I realise that I may be asking the wrong question here, but its worth a try.

Despite owning 3 2nd Gen MINIs with stop start, I can't remember if the digital speedo brings up a warning if the Stop/Start hasn't kicked in when it normally would or not.

The F56 & The BMW do bring up a warning, but since I've had Leo back the Stop/Start hasn't kicked in once. I've spoken to Will at TWG and he was unsure if the 2nd Gens do or not and that it may be the battery may not be healthy enough for it to kick in.

I know many people switch it off, but having had the feature on all my cars for the last 10 years, I am finding it disconcerting as I've developed techniques based on being used to it coming on and off.

Never had Stop start on the JCWs only on my Cooper

Didnt think R56 JCW face lift had it

N14 JCW’s never had the feature, it was introduced on the N18 JCW engines which I think you have Phil. I can’t remember if there was a symbol or not but so many things do stop it working, could the previous owner have had it disabled? It can be done as Steve’s N18 JCW was as being a ex staff car the person had it turned off, they were going to turn it back on but he was happy with it disabled.
As Will said maybe the battery is a bit low.

I'm 99.9% certain that there's no indication on the 2nd gen when the stop/start kicks in, I think it only came in on the 3rd gen

Chris D wrote:

Never had Stop start on the JCWs only on my Cooper

Didnt think R56 JCW face lift had it

Davyboy wrote:

N14 JCW’s never had the feature, it was introduced on the N18 JCW engines which I think you have Phil. I can’t remember if there was a symbol or not but so many things do stop it working, could the previous owner have had it disabled? It can be done as Steve’s N18 JCW was as being a ex staff car the person had it turned off, they were going to turn it back on but he was happy with it disabled.
As Will said maybe the battery is a bit low.

As Dave said, it was introduced to the JCW in the N18, hence I know Leo had it before. I've a hunch its been disabled in the 4 years I didn't have the car. I remember so many times the volume dipping on the stereo as the car would restart so he definitely had it, and he has the button to disable it too.

118 wrote:

I'm 99.9% certain that there's no indication on the 2nd gen when the stop/start kicks in, I think it only came in on the 3rd gen

It's not when it kicks in I'm after, its the the warning that says it 'hasn't' kicked in, which I cant remember if it existed or not. The only time I can recall it is in Cooper Dave (so 10 years ago!) and the Stop/Start didn't kick in on the Hammersmith One way system, and I'm sure something came up on the dash to say that it hadn't stopped.

PhilK wrote:

It's not when it kicks in I'm after, its the the warning that says it 'hasn't' kicked in, which I cant remember if it existed or not.  The only time I can recall it is in Cooper Dave (so 10 years ago!) and the Stop/Start didn't kick in on the Hammersmith One way system, and I'm sure something came up on the dash to say that it hadn't stopped.

That's what I mean, if its working normally then it doesn't display anything (whether it kicks in or not), only if there's an issue with it and it's not working at all, then you should get a warning.

N14 Engine - Doesn't have it
N18 Engine - Does

I would do a battery test and you have to remember it will only do it when the car is warm under certain conditions

Otherwise if you have the carly app or bimmer code it can be coded out or in

Mine I’m sure has a indication notification on the Rev counter when it’s on and the cars stopped

Well an update.

After driving the car for a couple of days running last weekend, it's started working. As Li says it comes up on the panel when its kicked in, I knew something came up on the 2nd gen, I just couldn't remember what after 3 years in Fxx's

So I can only guess it was the battery, and the fact the car doesn't get used every day anymore.