2004 BMW Mini Cooper S Convertible from UK and Ireland - Comments

My car was parked on a slight incline (NOT steep) with the handbrake fully on and it rolled into 2 cars about 10-30 minutess after I had left it.

Apparently the rear brakes heat up whilst driving, then you apply the handbrake, and as the brakes cool, the handbrake releases.

The manufacturers have received unlimited amounts of complaints, but deny this is a problem, even though they have been recalled in 2001 & 2003 - I think they are due another recall as so many people are still suffering from this fault!

Apart from the above, and the rattles, it's a cute little car with plenty of power.

Next time put it in gear as well. Rolling problem solved.

You shouldn't have to put a 2004 car in gear when you park. New cars should have working handbrakes!

I have BMW Mini Cooper purchased May 2006.On 19th July in that extreme heat my car was parked for 50 minutes before gently running into another car. Have written evidence from police officer who dealt with the case and the driver of the car I hit that the brake looked fully pulled up. When I got in the car I found the brake was on. I went to local dealer who has tried to bully me out of continuing the fight. BMW Customer Service said they had never heard of this problem! I have just found your site. Has anyone else had this problem this year?

This happened to me too. My cooper s rolled down a hill and smashed into 3 cars!

I got rid of that crappy 'mini' and bought a 205 GTi instead, a proper hatchback!

Published this Summer by the Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds university confirmation that this happens regularly and why. So don't be fobbed off by your garage/dealer.

Some people that own a manual car don't realise that you should always leave it in first gear WITH THE HAND BRAKE ON too, I mean who leaves a manual car parked on a slope without leaving it in gear??

On a decent car there is no need to leave it in gear and put the handbrake. Rolling away is much more common on cars with rear discs as the discs cool down they shrink and the pressure from the pads is reduced so they can roll away, with drums the opposite happens as the drums shrink they clamp in on the pads and the brake becomes firmer.

Nevertheless if a car is designed right you should be able to leave it on a hill with just a handbrake. I feel perfectly safe doing so in my manual car.