For the last few weeks, my MINI(‘06 R52 non-S) hasn’t been starting. I had a new Bosch starter installed about a month ago. The battery is August ‘19 but I also bought a new battery and that did not work.
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when the key is turned to the crank position, a humming or buzzing noise can be heard from the engine bay and only stops when the key is turned to the off position.
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my mechanic isn’t sure what to do, he found a bad battery cable so he installed a tandem battery cable from a BMW.

the only way I’ve been able to “reliably” start the car is with a push start(5-speed) but that’s very hard because I’m a 110 lb very small man. At this point I have no idea what to do.

 

What happens when you turn the key to start?

 

I get that buzzing noise as well.

 

If you can push start it your problem is with;

battery
circuit to starter (bad ground maybe)
bad starter

I’d start checking wire connections and cleaning checking grounds...

have the battery load tested at auto zone (free)

or find another Indy shop