I have done a few searches on my problem and have not come up with anything. I am in a bit of a rush to complete the job so your help is appreciated.

I am installing new speakers, amp, and head unit in my 2010 MCS, and have started working on removing everything inside. Battery is removed, and so are the seats. I forgot to open the boot, and since the battery is not connected, I cannot use the remote. Is there a latch or a pull type inside the boot that I can manually open the boot? Thanks.

 

I haven't heard of one, but can't you just connect the battery for a second to open it?

 

Hmm. I know on 07 to early 08 models there was a pull cable under the front passenger seat or something like that to realese the boot, but I am pretty sure they got rid of it. I really don't know if there is a manual latch. You think there would be for safety reasons.

 

Pull up on the back seat and pull the ring in the center and the rear hatch will open

 

I can't connect the battery 'cause my seats are out and are not plugged in (airbag/person sensor). If I do connect it with the seats out... i'll throw a code which from reading here, only the dealership can clear. That means $$$

Awesome, I'll try this when I get home oxy

 

There should be one somewhere as they are required by federal law.

 

I don't know if that law applies since if you're trapped inside, you can escape through one of the doors.

 

In most cars you are capable of doing that even in sedans where they actually have a trunk just by letting the back seat fold forward but they are still required as is the MINI to have a hatch release on the inside.

 

In that case, Mini's skirting the law because the latch release is not clearly visible in the dark.

 

Yeah they are not the only ones, try and find it in a honda, subaru, or any other car in the dark they do not have lights on them. No one ever said the law made sense.

 

If you look in any enclosed trunk of a car made in the last few years, you'll see a federally mandated latch release which is visible in the dark (no light required).

That's why I suspect that law doesn't apply to cars with "trunks" which aren't fully enclosed, as is the case in hatchbacks like the Mini. There's no inside latch release for the rear door of my minivan either.

 

I don't think they are skirtting the law. It aint the same as being thrown in the trunk of a Crown Vic.

Picture this: You stop at a red light in a shady part of town late one night. Some thug sticks a glock in your ear and forces you in the boot of your MINI. You lay there pondering your fate and lamenting these facts about the emergency boot release handle 1) it doesn't glow in the dark 2) doesn't have a light shining on it and 3) is inaccessible from the boot.

Relax. If you fit in the boot of your MINI, it is going to take the thug a few minutes to adjust the seat and figure out how to start your MINI. After stalling the thing 3 or 4 times, you'll be yelling at him to hit the sport button.

 

My boot release on the outside failed and hed to have the entire switch replaced. Easy job about 5 minutes and was under warranty. When I called the service department I was told there is no other means to open the hatch...for what it is worth.

 

Thanks. I couldn't find the boot release under the seat, and I had to put everything back in so I got the battery connected and used the remote.

 

Unfortunately, you can't always rely on what a dealer tells you. If they don't know an answer, they'll make up something. Nature of the beast.

In the R53 days, the dealers around here were unaware of most of the programmable options. They denied that certain options even existed. Customers had to educate the dealers. It's alarming when customers know more about their cars' capabilities than the dealers.

 

Does anyone have a photo of the location of said ring?

 

Not sure how useful this is, but it was the only photo I could find. The rear seat has been removed. The white sleeve on the black ring goes into that grey metal bracket just to its left in the photo. This is in the center of the car under the back seat.

This is from a 2007. I think someone reported that some later models don't have it.

 

When I looked, I didn't see the black ring and cable under my seat. I guess later builds just don't have it...

 

 

Thanks, Robin and Oxy. Now, if I ever need to look for it, I'll know approximately where and what it looks like!