Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

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Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

May 13, 2020, 05:07:25 pm

Quote from: That Irish Girl – April 13, 2020, 10:25:15 pm

Thanks, and the key . . . push it in?

The two times I've towed the 2009 MINI Convertible, I've ended with a dead battery. Do I need a battery disconnect? It has a round key that you push in and then a starter button to push.
Any recomendations?

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #1 – May 13, 2020, 05:14:33 pm

Not knowing the electrical system of the Mini, I can only guess that a battery disconnect would be a bad idea. Better to charge the car from the coach. The plug you use to hook up the lights can also add a hot wire to the battery. One of the factory coach plugs has a hot terminal that is what I use to keep the Jeep charged.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #2 – May 13, 2020, 06:40:10 pm

This might help?

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #3 – May 13, 2020, 06:48:19 pm

Actually, the right place to start is on Minni Cooper's website/owners manual on flat towing. That will get you started.

If it ends up that there ARE electrical loads while flat towing, then absolutely, add a charge line with fuse at BOTH ends. Ground between vehicles needs to be the same gauge as charge wire.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #4 – May 13, 2020, 07:29:32 pm

I have looked at both the 2009 mini convertible models and neither has information for towing behind a recreational vehicle. Only information available is for towing for maintenance issues.

https://www.miniusa.com/owners/tools-support/owner-manuals.html

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #5 – May 13, 2020, 07:45:34 pm

People tow them (manual) successfully - but no mention of any procedure in manual -

Question seems to be (for those successfully towing Mini's 4 down now) is there a magic formula to tow without draining battery or does the car require a fuse to be pulled (which one) or a dedicated charge circuit from Coach to car

Battery Disconnect might not be the easiest as the battery is ( I think) in the trunk, so access might be an issue for a disconnect?

Of course I tow a 2000 Tracker so i am of NO help!

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #6 – May 13, 2020, 09:09:30 pm

If you have a push button ignition, you will need to hook a direct charge from the coach to the car battery. There are many draws off of a push button, as we know! That should solve your issues! Had the same issue with our '18 Equinox. Even GM did not know you need to charge the battery. We found out the hard way!

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #7 – May 13, 2020, 09:38:50 pm

Thanks for the ideas. The battery in the 2009 is actually in the front (I learned that when James helped me out at XTreme)
It is a fun little car when it goes!
KD

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #8 – May 13, 2020, 09:56:03 pm

I think you have a bad/weak battery
I have a 2010 Mini that I tow
I just put it in neutral take the key out and go

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #9 – May 13, 2020, 10:14:15 pm

Quote from: george brown – May 13, 2020, 09:56:03 pm

I think you have a bad/weak battery
I have a 2010 Mini that I tow
I just put it in neutral take the key out and go

One of the best replies I've ever seen on the forum.

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #10 – May 14, 2020, 02:13:17 pm

Quote from: Twig – May 13, 2020, 10:14:15 pm

One of the best replies I've ever seen on the forum.

agree.
I have a gen 2 MINI Cooper. had to replace battery the day I got it, four years ago, when the car was four years old. Sadly, it is now telling me EXCESS BATTERY DISCHARGE when I start it, even after having had a MINI battery charger on it overnight. Like so many modern cars, the computer(s) sap current ALL the time. Of course, replacing the battery also require$ paying for technician$ time to go into the computer to disassociate the old battery and introduce the new one.
After all, it is a BMW product. B.M.W = Big Money Wasted.

hoping I don't need an alternator. It is terribly inacce$$ible in a modern MINI Cooper.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #11 – May 14, 2020, 02:47:03 pm

Don't know if it works on a Mini, but on the late model vehicles I have worked on, I take another battery and jumper cables and hook to the cars cables before removing the battery. It keeps all the codes in the computer and keeps the accessories powered while I put in a new battery. Never had a problem yet.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #12 – May 14, 2020, 03:57:52 pm

I have the same set-up mentioned by Brett. It is important that the wire is fused at both ends as it is fed from both ends. If you start the coach or car and it's battery is low you might draw enough current from the other end to blow the fuse. To prevent this start the vehicle/s before plugging in the towing harness. I use 30 amp fuses. Also make sure to turn everything off in the towed vehicle to ease the strain on the coaches alternator.

