So, I open the garage and see that my parking lights are on and most likely were on all night.

When I first got my MINI I'd accidentally hit the "wash windshield" with my key hand,,,must have done something similar with the lights???

It started right up,,no warnings, and everything seems fine. I guess what I'm wondering is, has anyone ever seen something similar happen.

 

I have left my parking lights on before overnight and was able to start the car the next morning. It all depends on the condition of the battery. A newer battery will be more durable than one that is a few years old.

 

Fatherdeth,

The heck of it is, I don't even remember touching the parking lights.
I'm being a little to paranoid about Lola. I've already done three bed checks and she's just fine.

 

The parking lights are designed to be left on all night (it's a European thing...) so don't worry.

 

911Fan

Thanks for that info.

 

Did you notice whether it was just one side of the car that the parking lights were on? If you accidentally hit the turn signal stalk down or up, that side parking lights will come on and stay on. Like 911 fan said, it's a Euro thing.

 

Fatherdeth,

Wow,, all this has been great to find out. I'm such a clutz and now it makes sense that I probably bumped the turn signal stalk with out realizing what I'd done. This little car is a trip.
Thanks so much

 

Why do Europeans leave their lights on overnight?

 

The turn signal thing is only for one side at a time, not both sides. If you saw both sides lit up you may have an electrical glitch like so many cars have had.

 

Some countries req that you leave on the street side parking lights at night on the narrow streets so folks driving by know how close they get to your car......

 

I found this out the hard way. I parked the car in the garage for the weekend and when I came back the battery was dead. Now I check for the parking lights every time I park it. None of my BMWs have done this.

 

Could it be that you just left the headlights on? I know that on my '06 MCS, the headlights will go off but the parking lights stay on when the key is removed and the light switch is still set to "on".

 

Nope it was the turn signal.

 

That should be required here in America. What I would like to see is a factory option force field around the car when you put it in park.

 

Ahhh it all makes perfect sense. Thakns for the info.

 

if one of these lights are out can i just go to a local autozone or something like that to get a replacement bulb? and is there a diy or anything.... i believe my passanger side one is out

 

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I just got an '06 MCS and non of the passenger side parking lights are working. I thought the bulbs were blown at first, but after replacing the front one and it still didn't work, I figured there's something else going on. Could this possibly be the turn signal stalk deal?

 

I had this problem with my right hand side (passenger) parking light, the one in the bumper that shares the opening with the indicator, a little while back. Bulb was fine, but it would not always turn on right away when I turned the lights on. Turns out the socket was bad, which my MINI mechanic said was not uncommon on the '06. He replaced it with a new part (around $20ish from MINI) and it has been absolutely fine since.

 

I thought it was my socket as well, but none of the parking lights on the right side of the car work. I even tried swapping them around between the bumper light and the fender lights and non of them work. :-/