At 75K miles, Tater's battery crapped out. After a friend shelled out so I could get a new battery, I now need to replace it myself. Anyone have any helpful hints, know of a video available, etc?

Many, many thanks and mucho lovo!
ingrid

 

We have two '06 convertible 'S' MINIs, and the battery replacement is very straightforward. Use a 10 mm wrench to disconnect the positive and negative cables, disconnect the vent tube from the side of the battery, disconnect the battery hold-down bracket (I think that's a 10 mm fastener as well, but I'm not positive). Then lift the old battery out, put the new battery in, and re-fasten everything.

When I replaced the battery in my wife's MINI, the new battery that I got from the dealer didn't have the attachment for the vent tube, so at some point I guess MINI went to a ventless design.

 

I replaced the battery in my wife 2006 mini s r52. Go to sears and buy their battery. It's better than aftermarket battery's and the dealer batteries are junk too.

 

If you purchase one from Autozone, they will install your new battery for free.

 

Since your new battery may not have the same exact dimensions of the old one, here is what I went through.
When I bought my Mini someone had replaced the battery but didn't bother to put the bracket back on or hook up the vent tube (probably done at one of those places that installs them for free...). The bottom of the battery had a lip that hooks onto a lip on the hold-down bracket. The battery was just a smidgen wide and the the stud that holds the bracket down couldn't thread into its hole since it was at an angle (no wonder the bracket wasn't installed...). I reamed out the hole in the bracket a bit and then the stud was able to thread in. I then had a gap of about 1/4" between the top of the bracket and the battery since the new battery is apparently not as tall. I took a block of wood and wrapped it in duct tape until it was the ideal thickness to insert between the bracket and the battery.
The vent nipple on the new battery was oval shaped and a much larger diameter than the stock vent hose. Additionally, it was on the opposite side of the battery from stock so the tube wouldn't reach even if the diameter was correct. I went to Lowe's and found some clear tubing that was a snug fit over the battery nipple and the inside diameter was large enough so I could insert the stock vent tube inside of it. A strip of duct tape around the tubes ensures no fume leakage and that the tubes won't vibrate apart. Good luck with your install!