Keith

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #13 – May 14, 2020, 05:18:43 pm

Quote from: craneman – May 14, 2020, 02:47:03 pm

Don't know if it works on a Mini, but on the late model vehicles I have worked on, I take another battery and jumper cables and hook to the cars cables before removing the battery. It keeps all the codes in the computer and keeps the accessories powered while I put in a new battery. Never had a problem yet.

doesn't even need to be a car battery. little 9V smoke alarm battery might be enough. pros use a MEMORY SAVER adapter to the OBD2 port.

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #14 – May 14, 2020, 06:46:19 pm

That Irish Girl - You will need to have the battery replacement initialized for the car. Like BMW, Mini's have a "Intelligent Battery Management System". Link below really explains this, "The electrical system in late-model Minis and BMWs is quite sophisticated, in that it tailors charging as closely as possible to both the type and age of the battery. The Engine Management computer also controls the alternator output. When replacing a battery, this computer needs to be informed if you've replaced the battery or updated the vehicle from a conventional Lead Acid battery to an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) type; it charges the AGM differently than a traditional battery."

The following late-model vehicles require battery registration:
· 2002 and newer 7-Series E65/E66 chassis
· 2003 and newer 6-Series E54/E63 chassis
· 2004 and newer 5-Series E60/E61 chassis
· 2006 and newer 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 chassis
· 2005 and newer X5 E53 chassis with N62 engine
· 2007 and newer X5 E70 chassis
· 2008 and newer X6 E71 chassis
· 2007 and newer Mini Coopers (R56)

Tech Tip – BMW and Mini Battery Registration (Replacement) – Atlantic Motorcar

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #15 – May 16, 2020, 04:16:33 pm

A few years ago we looked at getting a MINI, as a couple people here tow them, and they have a reputation of being a fun economical car. Went to the dealership and was told that they are NOT towable! Owner's manual backs that up. REMCO says the manual transmission ones are, and that is what I've seen.

A 2009 is out of warranty, so whatever you do with it won't affect any warranty coverage. You might ask at https://minicooperforums.com/forum/ to see what other owners may know. I suspect that it probably doesn't help, but have you checked the owner's manual?

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #16 – May 16, 2020, 04:30:28 pm

Dealers might say they can't be...
But I have personally seen a few modern MINIs being towed four-down. It is a given that they have to be the manual trans, rather than the Aisin automatic. Although my MINI R 58 has a manual trans, I prefer towing it on an aluminum car trailer. It enabled me to take a Saab (automatic) convert to FL this winter, instead of the MINI.
But, the point is moot in terms of her dying battery.

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #17 – May 17, 2020, 11:19:33 am

Back to the original battery question.

Is the battery in good condition? I've had a battery replaced under warranty because it wasn't holding a charge. Might that be the problem? In other words, does the battery die only when towing, or will it die under other circumstances? Is the car being towed with the ignition off or in accessory? The owner's manual for our car says to leave the ignition in accessory, but to turn off the a/c, radio, etc. We do have a charge line, and we generally tow with the key off (rather than accessory as the manual says) and have had no problems.

This shouldn't be a hard problem to solve. I think I'd start by checking the health of the battery first, then make sure that ALL electrical loads are off (well, as much as is possible in a modern car) when towing.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #18 – May 17, 2020, 11:27:43 am

When I think I have a battery drain I take the negative clamp off the battery and in a darken room just touch and remove the
clamp off the post and it there is a little spark you are using current and it no spark the battery is not discharging.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #19 – May 17, 2020, 01:03:43 pm

Quote from: oldguy – May 17, 2020, 11:27:43 am

When I think I have a battery drain I take the negative clamp off the battery and in a darken room just touch and remove the
clamp off the post and it there is a little spark you are using current and it no spark the battery is not discharging.

You can do the same thing with a test light hooked between the cable and the battery.

Re: Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #20 – May 17, 2020, 06:38:10 pm

Another thread has a similar question. If you have reasonable access to the battery connections and an ammeter, it would be interesting to see just how much current is going out when "everything" is off.

Re: Towing 2009 Mini Cooper S ragtop

Reply #21 – May 21, 2020, 10:01:35 pm

Sounds sort of like the procedure I try in bed at 6AM.

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