Hi,
I'm hoping someone can help; I've got an 05 mini cooper S and I'm having problems with the rear hatch. All of a sudden starting today the hatch won't open using the key fob...i have to pop it open using the manual release under the back seat. After checking fuses and taking the piece off the back hatch where the hand release is I noticed something strange. I turned on the headlights to see if the little lights on both sides of the handle turned on to see if it had power (the lights did turn on) and sure enough the key fob starting working the trunk properly. I turned the headlights off and the key fob stopped working the trunk. I then tried with the headlights in the first position (parking lights) and the key fob worked. So it seems i may have a wiring problem since i can only release the trunk with my lights on. This is really weird. Any ideas how to resolve this?

 

Remove the rear handle, and clean the contacts(plug), add some dielectric grease to stop corossion...bet the foam gasket on the back of the handle has become flat...that let water in...
Thinking the lights being on changes the resistance...letting the latch open electrically.
Good luck.

 

Thanks. I'll give it a try