So I just got home from a relatively brief drive (<30 minutes) and pulled into my apartment parking space. As is my habit, I shifted into reverse, then with my feet on the brake and clutch, I pushed the parking brake button with my thumb and pulled up to engage it. I felt a bit of unusual resistance and pulled it further, and I heard a very loud SNAP sound. From that point forward, moving the parking brake feels like it has about half the resistance it had before. I did shift into neutral and the parking brake seems to stop the car from rolling back still.

Is this something to be concerned about? Is it normal? Do I have to make a service appointment? I am on the eastside of Seattle and my closest dealership is in Tacoma, and I really, really can't afford to lose a day of work driving all the way down to Tacoma to get my MINI repaired - especially if Northwest MINI doesn't offer rental cars to people who didn't buy their car there!

Edit: 05 MINI Cooper S, Manual transmission, 4100 miles on the clock.

Cheers,
Ben

 

It sounds like something has "let go" and a trip to the dealer would seem to be in order, unless you are mechanically inclined.

 

Since I don't own one yet, take this with a grain of salt:

Most parking brakes are cable operated. There's two, one going back to each rear wheel. It sounds like one of yours bound and then broke (I doubt the cable did, but more than likely one of the attachment points).

I'd call an SA, describe the problem to him/her and see what they say.

As long as you leave it in gear when parked, turn the wheel to curb in on a hill, etc. I doubt you'd have a problem. If you could live with it until your regular service visit.

But for all I know, the new MINIs are park by wire. . . .

 

Look under your car, see if you can see handbrake cable dangling anywhere. Check both rear wheels.

Another test, with handbrake on, jack up the car, one side at time at the rear, and see if the wheels are locked.