Has anyone tried to push start their mini by rolling the car and popping the clutch? I wonder if that's possible with the button ignition.

 

I’ve popped mine before and it fired up easy, but I don’t have the button starter so I can’t help you there.

 

You could always just give it a try. Might be nice to know before you HAVE to have it. It's also called "bump starting".

 

I read a NAM post where someone said they had to do that repeatedly. Not sure what year MINI it was, though.

 

I don't have my MINI yet so can't try it. Was just curious.

 

If your battery's totally dead it probably won't work -- you need power for the computer.

 

According to the the manual using tow start is permissible with the R56 , not auto of course

 

Actually I just got my mini today and my dealer told me that you could start the R56 going down hill in second gear and popping the clutch. He actually got into that when he was telling me about the battery and what would happen if it died. Apparently you can do this with all manual trans cars. I never new until today and I'm already spreading the word!!

 

I drove a '65 Chevy pick up for a year without a functional starter. I married the girl I was dating. She's still with me.

 

The girl or the car??

 

The wife. 27 years!
Sometimes I have to push start her now.

 

I think it was the Chevy that didn't have a functional starter, but I could be wrong.

 

Robin, You just can't help yourself..........

 

This is correct.. when the battery is less than 10.3 volts .

Tried this with my MINI due to Starter gone bad and caused a Major drain.. If the batter was at or less that 10.3 volt i could attempt to Pull (towed behind another car) or Bump start the car all day and it wouldnt start.

I charged the battery some (sitting volts 11.2) and the car started with in 5 feet of the Bump or popping of the clutch.

 

I have a 2007 Mini Cooper S. I covered it with the factory car cover yesterday, not realizing that the ignition was still active. My battery drained overnight and I had to unlock with the key, instead of the go comfort access or the remote. I was succesful in push starting with no charge on the battery. The only probelm I had was that the steering lock malfunction light came on in red, until I went into a store and let it sit for a while, then all was well again.

 

If you have a nice hill third gear is smoother. I’ve done it in reverse too.