
I'm suspecting that I will be in for some cold drives this winter as I don't expect MINI to reach operating temperature faster than my previous car that had aluminium block and turbo to get that warm coolant going faster and heat up the core.

 

You'd be surprised how fast the MINI will warm up.

The main reason for driving the car to warm it up vs just letting it idle has to do with getting the cat warmed up to operating temps faster. Better emissions and mileage.

 

At the risk of incurring the wrath and ire of some, the reason I would like to disable the inter-lock is simply the fact that I strongly object to others (except for Mom) looking out for my "best interests". Simplistic? Yup. Naive? Right again. Childish? Damn straight.
Awright. That's enough. I leave the car in neutral with the emergency brake engaged.
I started a car in gear once. Scared the crap outta me. Never did it again.
So, no, it's not for a remote start. I'm in complete agreement with you, Skip, as regards warming up the car. After starting, in warm as well as cold weather, I let the car idle for a minute or two, then take off. I keep the revs below 3,000 until the temperature needle is half-way up, and even then, no full-throttle boogying until the engine is fully warm.
I don't want to affect any of the other systems in the car, so I guess that idea is out. Maybe just as well...
Thanks everybody for your responses.