Hello all
i have a R52 2008 and have 56K miles on the clock
my original factory battery last until 43K miles and I changed to a aftermarket battery and ran for 13K until tonight...
i moved some bulky package and accidentally shift to first gear before i started the engine, well, as you will all know, the car shaked like hell and move forward when i started the engine, after that, the battery just died on me!
before that, the battery was perfect as far as it sounded normal, and could start the car in a snap..
what do you think? can my stupid move killed a battery that easily?
or an aftermarket battery could only last 13K miles?......
thanks for any ideas in advance...

 

My first thought would be the jerking / jump / sudden movement caused something / a wire or cable to come undone.

Have you checked around your battery for wire/cable being disconnected?

 

I'm surprised the car would turn over in gear without the clutch being depressed. I know an R53 will not. And if its auto, then there should be a similar lock out.

 

+1 I remember years ago I bump started a friend's car because I apparently hadn't pushed the clutch far enough in to actuate the clutch lockout.

 

funny from the beginning that my car actually starts without pressing the clutch...
checked the wire... intact..
i had to jumpstart this morning and went back work.. after 20 miles drive.. the battery almost die instantly where i could still locked the car with the remote and no battery to unlock it again, lucky the window could go back up after door open as it was raining!!

 

what sounds like, is that you sucked ALL the juice out of your battery via the starter motor. after all, it is an Electric motor. it has a LOT of power too, enough to crank your engine several times over, using Hundreds of Amps of power to do so.

By starting in 1st gear, you basically used your starter motor as a car motor, and "drove" your car a short distance with the electric motor. in doing this, i believe you drained it beyond its capacity, and possibly damaged it.

you could have the battery tested at a shop (discount, pep boys, ect). you could open the covers on it, see if it has enough water in it (be careful). i would say, try and bring it back for Warranty replacement, and simply "forget" that you mis-started your mini...