2005 MINI COOPER Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Coop S Hardtop. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the vehicle alarm activated inadvertently and the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that he lifted the hood open and noticed fire coming from underneath the engine. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Driving at approximately 10-15 miles an hour entering a parking lot when I noticed flames coming out of the hood scoop of my 2005 Mini Cooper S. After brief inspection from my mechanic, it is believed to have been caused by the wiring harness for ABS or possibly the power steering unit since the fire originated from the rear/right hand side of the engine and those two components. I have a claim opened with USAA but during simple research, I have found tens, if not close to a hundred issues with similar characteristics. I know I am not the first R53 Mini Cooper (2002-2006 run) with this problem and this should be considered a hazard and public safety issue. I have included the link to many of the cases captured by the North American Motoring Association (a primarily North American Mini car association) which details 24 pages of these issues....

2005 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE ELECTRONIC FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS ANOTHER VEHICLE COMPLAINT LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WITH HIS VEHICLE WAS A COMPUTER TEST CALLED COMPREHENSIVE COMPONENT KEPT READING INCOMPLETE. THE DEALER FOUND AN INTERNAL SHORT INSIDE THE ENGINE BASIC CONTROL COMPUTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC HARDWARE WAS $1968 WHICH WAS EXCESSIVE. *JB

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 I NOTICED A LOUD FAN NOISE THAT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING. MECHANIC DETERMINED FAILED CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IN 11/2012. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IN 11/2012 THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED. IN 12/2012 THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN 06/2013 THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED FAN FAILING, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY TO FAIL. PLEASE SEE NHTSA COMPLAINTS 10453158, 10444328, 10379750, 10442431,10379459 FOR SIMILAR CASES OF THESE SAME ISSUES RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED PUMP. *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR/SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP THE RPMS AND MY CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES. IT WENT FROM ABOUT 2 TO 5.5 RPMS, EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT FINALLY DOES SHIFT, IT LURCHES THE CAR FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO START ACTING UP, BUT ONCE THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IT SEEMS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE IT NOT HAPPEN. IT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING AND FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I DO ALL CITY DRIVING, WHERE I SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP SO I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET WITHIN THE 30MPH RANGE. MY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING SO I AM AFRAID OF MY TRANSMISSION DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWING DOWN SO MUCH THAT IS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. BOTTOM LINE: MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND...

AT LOW MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. NO FORE WARNING JUST GONE. I'M TRYING TO DRIVE AND AT 10 MPH I'M REVVING AT UP TO 3000 RPM'S. THIS SHOULD DEF NOT BE HAPPENING! I'M FUMING BEING THAT I HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I HAVE NOT BEATEN ON IT OR ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO FAR MY EXPERIENCE WITH BMW HAS NOT BEEN GOOD. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER BUYING ANYTHING ELSE. *TR