2007 MINI COOPER S Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

OIL FEED LINE GOING INTO TURBO IS LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY ONTO TURBO. MINI USES A RUBBER O RING THAT IS CONNECTED TO A VERY HOT TURBO AND O RING WILL FAIL ON ALL MINI COOPERS WITH A TURBO. WHEN THIS RUBBER O RING FAILS IT WILL LEAK OIL DIRECTLY ONTO HOT TURBO AND CAUSE A FIRE. I THINK IT'S IN THE SAFETY OF ALL THAT THIS BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED. I BELIEVE MINI COOPER IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS COVERING UP THE ISSUE BY INSTALLING A CHEAP HEAT SHIELD ON OIL LINE BUT THIS IS A BANDAID FIX AT BEST. *TR

MINI COOPER DRIVERS AROUND THE U.S. AND WORLD HAVE BEEN REPORTING A STRANGE KNOCKING/RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 2007+ MINI COOPER. FROM THE MISC DEALER REPAIR DETAILS IT APPEARS TO BE A ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THE WITHOUT BEING FIXED THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND POSSIBLE MOTOR DESTRUCTION. ON A GOOD NOTE BMW/MINI KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HOWEVER IS FAILING TO COME UP WITH OR ACKNOWLEDGE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. HOW MANY CUSTOMERS ISSUES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE BMW/MINI WILL ISSUE A FULL RECALL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND THEY STATED THE ENGINE TIMING TENSIONER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE TIMING BELT. FINAL RESULT WAS THE TIMING BELT SLACK CONTACTED PLASTIC CHAIN GUARDS WHICH BROKE OFF AND LODGED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MINI SERVICE, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LED TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AND I HAD INITIAL CONCERN THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY POWER ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, BUT HAS FAILED TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI EVEN HAS A BAG FULL OF BENT RODS AT HIS DESK THAT HE SHOWED ME AND...

6/2011, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISE AFTER STARTING UP IN THE MORNING AND DURING ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MINI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, NOISE WAS RELATED TO TYPE OF GAS BEING USED (IF NOT CHEVRON OR SHELL, GAS COULD CAUSE NOISE IS WHAT I WAS TOLD). 4/2011, NOISE BEGAN TO GET WORSE. SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH SAME LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR MAY 7TH, 2012 (A MONTH OUT FOR FIRST APPOINTMENT) AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS A RECALL ISSUE RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 12V-008 ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. WORK NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE ON 4/13/12, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER LOCAL REPAIR SHOW DIAGNOSED, FAILURE WAS FOUND TO BE WITH TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. SOLUTION=REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE AT A COST OF $6,300. MILEAGE AT TIME...

VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY FOR MAINTENANCE. PRE-INCIDENT ZERO WARNING VIA ON-BOARD SENSORS/INDICATOR. LAST MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT 52K. VEHICLE HAD 56K MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE MORNING: TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED UPON START UP. DUE TO THIS FAILURE THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. A SERIOUS ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DAMAGED THE ENGINE, RENDERING IT INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

I BROUGHT MY MINI IN FOR THE ELECTRICAL WATER PUMP RECALL ISSUE AND I EXPLAINED THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES. THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE COST WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS I NOW KNOW AFTER SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. PLEASE HAVE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT HAVE OTHER OWNERS HAVE TO PAY FOR A SERVICE THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS SINCE THIS CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND THE POTENTIAL TO HARM MORE THAN THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. *TR

ON COLD STARTS, IT HAS BECOME A DOCUMENTED ISSUE THAT 07-11 "S" MODELS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A HORRIBLE RATTLE UPON STARTING. THIS CAN BECOME A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THIS IS DUE TO A TENSIONING MECHANISM WHICH ALLOWS TOO MUCH TRAVEL IN THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS CAN ALLOW THE CHAIN TO JUMP OR BREAK WHICH CAN CAUSE A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FIX INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND A REDESIGNED TENSIONER. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THIS ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT HELP OUT MINI OWNERS EVEN AT A REDUCED RATE. WITH JUST A SHORT SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS EASY TO FIND THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AND ARE ASKING FOR HELP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, WITH NO LUCK. *TR

TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 80000K AFTER REPLACING TENSIONER AT 60000K FROM OIL LEAK. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT DUE TO CAR OVERHEATING. NOW AT 82000K HAVE A BURNT OUT VALVE. BIG PROBLEMS ON MY MINI COOPER S '07. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COPPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL APRIL 13, 2012. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE THAT DATE, BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND TOWED TO A MINI SPECIALIST WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY PUMP FAILED. THE FAILURE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,481.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE REMEDY HOWEVER, FAILED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY AND WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I SLOWED DOWN, AND I HEARD CLUNKING ROCK LIKE NOISES. MY CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. MY MECHANIC HAS VERIFIED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKEN, WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. THE MINI COOPER FORUMS HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2007 MINI COOPER S MODELS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MINI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, BUT THEY NEED TO. IMMEDIATELY. *TR

COLD START ISSUES AND EVENTUAL "CHECK ENGINE" TRIGGERED BY DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE CAUSING WARPING OF PLASTIC HOOD SCOOP (3RD REPLACEMENT). *TR

ENGINE MADE EXCESSIVE RATTLING ON COLD START UP. TOOK TO BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, RAILS, AND CHAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $2,031.97. AS I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT I NOTED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT FEEL NEARLY AS SMOOTH AS BEFORE AND WAS NOISIER. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TWICE FOR THEM TO FIX. ON THE SECOND TRIP TO DEALERSHIP, 7/18/11, THEY TOLD ME THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. THEY CHARGED ME $980.04 THOUGH A TYPICAL CHARGE OF FOR THIS JOB WAS $1315.51. THE CAR TO THIS DAY AT >70,000 STILL DOES NOT FEEL SMOOTH AND CONTINUES TO SOUND LOUD. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS DUE TO THE "BAND AID FIX" APPROACH FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I PRINTED OUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM NHTSA DATABASE REGARDING THE NOISEY COLD START OF 2007 MINI COOPER S DUE TO TIMING CHAIN DEFECT, 33...

VEHICLE PRODUCES LOUD METALLIC SOUNDS FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE ON COLD START. MINI USA HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THIS IS OKAY, HOWEVER NOW AT 25000 MILES THE NOISE IS CONSTANT AND LOUD. READING DATA FROM OTHER MINI OWNERS THIS PROBLEM IS NOW EXTREMELY COMMON ON ALL MINI COOPERS WITH THE 1.6L PRODUCED AFTER 2007. MINI HAS QUIETLY REPLACED NUMEROUS BELT TENSIONERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADMIT THIS IS A LARGE ISSUE OVER THE ENTIRE FLEET OF VEHICLES. ISSUE RESULTS IN A $3-4K LABOR BILL TO REPAIR. *TR

TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE FROM ENGINE TO TURBO LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF COMPRESSION FITTING LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND OR ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOLLOWING EXTENDED HIGHWAY SPEED, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP. LEARNED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP SEIZED / LOCKED UP, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION OF CATASTROPHIC RESULTS THAT TOTALLY DESTROYED ENGINE. CAR NEEDS COMPLETE NEW ENGINE AT 74,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY)AND MINI USA ATTITUDE IS THAT SUCH ENGINE FAILURE IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR MINI WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED BEYOND MINI SERVCIE REQUIREMENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL AS ENGINE BLEW AT A VERY YOUNG 74,000 MILES OF AGE AND THERE ARE REPEATED INSTANCES OF SAME ENGINE FAILURE ON INTERNET BMW/MINI BLOGS. NOTE: THIS CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE FOLLOWS LAST YEAR'S LARGE OUT OF WARRANTY EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AS VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AND AGAIN MINI FELT NO RESPONSIBILITY...

I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF, I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. THEN I HAD ISSUES WITH THE CHAIN AND CHAIN TENSIONER AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED TOO. NOW THE STEERING HAS FAILED ON ME, I CAN'T START THE CAR OR EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY STEERING IS LOCKED NOW; I HAD THE CAR RUNNING, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO RUN FINE AND THE STEERING WORKED FINE. ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF I COULDN'T START THE CAR BACK UP AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED HOME. I WISH BMW WOULD DO SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THIS CAR SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS! *TR

AS A BACKGROUND, ON NOVEMBER 25, 2011, I DELIVERED THE CAR, A 2007 MINI COOPER S TO A MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE I ALWAYS HAVE IT SERVICED. THE REASON I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT BEING TRIGGERED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS IN COMPLETE WORKING ORDER AND THE REPAIRS MADE THE CAR AS GOOD AS NEW. ON THAT NOVEMBER 25TH, VISIT, I HAD PAID $1,817.40 FOR A NEW WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS, AND WATER PIPE REPLACEMENT DESPITE THE FACT THEY ARE COMMONLY 100,000-MILE SERVICES. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 41,000 MILES. 10 DAYS AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICED, THE SAME OVERHEATING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. IN RESPONSE TO THIS REPEATED ISSUE, ON DECEMBER 11, 2011, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TOLD ME TO BRING THE...

THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LARGE RATTLING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL TO SEE IF IT WAS LOW AND DISCOVERED THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE DIP STICK BACK IN. AT THIS POINT I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A MINI DEALER WITHIN 100 MILES OF MY LOCATION. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE COOPER S AND MINI HAS RELEASED THREE FIXES AND CLAIM THE LATEST TSB WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND I HAD TO SPEND $1,700 DOLLARS FOR A $26 DOLLAR PART THAT WAS FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. MINI KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM AND TRIED TO FIX IT BUT FAILED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THERE'S NO TELLING HOW...

AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF HEARING SOME RATTLING UNDER THE HOOD AFTER COLD STARTS, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A FAULTY TENSIONER HAD CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO STRETCH OUT EXCESSIVELY AND IF IT'S NOT FIXED, MY ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP AT ANY TIME.. IT'S A $2,500 REPAIR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, CONSIDERING THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY MANY OWNERS OF MY SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL ARE REPORTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, YET MINI IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I CALLED MINI COOPER TO ASK ABOUT IT AND THEY ONLY GRUDGINGLY TOOK MY COMPLAINT. THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEMANDS IT, SO I'M ASKING YOU TO DO SO. I THINK...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY ABNORMAL ODOR THAT ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, SIMILAR TO EGGS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROADWAY AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND A SMALL FIRE HAD ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

OIL RETURN LINE EXITING TURBOCHARGER LEAKS ENGINE OIL, WHICH DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO HOT ENGINE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE, THIS LEADS TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT REMEDIED PROMPTLY. BMW SHOULD QUICKLY RECALL AND REPAIR THIS DESIGN DEFECT BEFORE A LOT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY GOES UP IN FLAMES. *TR

MY WIFE AND I BOTH NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OUR 2007 MINI COOPER S LAST WEEK WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN EITHER TENNESSEE OR NORTH CAROLINA ON VACATION. I OPENED MY WINDOW FOR 3-4 MINUTES, SUSPECTING THE SMELL MIGHT BE GETTING INTO THE CAR FROM A PICKUP TRUCK RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 YARDS AHEAD OF US. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF SMOKE OR FIRE AROUND THE PICK-UP TRUCK. THIS SMELL HAPPENED VERY BRIEFLY TWICE ON THE SAME DAY; I OPENED MY WINDOW FOR A FEW MINUTES IN BOTH CASES, AND THE BURNING SMELL DID NOT RETURN AFTER THAT. WE DROVE 2200 MILES IN 9 DAYS AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. *TR

AS I APPROACHED THE STREET ON WHERE I LIVE, THE CAR STARTED TO SEVERELY SHAKE AND JERK , AS IF POWER WAS NOT GOING TO THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO PARK IT ON MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN THE CAR ARRIVED AT THE DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED IN, THE CAR COULD NOT BE JUMP-STARTED, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. TWO WEEKS PRIOR, I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND FOUND SEVERAL MISFIRE FAULTS, WHICH WERE SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED. THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS REMOVED AND DISASSEMBLED AND FOUND TO HAVE CARBON BUILD UP. THE INTAKE VALVES AND EXHAUST VALVES WERE CLEANED. SINCE THE INCIDENT, THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER. AN EXTENDED ROAD TEST IS SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THESE...

I ALMOST HAD A TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAILURE. TOOK MY '07 MCS INTO THE MINI DEALER FOR ITS 4 YEAR SERVICE. THEY FOUND THAT THE 'TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS WEAK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED' OR 'TENSIONER WORN AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE CHAIN SLACK AND CHAIN NOISE'. I BOUGHT MY MINI NEW, IT NOW HAS 35464 MILES AND THIS SHOULD FALL INTO THE CATEGORY AS 'UNUSUAL'. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PART THAT WEARS OUT OR SUFFERS FAILURE WITH SO FEW MILES. AS I CHECKED OUT THIS FAILURE ON THE WEB I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL BUT IS HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY. I MISSED THIS BEING COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BY 2 WEEKS. MY LOSE? MAYBE; MAYBE NOT, AT LEAST I DID NOT DESTROY THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PAPERWORK THEY REPLACED THE CHAIN TENSIONER WITH AN UPDATED 551 TENSIONER, P/N: 11 31 7 607 551, @...

