Driver door doesn't open with remote or
 

Driver door doesn't open with remote or go down when the door lock toggle is pushed. Double clicking the key doesn't open the moonroof and windows?
What happened?

Key battery dead? How old is the key? How often do you use it? The operators manual says to switch between the keys for longish drives to keep the battery charged. Perhaps this is the problem.

Or maybe you aren't close enough. Of course you could be right next to it, but you don't say. :-)

The '04 and earlier MINIs (with the nicer rounded key) do not charge the key in the ignition - instead there is a replaceable battery inside the key.

Are both of your keys doing it or only one? If only one of them is doing it, and you can confirm its not a battery issue with the key, then this "sync" issue could be the problem. I've had mine (2005 MCS) lose "sync" and stop working and had to re-sync them. I spoke with a friend who's a tech at a Mini dealer and confirmed this sequence worked, and sure enough, solved my problem.

Mini Key Programming Instructions
This is for the key that has 3 buttons: 1) unlock 2) lock 3) boot unlock only.
The lock or center button has the Mini logo.
Here is the sequence:
1) Get in and close all doors.
2) Put your key in the ignition and turn it forward to the accessory mode, and then right back off, you do not start your Mini.
3) Remove the key.
4) HOLD DOWN the unlock (1) button and press the lock button 3 times (center button/Mini logo on the key). Release the unlock button and the doors should lock, which confirms the operation was successful.
5) Repeat for Key #2 (if you don't do them at the same time you'll sync one, and then de-sync the other! So do one right after the other without turning the key on again, just do step 4 for the second key right after the first key)

Thanks for all the help. Maybe its the battery.
 

I have the two button version and only one auto key. The other is a dummy valet. (Bought the car used and stuff was missing). First thing, will check the battery. Thanks

Update on lock. It can't be the battery.
 

Driver's door does not unlock with remote, but closes with it. Passenger door both opens and closes with remote. Driver's door lock does not recede when the automatic lock feature goes on at 15 mph, while the passenger side does.
Driver's side does not go down when you press the lock toggle on the dashboard. Is there a reset protocol for cars with the two button remote?

weird, mine doesn't either..I usually have to pull the handle for it to open...:lol:
...oops, sorry..that wasn't funny :sad:

The passenger door locks and unlocks with the remote and the dash toggle. Drivers doesn't unlock from remote or lock at 15 mph so I assume you are manually unlocking it? Does the dash toggle switch lock it?

It seems from these symptoms the solenoid activator may be mechcanically jammed or the solenoid has failed. Pull the door panel and verify voltage at the connectors while operating the toggle or dealer time as sync proceedure probably won't heal.

I have the same exact problem that just started yesterday. Would this be covered under the long term dealer warrenty?

Hey Drsms22

My mini is doing the exact same thing as yours. Have you had any luck fixing it? I took the door panel off today to have a look inside but had no luck. The locking mechanism still work when I push it down to close and when I pull on the handle to unlock it. It seems like the electronic portion of the locking mechanism has died put the mechanical parts is still working.

The dealer replaced the solenoid thing under warrenty and it works fine now.