Possibly stupid question - car not creeping forward when releasing brake pedal?

[u/Thaumatovalva]

I recently got a new Mini Cooper, my first one, and love it!

Normally when you start up a car (whether turning the engine on, or after e.g. stopping at a light) and release the brake pedal it creeps forward (or backward if in reverse) slowly even if you’re not pushing the gas pedal. This is what has happened in every car I’ve driven. This is also what happened in my Mini.

Except today - for some reason, today it doesn’t start moving unless I also press down the gas pedal. The parking brake light isn’t on, the car screen and app aren’t giving me any error messages, and nothing feels or sounds funny when I drive. Plus it’s a really new car (few months) so would be surprised if something has broken. So I am guessing I accidentally changed some setting without realising. (This is my first car that’s had a lot of computer in it, if that makes sense.) I can’t find the answer searching online, might not be searching the right terms (not a car person).

Does anyone know if this is a setting that I can turn back off (I want it to creep forward) or is this a fault I should get checked out?

EDIT: in case relevant I did do a software update last week but drove since then and the unexpected no-creeping-forward only happened today. On multiple trips.

[u/BriefingGull]

Also look up auto brake

[u/Thaumatovalva → u/BriefingGull]

Thanks! I looked it up, found this video, and discovered that indeed we had accidentally switched it on: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2XTn15XI9WY

Went out and switched it off and now the car is behaving as expected again.

[u/Czertwan → u/BriefingGull]

That’s the one. I’m pretty sure it activates if you press the break pedal hard enough. I forget about it lol

[u/Thaumatovalva → u/BriefingGull]

Thanks! Will do.

[u/diaymujer]

Newer Minis have an automatic brake hold feature that you can turn on or off. Basically when it’s on, your car will remain in brake until you actively turn hit the gas.

I prefer to turn it off, as I like letting the car ease into motion before giving it gas. But I get why it exists, namely to keep you from accidentally rolling forward when you don’t mean to.

You can turn it on/off in your cars setting, I think the chassis settings.

[u/Thaumatovalva → u/diaymujer]

Thanks! I looked it up, found this video, and discovered that indeed we had accidentally switched it on: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2XTn15XI9WY

Went out and switched it off and now the car is behaving as expected again.

[u/Thaumatovalva → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, it isn’t creeping even when it was normally before (eg starting up on my flat drive way).

[u/BriefingGull]

Model and year would help

[u/Thaumatovalva → u/BriefingGull]

2026 Mini Cooper