THE HEATER CORE IS PLACED NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN THE FOOT WELL. THE CAR DESIGN HAS THE HEATER CORE ON ALL THE TIME. THE ONLY INSULATION BETWEEN THE HEATER CORE AND THE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS A PLASTIC COVER WHICH BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH. *TR

MY MINI COOPER SPONTANEOUS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THURSDAY 8/25/11 BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPEN, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I STATED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR([XXX]) THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT AND I'M SURE SOME SERVICES NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT (OIL CHANGE ETC....). MY SERVICE TECH ([XXX] VISTA MINI COCONUT CREEK) PUTS THE KEY INTO THE CARD READER NOPE NOTHING SHOWED UP YOU GOOD TO GO I EXIT WITH SOME DOUBT ON MY FACE NEVER THINKING TWICE, COULD BE MY MIND PLAYING CAR GAMES. I'M REALLY ADMIT ABOUT FUNNY NOISES, AND SINCE THE DEALER ISN'T FAR FROM MY JOB. I'D JUST STOP ON BY FOR A CHECK UP. I DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE. SATURDAY 8/27/11 (10:30P) CAR SITTING FROM A SHORT DRIVE TO HAVE DINNER. CAME HOME (10PM) PARKED THE AND DIDN'T HEAR OR NOTICE ANYTHING. I USUALLY TAKE A QUICK WALK AROUND THE CAR. SUNDAY 8/28/11...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A RAIN STORM, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HYDRO SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

2007 MINI COOPER S: COLD START RATTLE HAD BEEN AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN PROBLEM, BUT SINCE I'D HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CHANGED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION. AT 81,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE RED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT GAS STATION, GOT SOME SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PUT IN 2 QUARTS. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY, BUT THE OIL LIGHT HAD NOT GONE OFF. WITHIN ABOUT 1-2 MILES, AS I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED MINI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS. ON THE PHONE, THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO TOW OFF THIS INTERSTATE. I GOT AN AUTHORIZED TOWING CO. TO...

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY MINI SINCE IT WAS NEW. IN NOV. OF 2010 THE CHAIN TENSIONER WAS FINALLY CHANGED AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE NOISE. ON MON.6-6-11 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE DEALER & SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT SAT 6-11. ON WED. 6-8 MY CAR DIED WITH NO WARNING. NO COMPUTER LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO TOW IT TO THE MINI DEALER ON SAT.6-11. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSING MAJOR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. MY ENGINE ONLY HAD A QUART OF OIL AND THAT WAS WHY IT WENT OUT. I HAD DOCUMENTATION OF MY OIL CHANGE. IT STILL HAD 3,000M TO GO BEFORE IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. WAS ALSO CHECKED 2 WKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT AND IT WAS FINE. I AM NOW NEEDING A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF 6,087. THE REGIONAL TEAM AT MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE DECIDED THERE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL AFTER THREE TO FOUR ATTEMPTS. THERE WERE ALSO NOTICED RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP, TIMING CHAINS AND THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. EACH PART WAS REPLACED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2007 MINI COOPER S, TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 64K MILES. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER THE WEB, WE NEED TO FORCE MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED PRIOR TO FAILURE. THIS IS A CHAIN, NOT A BELT. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERSPEED.COM/MINI-COOPER-COLD-START-KNOCKING-NOISE-ISSUE-2007/. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE SOUNDED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING, AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED AS THOUGH IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

2007 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, SOUNDING LIKE ROCKS IN A WASHING MACHINE, FOR WEEKS NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST, WITH THE REPAIRS FALLING UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DONE AT NO COST OF COURSE. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, TAKING IT IN THIS WEEK FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIRS. THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE THIRD TIME AS ONCE IT WAS DONE AS PART OF A LARGER REPAIR BEING PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE. CAR ACTS SLUGGISH, JUMPY, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED UP AND CONTINUES FOR THE FIRST FEW MILES DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT IS SUBSIDES A BIT. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE PAST, AND THIS WEEK WILL BE REPLACED AGAIN.

