Just picked up the new car yesterday. Every thing is perfect EXCEPT Trunk won't open. It worked when I picked it up. It appears not to be electronic. You can hear the recycling. The problem is the rubber squeeze on the outside is like an upside down U. The lever that use to be there appears to be jammed up into the open position.
Compared to son's mini and there is definitely no lever to squeeze like his. Wish I could explain it better but ...
Dealer is 1 1/2 hours away and has never heard of something like this but I can bring it in. Right now I use the manual release when I need to open it. Before I make the trek down to dealer I wondered if any had either heard of this or know the right fix to do.
Do I like the car? Put 300 miles on it in 24 hours, just can't stop driving and smiling.

Thanks

 

Congrats on your new MINI.


I also took delivery of my new '05 MCS over 3 weeks ago and haven't had any problems with the hatchback electric release. In fact, it does work very smoothly.

Have you tried opening the hatchback only using the "Hatch" release button in your remote key?

If you have done so and you find the rubber switch pad not to respond when pressed, then you may have a defective electric switch actuator or there could be something wrong with the hatch's electric lock mechanism.
The "cycling" toy gun noise you are hearing tells me right away that there is a problem with your lock hatchback lock mechanism. We had this problem when my wife's 2002 Cooper was new, but then again, that was a very common problem and complaint with the first year MINIs. 3 years later, this type of problem has virtually been eliminated and in fact is not common to hear about hatch lock related problems in new production MINIs. I also had a 2004 MCS and never encountered any issues with the hatchback lock.

Do you have to slam the hatchback when closing it? Does it close smoothly? The hatch may need further adjustment of the 2 rubber stops on each side of the underside portion of the tailgate.

I would recommend doing simple tests but if you don't succeed on the tailgate releasing and opening smoothly, I am afraid you have no choice to make the hour and a half drive back to your dealer.

 

i know it's a silly question, but I have to ask, the boot is unlocked isnt it? i.e. try and open passenger door, if that doesnt work either, then u need to press unlock again.

 

Thanks for the input. Had the sales person on phone and we did the whole lock and and unlock thing to insure, rear hatch was indeed unlocked. It is just like the lever never returned from its position when I last squeezed it open. Is it easy to get to this mechanism by taking the rear inside panel off the hatch?

 

The hatch on my '05 is occasionally trouble-some; it acts as if there is simply an adjustment problem. Make sure that the hatch is fully closed by pushing it down firmly and then try to open it.