1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Faulty positive battery cable

Was the car in an accident that caused the airbag to be deployed? This is really the only reason that the cable could be "bad". There is a device in the cable that blows when the airbag deploys, cutting power to everything but lights and hazard lights. BMW sell a repair kit now. This eliminates replacing the entire cable. MINI doesn't have such a kit, but the BMW one can be made to work correctly.

 

Surely if the battery cable was damaged, you would not have enough power to turn over the starter motor?

 

A friend has a 2006 late model and the positive wire was rubbed possibly by a large object (bowling ball) being carried in the boot. The wire shorted to the body below the trim panel about 8 inches to the drivers side of the boot latch causing a small electrical fire until the wires from the airbag sensor to the battery terminal shorted together indicating that the car had been in an accident and exploded the charge that is attached to the positive cable going to the battery. The cable on the 06 and below goes from the battery to the fuse block beside the air box in the bonnet. His was unique in that he had no indication a group of Mini's had gone out for dinner and his car would not start also had that burnt electrical smell. Attempts to jump start did nothing and then we started digging. Eastbay Mini did the repair do to the car being under warrantee but this might be worthy of looking at.

 

I had this same symptom (airbag light) with same remedy (replace positive battery cable from engine bay to battery box). It was done twice before they got it right. Fortunately both times under warranty on my 2003 S.

 

sounds steep

battery cable retail 315.00:

RealOEM.com   BMW R53 Cooper S Battery lead/distribution box, rear

3 hours labor @95.00 in our shop= 285.00

code clearing
maaayyybe another 95, likely 47.50

tax 30ish
under 700 total, its a fairly easy job even without a lift

 

The exact reason why EVERY Mini owner should have a relationship with a Mini Centric shop!!! Big $$ saving for many things, better schedulng Kuching the time, and sometimes good/great advise!!

 

Get that bolt fixed, you don't want the battery bouncing around back there. For one it's defiantly not good for the plates in the battery. After awhile you're going to wear a hole through the case and start leaking acid all over the place.

So, did the plug come out? If so, plug it back in. Sounds like this bolt is the root of your problems....... maybe.

 

I think the tiny plug on the side of the battery is the vent. Not sure if that would cause issues, pretty sure it wouldn't.

 

OP: air bag deployed? Other than this, secure the battery and connect the vent, both are unrelated to your issue, however.