I was locked inside my 2005 mini cooper and could not get out. The doors locked...handles would not open on either door, the electronic unlock button would not operate, the key remote would not operate. I had to kick out the driver's side window to get out. I found that the battery had lost connection. My question is should people be able to be locked in their car? Is this a design flaw? Should cars have some sort of a mechanical over-ride so that a person cannot be locked inside? Since this happened I have been able to recreate the scenario with the same outcome...locked in the car with no way to get out. Car sitting in limbo...afraid to drive. Suggestions?

 

You couldn't pull the lock button up?

 

Sure, I tried grabbing at them but there is no button. The lock goes down inside the door. I believe they are anti-theft locks....it prevents people from hooking them and pulling them up from outside...I guess.

 

You could have pulled the hatch release under the back seat and climbed out the back.

 

I think you can release the rear hatch from inside... There should be a handle that you can pull on.

 

Sometimes I miss the simple things cars used to have...like windows that you had to crank and locks that you had to push and pull.

 

+1. Pull up the back seat bottom cushion. There is a lever there. Pull the lever to release the rear hatch. Then hope that you are not wearing a short skirt as you climb out.....

 

Double pulling the handle didn't work? Emergency boot latch cable under the rear seat, like everyone said.

 

I smell a troll. Poster has 2 posts and a story that's hard to believe.

 

Stinks like a troll to me too...

The door locks on an R53 are mechanical, and don't need a battery to function! There is a hatch release cable under the rear seat... Also not dependent on the battery. It is impossible to "lock yourself in" a MINI, hell the only way to lock yourself out of an R56 is to lock the doors with the hatch open, place the keys in the rear cargo area and shut the hatch! Its also required to have all the passenger doors to open with no battery power by the government!

Good try troll, next time try the BlondeStar button...

 

Happened to me in my R52. Locked inside and worst a storm was coming with the top down. :-P

 

The op's story is only possible on the EARLY 2002 cars that did not have a Bowden cable...
So unless BOTH doors were defective, it is a troll IMO...or somebody who freaked out and did not pull the handles 2x.....
Guess if the op shut the car off...and used key remote to lock the door (while sitting in the car?!?!?!)...it could be possible..remember a warning about locking the car with the remote if in the car...but any sane person would then use the same key remote to unlock it....
Sounds odd......

 

I like trolls......(':

 

Forget the "troll" ...let's get real if you're locked in a car....what option do have?

 

I have an 05 and I was locked in my car many times during winter, had to have someone open the hatch and let me out.

 

But again, you should be able to open the rear hatch, if you're aware of the release lever.

 

Does anyone have a picture of the release lever on the 2005 MINI? Help us please!

 

Lift up the rear seat cushion....there is a cable...
Just pull.

 

There was a picture of one of the various versions of the cable in the "what is this, I want to pull it" thread from a couple of days ago....

 

During an ice storm with freezing rain does not count!! That can and DOES happen in any car if the door seals are not lubed and the driver is....er...never mind.
Mostly just joshing ya
...but only the early 2002 cars lacked the Bowden cables....
The boot hatch cannot be opened from the outside if the battery is dead...the button on the exterior is an ELECTRIC HATCH RELEASE.....

 

That is what I though; however, the posting by bavmotors is making me have second thoughts about the release lever. I think that it's required by law to have a release handle in case you're kidnapped and locked in a car.

I still say a pictire is worth a thousand words. We need a picture of the cable and handle!

 

Thank you ZippyNH, I will look at that thread. I will not reply to this thread again.

mini_wisconsin

 

As long as it's not 100 degrees F outside, I'm thinking NAP......

 

That rule, i'm 99% sure does not apply to hatchback cars....to get out of the trunk you situp...
And the DATE of that rule...look it up...gen1 mini's don't fall under it anyway...looking at 2002-2006 cars here....

 

Lol...or a funny 911 call ..they would say(if they owned a mini)..."er...you have a mini right....FIRST TIME unlocks the door, second time opens it"....
I do value self rescue...but if I had to smash a window....seems like the passenger side would be simpler...
You could get a bigger swing...and still drive the car for a few days if you had too....and based upon where one was sitting would be easier to KICK OUT...NOT SURE how one would do that to a driversside window....not THAT much room in a mini....
Fun thread!!! Lots of life!! Think we should post on the Honda site we sat down and died of boredom and needed a pacemaker to stay alive!!??