I gotta tell ya, I can feel where the OP is coming from. I'm having trunk problems too. I had practically the whole boot of my R53 torn apart tonight trying to fix the boot-pops-on-its-own problem. Once I got the release switching mechanism cleaned and reinstalled, I couldn't get the damn boot to close. I ended up having to adjust the placement of the bottom catch/receiver and adjust all four of the rubber boot lid stops. I'm still not confident that it will stay closed or latch properly the next time I use it - yet I can't find anything wrong with it - it just doesn't work right.

For a car that has 8,300 miles on it, that does not bode well for its future. It's really frustrating.

I really hope that this is a fluke and it's the last problem I have with my R53. But after I saw how the boot release was designed, I'm not confident. The thing was built to trap water. I'm thinking of grabbing a tube of silicone calking and laying a bead around the boot handle. That will seal it up, but it will look like crap. Ugh.

I still love my Mini, but damn, it could have waited until I've owned it at least a week before breaking!

Tom, you do know there was a TSB issued for the rear latch. They replaced the chrome one with a redesigned black one. Check with your dealer.

Thank you Bigshot!! I didn't know. If I can get it replaced for free that would be awesome!

Ugh. Can anyone point me to the TSB for the boot latch? I can't find it for love nor money.

The latch change was the loop part... It was swapped out for one that was less prone to rattling.
Often if people had the old latch, they would twist bumper feet on the trunk up till the trunk would almost not close...and sometimes wrap some tape around the latch.

TSB are not easy to find as they are strictly in house kinds of things. All you need to do is contact a dealer and complain about the boot not closing or rattling. If they plead ignorance, just bump it up to the service manager and even to MINIUSA.

The German half of ME sayeth they were not the one's who disconnected your battery and then closed your boot .

The Mini part of me says all cars have their quirks, as do some owners.

Happy Motoring.