I LOVE my 2005 MC !!! I've had it just a year. But its first weird malfunction, just recently, is an intermittent problem with the mechanism that locks the boot. Sometimes, but not all the time, it will not unlock. Not with the interior unlock switch or with the unlock buttons on the key. Thankfully, I learned about the manual pull ring under the back seat to pop the boot....

Brought it to Classic Mini here in NE Ohio where, though it did not malfunction for them that day, they replaced the lock. Great. It worked fine now for 2 weeks but now is malfunctioning again. But not consistently.

Anybody else have this problem??? I'm bringing it back to Classic but I'm afraid it won't misbehave for them and they'll begin to think I'm crazy.

Would love to hear about anyone else's experience with this problem.

Thanks.

 

I picked up my 06 MCS on Dec. 19. On the morning of Christmas Eve, I had the same problem you describe. Tried every which way to unlock it, from the inside, outside, no luck. AND I had a boot full of groceries that I needed immediately. Being Christmas Eve, of course the dealer was closed. In desperation I called Mini roadside assistance, never really thinking they would be able to help me. But the young woman who took my call was so patient and helpful, she read through the manual (which I had done too) and found the section about the manual boot unlock underneath the back seat. She definitely saved my day! After I removed my groceries, I closed the boot (but did not lock it) and again it would not open. It remained that way for the rest of the day, but the next day it opened normally and has been fine ever since. I have no idea what that's all about, but if it happens again, at least I now know the emergency procedure.

 

I have a convertible that has the same issue. The boot latch was replaced & when I went outside to check it the dang thing still wouldn't open. Finally the service manager got ahold of the right person @ Mini who told him it is a known issue on convertibles. I apologize in advance for my terminology, I don't know exactly how to phrase this but here I go:

They said if you slam the boot (& their idea of a slam isn't my idea of a slam ) that the latching mechanism will over-lock. By over-lock I mean the part that rotates & holds the boot closed will over rotate. Then when you use your key to unlock it it will rotate in the unlock direction but not enough due to the previous over rotate in the locking direction. Basically I was told to shut my boot gently. Since I now shut my boot gently it rarely happens.

 

Mine has done it a few times. I have no idea what causes it or what will fix it. I had to use the manual release each time and, like you, the next day everything was fine.

 

Same here

 

Sounds reasonable... Could maybe it also be frozen locks?

 

I don't think that the tempeture has anything to do with it because mine hasn't "permalocked" this winter, but three or four times last summer. It also sounds like it happens on all MINI's since we've got an MC, a convetible, and an MCS (all different years) reporting the problem.

 

I should add that I had a 04 MC for 1 1/2 years and never experienced this problem with that car. (Or any other problems for that matter! )

With respect to the slamming/overlocking issue, that sounds reasonable, since I do slam my boot. Reason being if I close it gently, it does not close all the way. So it is very possible that I slammed the s--t out of it the day this happened.

 

keep in mind, it's just suppose to unlock, not pop out like on any other bmw. I went in with mine the other day and she told yep, just unlocks it doesn't "pop" out. Kinda a bummer in my opinion but eh.

 

I don't expect it to pop out, but I do expect to be able to open the damn thing and get my groceries out!

 

Not the case for me as I am in Alabama & the weather hasn't been that cold since I got the Mini (had the top down 2 weeks ago )

What Mini calls a slam I call a normal shut. Now I just try to pay more attention & close it gently cause it is a pain to be standing in the Grocery store parking lot with a cart full of groceries & right as someone comes up to me to admire my Mini & say HI--I try to open my boot. I can't get in. Makes me look like an idiot :impatient

 

Well, thanks everyone for sharing the many stories of similar problems you've had.

My husband has just tonight made a discovery....he has figured out that the switch in the hatch/boot (the part you grab to lift the boot) intermittently engages and does not engage when you press it over and over. If it will not engage, the lock will not release and that boot will not open. We might actually get to the bottom of this !!!! I'm going to Classic Mini tomorrow morning with this new information.

When I was there 2 weeks ago and they "fixed" it, they replaced the lock mechanism on the bottom, did not deal with the switch in the hatch itself.

I'll report back. It's hard to believe that since this seems to be such a common problem that it hasn't been solved as yet. I hope we're on the right track -- this is a very inconvenient and annoying thing.

 

I had the same problem. Thought it was weather/tempature related until this morining when it happened again. Got to work and couldn't open my hatch to get to my laptop case. Luckily I work down the road from Mini of Sterling. Well, not so lucky. They were able to get my computer case out but I now have an appointment for three weeks from tomorrow.

Does anyone know the cause? I tired to get them to keep the car while the problem is active but they insisted on scheduling an appointment. My fear is that when I take it back it will be functioning properly and they will give me the "couldn'g find a problem" excuse.