Try this:
Car running doors locked. Open drivers door, then shut it. Try to use the door lock switch to unlock the other door and boot.

Button will not unlock the other doors, unless I first lock everything, then push up to unlock.

I just got out for a second, then got back in to pull in the garage. I tried to unlock the door to let my girlfriend in, and could not unlock the doors until I locked them, then hit unlock.

Just a weird combination I guess, but just wondering if that's normal? I've seen some cars where you couldn't lock the driver door with the door open so you wouldn't lock yourself out with the car running, but I've never seen one where you couldn't unlock it in any situation.

 

Mine does this as well... I don't understand. I assumed it was normal...

 

Welcome to the world of software controlled everything. Sounds like a bug caused by a programmer's laziness. Sometimes these bugs are even enshrined as features -- "Yeah, they did that to make sure you don't unlock the passenger door by mistake...".

 

I think this is normal. Whether locked by the auto lock at 10 mph or the lock switch, you have locked the system with the central locking mechanism.

By opening the door you're opening the lock manually and bypassing the central system. It makes sense that it won't let you lock again since it thinks it's locked already.

Now I think opening one door and driving off will trigger the auto lock again. I think I'll try this on my way home today.

But if it does auto lock it sounds like goofy programming.

 

Spav,


I was actually able to lock the doors again, but I couldn't unlock them, unless I locked the drivers door first. That was the weird part.

 

yup i think it happens in all mini's. mine too.

 

Yep...this is exactly what happened to me this afternoon when I actually tested this. I think I might've sort of mispoke, but made sense above

Started car - Drove to 10MPH, doors locked - Stopped, opened driver's side door - Tried lock switch to lock doors, driver's door locked - Drove to 10 MPH again with driver's door unlocked, door locked at 10mph, opened driver's door - Tried to unlock other doors, using central locking switch, nothing happened.

So I guess this is how it's supposed to work, although that seems really backwards.

We need to keep in mind that the MINI uses a similar collision detection ability that BMWs use. This system should, in the event of a collision detection, unlock all the doors and turn on your hazard lights, and may (not sure it MINI does this) disconnect the main lead to the battery.

If you lock or unlock a door manually, you may be bypassing the central locking mechanism and the collision detection system may then malfunction and not unlock all the door properly.

The not allowing unlocking might be a safeguard like this that stops you from bypassing the central locks, for example only allowing the door to lock then unlock all doors/hatch to allow the system to be reset properly. That makes sense, and may just be why it works the way it does.

That's my guess.