Ya gotta be pretty old like some guy I know who took driver's ed in high school where driving a stick shift was part of the drill. We were taught all that about parking on hills and using the engine for braking at the proper times. Too bad that the education system has let that go. There would be a lot less distress on the roadways these days.

 

It seems like keeping the MINI in gear isn't enough. I tested it on my driveway (with me in the car!), I put it in 1st with no power and the MINI still rolled. I ALWAYS keep the e-brake engaged when I park the MINI. My XTerra will not roll forward if I only put it in 1st.

 

I hate to admit it but this happened to me also.
I kinda thought I was the only one.
I did forget to leave it in gear and "Thought" I had the E-brake tight enough.
I was lucky, discovered it an hour later in the neighbors front yard.
Really Spooked me out.....

 

OK, well now I gotta ask. I've known emergency brakes to freeze up in cold weather. Even though I always park the car in gear, during winter months I seldom use the emergency brake. Any thoughts?

 

I've been driving manuals for 35 years and have never had a e-brake freeze up on me in the winter, or any other time for that matter and I always set my brake, incline or not.

 

You really can't consider yourself a true stick-shift driver unless you've had to run after your wayward MINI at least once! Been there, done that!

 

An e-brake will freeze up in cold weather if you park the rear end of the car in a pond.

 

The Mini E brake system is manual cable hookedup to the rear cylinders, which rotate and lockon to the disc. The problem is that when it is applied to a hot disk and pad they will cool down eventually and lose their grip and then you have a runaway situation if you are parked on a slope and not in gear. It has happened to a lot of owners in other posts.