So this one is weird. After coming to a complete stop, my wife can shift into park and turn the ignition off. You would think we could remove the key fob. Nope. It's as if the clasps that hold the key in place won't release. When this happens, an indicator on the dash lights up with a gear symbol on it. This only happens occasionally. We have tried to rule out operator error and follow the manual. Sometimes, it'll work great for several days. Others, it happens every time she drives it. It's happened to me with my key maybe twice. I even checked her key to see if any debris was jammed in the bottom of the holes. Everything looked clean. So, we'll have it checked on Wednesday while getting the chrome trim either replaced or painted. Here's hoping for the best!!

 

Call the dealership?

 

Yes, we call the service advisors a couple of times to see if there was something strange we were doing wrong. According to them, we're not. Actually, my wife's key is stuck in it right now. She just got back from the Vet's office and it jammed there and in our drive way. I just hate that the dealership is 270 miles away. Oh well, we accept this before we purchased. She is taking it there tomorrow.

 

Are you pushing it in a bit before you try to remove it. I recall I had to do that with my R56. I have comfort now and still have to do that.

Bill

 

So here is what the dealership said. They readjusted the shifter assembly handle forward to more accurately engage the switch or sensor. But the cause of the problem was most likely fluid draining from the cup holders through the screw holes in the bottom onto the shifter assembly. They said that "I" would need to get or make something to seal off the screw holes. Any future problems would not be eligible for a warranty claim. Sounds pretty $hitty if you ask me.

 

I think it is cheesy that the cup holders have the screws showing... When I picked my car up I thought they had forgotten to put the bottom pieces in...
I cut black automotive carpet to fit in the cup holders...
I would have expected MINI to provide something similar to this

 

Scratch that!!! Back at the dealership this morning. Wife's key stuck in the receptacle again. Dealership say it may be transmission related. Not llokin good for MINI with 3,500 miles on the car.

 

Problem solved! A technician dove into the car a little deeper this time and found that the shifter assembly spring of some sort had woked its way into a bind. It wasn't able to engage the switch for allow the key to be ejected. They removed the assembly, disassembled and reassembled it, and so far there has not been and issue with it. I'm betting it was a soda or something that spilled in the cup holder and leaked into the shifter assembly. Anyway, happy to have a functioning MINI again!

 

Guess what, it happened again. SO I figured I would dive into the issue hands first. I knew right off the bat that she or one of the kids had spilled something on the shift boot around the shifter.

After disassembling the shifter, accessory rail, and cup holder assembly I found the issue. There is a black cover that snaps loose from the shifter safety interlock. There is a lever type switch under the cover. I'm guessing that it is magnetic. There is also an orange shifter lock over ride handle to the right of the assembly. It slides down in a lip on the very edge and has a pivot point by the magnetic switch. Both the lip and the pivot point we gummed up with most likely a Coke or something.

I used some de-natured alcohol and q-tips to clean the gunk off the assembly. As for the lip full of schmutz, I used some electrical contact cleaner using the little red straw. I made sure to get the spray that is safe for plastic and that would not discolor the plastic.

I tested the shifter interlock by pressing on the brake pedal with the ignition on. I could see it release everytime I hit the brake. I also ran through all the gears to make sure the switch was acurately moving for each gear switch.

So far, I think I have the issue licked. I am trying to find a solution to the fluid leak around the shifter boot still. I thought that maybe a good sponge or something to help absord the spills might work. Any other ideas?

 

Yet another victim of drinking and driving. It's no wonder the German car engineers roll their eyes when they have to design in cupholders for the American market. Fellas, put down the Slurpees!

 

My GF stays mad at me because I refuse to let her have anything liquid at all inside of my car. I had a friend with a Corvette that his wife spilled a coke on the passenger side and it took out all of his computers. The one under the passenger seat as well as shorting out the main computer and some sensors. It was $12.000 including the labor to replace everything. The car was never the same so he lost more money trading it in on another corvette.

No fluid open or closed will ever be in my car. (((NEVER)))

When I food shop I always make sure my liquids stay upright in the boot. Even the canned cokes are upright and secure.

 

+1

 

Wow! Long trips in your car must be uncomfortable. I do insist on bottles rather than cans, though.

 

She really needs a sippy cup!