Mini One Diesel Automatic Transmission Problem

Sounds like a frustrating situation. When you say 'parking position defective,' does that mean the car physically won't engage Park, or is it just not registering correctly? Have you checked the gear linkage to make sure nothing is obviously loose or damaged? Also, is the check engine light constantly on, or does it flash? It might be related to the shift lock mechanism. Does the error memory contain any specific fault codes?

When I say 'parking position defective' I mean the car doesn't start when in park. The check engine light is constantly on. I haven't checked the gear linkage myself, to be honest. What exactly is the shift lock mechanism and where would I find that?

Okay, if it won't start in Park and the error code points to the control unit, it's likely the culprit. The shift lock mechanism is an electrical and mechanical safety feature that prevents you from shifting out of Park unless the brake pedal is depressed. It's usually integrated into the gear selector assembly. However, if the control unit is faulty, it can interfere with the shift lock and the car's ability to recognize that it's in Park. Given the symptoms and the error code, it's probably best to take it to a workshop for proper diagnosis and repair.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I took it to a mechanic, and it turned out to be a faulty control unit as suspected. Transmission repair was carried out after replacement. Cost me around 1000€ in the end, but at least it's sorted.