The '10 is like that but only on the drivers side door.

 

I still think you have a fob stored in your car. Just not possible to start the car with how the car is designed unless the fob is inside the circle of trust. Did you buy the car used?
Try disconnecting the battery for about 10 minutes and see if it resets everything. Thats some weird sheet!

 

Did I miss something or does it just sound like the fob, in spite of being on top of the gas pump, was still within "range"?

It wouldn't start when they were ready to leave hockey practice, so it's not like the car will start without the fob.

 

Ok. I had a nice chat with the service manager at the Tempe, AZ location.

His thought is that the car didn't turn off the electrics when I got out to pump the fuel. Since the electrics didn't go off, it's possible that the car didn't 'realize' the key was no longer in it, and didn't run the bit of code that looks for it.

Although the car should look for the fob EVERY time the car is turned off, (being a massive nerd) it's the most plausible explanation.

The manual says it WILL NOT work unless the fob is inside. I tested with the other fob and found that there is an area from about 80 deg to the left to about 100 deg to the right of the roof line, and out to about 2 feet, the car will start. If you are in the car the the key is 2 inches past the threshold, it doesn't work.

Still going to write a nice followup letter to MINI with a suggestion that - for those of us with 6 million things going on at once while trying to get in the car - they adjust the software to either a)trigger the snippet after every instance of the engine turning off, or b) to add a bit of code to check for the fob after the car is put in drive, both easily done and can be updated when the car comes in for service.

Teaches me to drive with BOTH the hubby and 5 year old in the car.

 

creddylad, this has all the earmarks of a conspiracy. Were I you, I'd be wary.

Your key is definitely up to something, and I think the car's CPU is in on it, too. The key has obviously figured out a way to sneak out of the car for little breaks. Maybe it's a clandestine smoker. Have you checked for telltale traces of tobacco smoke or other substances? Does the key get hungry late at night?

The key may be slipping the CPU contraband of some sort to play along.

Notice how the car manual tried to cover for these two? The key WILL NOT work unless in the car - right! And what is a car manual anyway? Today, they're all produced on COMPUTERS - probably on a relative of the car's CPU.

Watch your key carefully. Today, it's an innocent trip to the gas pump. But how long before it starts staying out all night, and with whom?

I'm telling you, these cars are a lot smarter than they let on.

 

What is puzzling is that the OP said there was no warning.
When I get out of the running car to walk to my mailbox, I immediately get a chime and a key icon that entirely consumes the tach display.
I am not sure how long the icon stays on I thought it stays lit until the key is back inside?
I guess the fact that the OP was stranded at the destination got lost in the shuffle.

EDIT:
OK I just went and checked when the keyFOB is outside the car. With engine running the chime goes off only when the door is closed. Then the slash key icon only stays on the tach display for ~20 seconds. Could have easily been missed by the OP.

 

Interesting thread, esp the part about the key being above the roofline and the car still starting. I find if I just toss the fob through the window onto the seat the door will lock. It takes a few seconds for the thing to know the key is inside.