ON 10/27/2010 I WAS DRIVING ON 595 WEST (STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) CAME TO A STOP, MY CAR STALLS AND DIES. IT WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAUDERDALE MINI DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE. AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THE VACUUM PUMP LOCKED UP AND JAMMED ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. COST- OVER $6000.00. MINI USA REFUSED TO COMPENSATE UNLESS THEIR IS A FUTURE RECALL. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT 55K MILES AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED AT THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A WATER PUMP LEAK. THE TIMING CHAIN IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND STILL HAS NO RECALL. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I APPROACH MY EXIT AND AS I COME TO A STOP ON THE EXIT RAMP, THE CAR STALLS AND DIES. CAR WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE IS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP, I AM TOLD THE VACUUM PUMP HAS FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. SUGGESTED REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

R56 MCS MINI 2007 - BOUGHT USED IN SEPT 09 HAD THE "COLD START RATTLE" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 38,000 DEALER REPLACED TIMING CHAIN . ON THE WAY HOME VACUUM PUMP SEIZED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALUES. DEALER SENT PICTURES TO MINI AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE.

2007 MINI COOPER S. AFTER 26000 MILES I HAVE A WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RATTLING ENGINE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FROM A COLD START (SITTING OVERNIGHT). SO THIS HAPPENS EVERY MORNING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA WITH RELATIVELY WARM TEMPERATURES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THE DIESEL ENGINE SOUND COMING OUT OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. I DIDN'T BY THE CAR THIS WAY. I HAVE FOUND VARIOUS FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I HAD TRAVELED LESS THAN TWO MILES WHEN I PARKED THE CAR. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND COMPLETELY TOTALED THE CAR BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. *TR

VERY NOISY CLATTER WHEN STARTING ENGINE WHEN COLD. ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL WHEN COLD. GOES AWAY AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL ??? PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY MORNING. *TR

ENGINE EXHIBITS HARSH NOISE DURING STARTUP 50% OF THE TIME AFTER MINIMUM OF 8 HR SHUTDOWN OR IF PARKED NOSE LOW. THE ISSUE IS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH THE DEALER WON'T REPLACE BECAUSE 1) THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN EFFECTIVE REPAIR KIT FROM BMW OR 2) TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AWAY WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THIS TIMING CHAIN METAL-ON-METAL RATTLE IS "NORMAL." AN INCREASING WORLD-WIDE NUMBER OF VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE HAVE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC LOW MILEAGE ENGINE FAILURES BECAUSE OF DEALER INACTION AND SUBSEQUENT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR

CAR CLUNKS WHILE GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS. AS PER DIAGNOSIS FROM MINI DEALERSHIP, THE "TRANSMISSION MOTOR MOUNT IS TOO SMALL AND DOES NOT DAMPEN SHOCK FROM ROAD BUMPS OR ACCELERATION TORQUE" AND WAS REPLACED. *TR

ON 2007 MINI COOPER S, PURCHASED NEW 12-2007, EXPERIENCING WARPED/MELTED/DEFORMED SCOOPS ON BONNET(HOOD) DUE TO EXTREME HEAT ISSUE FROM TURBO, SCOOP ORIGINALLY HAD ZERO CUTOUTS, MY COOPER HAS 3 CUTOUTS IN SCOOP MADE BY MFG, OPENING NOT LARGE ENOUGH OR FAN DOES NOT RUN LONG ENOUGH TO COOL DOWN THE BONNET SCOOP OR FAN DOES NOT RUN AT ALL, FAN RUNS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME ONLY & WARPING OCCURS ON THE BONNET SCOOP WHICH IS PAINTED PLASTIC. IF THE BONNET SCOOP WAS METAL, THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. HEAT CAN REACH 235 DEGREES. HAVE BEEN OPENING HOOD WHEN RE-PARKING IN THE GARAGE TO ALLOW TO VENT/COOL DOWN. OPENING HOOD NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE ,OBVIOUSLY, WHEN PARKING NOT AT HOME. WOULD LIKE MINI (BMW) TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, NEEDS TO REPLACE THE PAINTED TO MATCH HOOD SCOOP, ADDRESSING WITH BMW 12-19-2008. *TR

THE HOOD SCOOP OF MY CAR DEFORMS DUE TO EXTREME HEAT. *TR

COLD START RUMBLE/RATTLE/CLATTER FROM ENGINE. INTERMITTENT AND SPORADIC SOUND FROM ENGINE BAY UPON START UP PRIMARILY DURING WINTER MONTHS, SOUND DISAPTES AND GOES AWAY AS CAR WARMS. THE SOUND IS VERY ROUGH CLATTER, SOUNDING LIKE METAL ON METAL - OIL STARVATION ON START UP? I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ON LONG TERM DAMAGE AND COMPROMISE OF THE NORMAL LIFE OF MOTOR - IN OTHER WORDS GETTING SCREWED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT, BUT AN ONGOING CONDITION. *TR