Just thought you all would like to know this...it could avoid you a tow.

My Mini is only 1 monrth old and would not start. It had plenty of juice, but the engine would not crank. Car was then towed to dealer. (very nerve racking for me, due to tow guys lack of knowledge with the Mini)...

Just found out from dealer that the computer chip in the key got scrambled. New key was sent from N.J....Problem solved.

Turns out that one of my other spare keys would have worked, but I never thought of using it...I could have done the whole thing by mail

So if you ever have the same problem as me..USE THE OTHER KEYS FIRST....before calling Mini Roadside Assitance (which by the way, was very good)...

now you know...

"leave the gun, take the canollis"..... :roll:

Thanks for the tip! :smile:

Welcome,

And thanks,

Earl

I am also having a key problem of a different sort.

My MINI came with only one key. Somewhere along the line, the second key and the emergency key were lost. The dealer had MINI in New Jersey make a new remote key and emergency key and send them to me.

Great, but the new key would not work remotely. It would open the door and start the car, but zippo remote function. I tried the initialization procedures in the manual to no avail.

I just got off the phone with Moritz MINI of Dallas (where I bought the car) and he said he has never been able to get the manual's initialization procedure to work either. He says I need to take the key with a bar code tag that came with it to my local dealer and they will reprogam it through the key diagnostic machine. Then all will be well - we hope.

Anyone else have this problem?

Duncan

I haven't had the newly-made-key problem, but I have had fuv's problem. I got into the car once and turned the key; all the dashboard lights blinked on, but she wouldn't turn over at all. Nothing.

I got out of the car, walked around it, got back in and reinserted the key and it started as normal. But I was a bit panicked for a minute or so.

A knowledgeable NAMer suggested to me that it was a chance case of the security system in the ignition misreading the key's digital code and, in effect, denying access to the engine. Sounds like you had the same issue.

MINI USA, which monitors these forums, emailed me asking for more information about the incident -- the rep I spoke with was very interested but said they'd never heard of this happening before.