I had my S tucked away for it's second winter and tried to take it out for a spin this week only to find that I was struck by the cursed low battery syndrome.

The initial startup gave the symptoms described in other threads with weak or dead batteries: car won't start, loud relay popping noises on and off..

Here's a new one though, my light switch stopped working and the xenons automatically come on whenever my key is in position 2.

I charged the battery over night and drove over to the closest MINI dealership where they tell me that I needed a replacement BC1 module. After they replaced that, my light switch turns the headlights on/off properly when the car is running.

My car is still wonky though because I could have sworn that if I turn the low beams on (with the ignition off) that the headlights would come on. I can only turn the lights on when the key is in the position 2. Am I recalling it's functionality incorrectly after not driving my car for two months???? I could have sworn when I first got my MINI that I used to just goof off in the dark garage by turning on my lights just to see them auto-level on the garage wall (without the ignition on). Also, now when I just turn the lights to position 1 for the parking lights, I hear the system auto-leveling the headlights. I could have sworn that the lights auto-level only when the light switch was in position 2. Can you guys confirm/deny this for me?

Or is this related to the vehicle memory programming choices that are all gone. I have to go back to the dealership and get my automatic door locks, convenience opening mode, follow me home lamps, and other stuff reprogrammed because none of those are active now

 

(on my '05) I have never turned my headlights on with the ignition off but... If I have my headlights on & then turn my Mini off, the headlights turn themselves off & only the driving lights stay lit

 

so what about the auto leveling? do your hear the xenon headlamps auto leveling when only the parking lights are turned on?

 

To be honest I have never turned only my parking lights on. I'm kinda an all or nothin gal I will go out at lunch & give it a try & let ya know.

 

If you pull back on the stalk that holds the light functions when the ignition is off (like you are activating the brights when driving), your lights turn on and stay on for a period of time if that is programmed into your car. I think it is the "follow me home" option or something like that. But I've never been able to simply turn my lights on with the ignition off.

 

I know that "follow me home" is a programmable option. It's been 2 years so I am foggy, but I remember that function to be...when you turn the Mini & your lights off, the lights will stay on for a set amount of time. I could be wrong though as I opted out of this option

 

oops, just noticed that this thread is in the wrong forum. should be in the 1st gen.

thx for the replies so far

 

They don't stay on, you have to pull back on the stalk after the car is off and they come on.