I have a 2002 MINI Cooper S I've read several posts on the seats not functioning properly. My seat however the lever on the driver side (left) inboard side of the seat where you can adjust the decline and recline position just spins no tension what so ever. What could be causing this? Will I need to buy a new seat?

 

Sorry this is an old post, but I have the same issue and I believe it is unrelated to the typical "Mini Cooper seat back recline problem" as both levers are connected to the same rod, so if one lever works, then the issue can't be in the seat back, it has to be with the lever.

My daugthers Mini has the same problem with the outboard drivers side lever. And I spent some time in the junkyard and bought a spare seat.

I have seen two types of levers for these seats:
1) "Plain" lever with a square metal insert molded into a plastic lever. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out how the plastic will crack and strip away from the insert
2) "Complex" levers like on our 2005 Model S - It also has a metal insert molded into plastic. But it also has springs, and a metal disc that interfaces with a plastic disk that bolts to the seat

So I don't the answer yet, but I will be pulling my daughters seat apart next weekend and I will post an update.