Hi,
My girlfriend has a 2012 S with 37000. Recently she experience a no start. Symptom was no starter engagement and lights/windows did not work. It was towed to mini dealer under warranty. It was diagnosed as bad alternator and the alternator was replaced. I have searched all over and can't find anywhere talking about bmw/mini having an alternator test and subsequent prevention of start in the start sequence. I am boggled how you possibly need an alternator to engage a starter. Can someone explain this to me?
Cables/ charger were tried.

Thanks for your help.

 

If the battery was weak from the car running with a bad alternator, it would explain WHY the car would not start...the battery was not charged enough!! Many folks rush with jumpstarts, using tiny cables...the thinner the cable, the longer the time to jump...
Other possibility is the alternator had the bearings fail, siezing unit, resulting in a stuck belt....

 

+1 on the Battery ran low. Battery engages the starter. Never heard of a alt going bad that low of millage. If the car has been sitting long period of time, also with the doors open and closed, radio on and still not started, that what kill the batteries.