So, I have this key that electrically opens my locks, I get two with the car, I switch them out every six months.. now my key loses all its juice, battery is dead - so basically the thing lasted for 3.5 years and I only have 50,000 miles on the car. So it's not a big deal right? Just swap out the little $5 watch battery right?

Well, thanks Mini, but you've made sure I have to repurchase a $200 key because you've made it so that my key you cannot replace the battery (in fact if you cut open the key with a hacksaw, the battery is spot welded to the terminals according to the other users who've had same car year (2007) same problem).

I have been to customer service, pushed to the dealer, pushed back to customer service back and forth telling them these keys should be recalled, it's faulty design (and I know they know it's faulty because after my year, they changed the keys so that you could replace the batteries) and they expect me to buy a new key? They give me a hard time about this?

So they've made a key that is destined to fail (after 3.5 years) and then tell me they won't replace for free because the car is out of warranty? This has nothing to do with warranty... this is a faulty product. Right now I'm waiting around for another customer service person to see what she can do... it's getting tiring so hence now my war has begun.

Check out a few other pissed off folks http://www.mini2.com/forum/second-generation-faults-fixes/186288-2007-cooper-r52-key-remote-battery.html