2008 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

THE SENSORS ON THIS CAR WERE NO GOOD. IT DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OIL OR COOLANT I'M THE CAR. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER WE DISCOVERED THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSPECT OR SERVICE THE CAR LIKE THEY PROMISED. ON 9/10, THE CAR TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. TWO MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NO GOOD AND I AM NOT AT FAULT FOR THE DEFECTS. THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR WAS IN MY POSSESSION, THE SENSORS DID NOT WARN ME ABOUT ANY SERVICES THE CAR NEEDED. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORWARD WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DEFECTS. I RETURNED THE CAR, ASKED FOR A FULL REFUND, AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING TO HONOR MY WISHES. *TR

I CAN'T TELL EXACTLY THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR BY THE TIME THE ALARM POP UP, BUT IT WAS ABOUT 64K AS SPECIFIED ABOVE. AT THAT TIME THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ALARM COMES "ON" THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER SEATED. IT ALL STARTED INTERMITTENT BUT AFTER A WEEK THE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALL THE TIME, ALONG WITH THE WARNING "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF". BOTH LIGHTS (THE ALARM AND THE WARNING) REMAINS ON ALL THE TIME. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AND AFTER 117.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY CONCLUDE THAT THE "SENSOR MAT (OC3) SIB 657506" (WHATEVER THAT IS) WAS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THEY ARE CHARGING A TOTAL OF $2,608 FOR PARTS AND LABOR (INCLUDING TAXES). AFTER THIS TROUBLE AND A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN THAT WAS DIAGNOSE WERE COVERED THE THREE DAYS THE CAR SPENT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I ASKED MINI OF AMERICA TO CALL ME BACK, BUT AFTER SOME E-MAILS BACK AND FORWARD, THE. *TR

TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM (TENSIONER SEEMED TO BE MAIN CULPRIT) FAILING AND SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST $2500. CAR HAD 33,000 EASY MILES ON IT. MECHANIC SAID TIMING SYSTEM WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING TRAUMATICALLY AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. REPORTED IT TO MINI, WHO ADMITTED THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THOSE BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL SO THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE DIFFERENT SERIAL NUMBERS THAN THE ORIGINALS INDICATING, PER MY MECHANIC, THEY HAD REDESIGNED THE PARTS.

THERMOSTAT HOUSING DEVELOPED A LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WARPED THE HEAD AND BENT VALVES. *JB

WHILE TURNING AT A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHICH, IN TURN, DESTROYED THE ENGINE. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A QUOTE OF 7,200.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3K ON THE DOT. I CHECK IT REGULARLY. FULLY SYNTHETIC EVERY TIME. I WAS TOLD WHEN I BOUGHT MY MINI WITH 42K THAT THE RATTLE UNDER THE HOOD WAS NORMAL. AT APPROX. 50K I HEARD THE SAME METAL RATTLE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CHAIN SMACKING PLASTIC, SO I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE CHECKED. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT THAT'S GOING TO COST UPWARDS OF $2,000. NOW I'M NOT ONE TO COMPLAIN OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PARTS BUT WHO HAS A TIMING CHAIN GO OUT AT 50K? IF YOU GOOGLE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES YOU WILL SEE. THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. LUCKILY MINE WAS CAUGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS CHAIN GOES OUT ON A HIGHWAY... THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT... PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. GET THESE CHAINS REPLACED WITH ONES THAT HAVE BEEN QUALITY CONTROLLED. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

AT LESS THAN 33,000 MILES THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CRANKING NOISE. OIL WAS VERY RECENTLY CHANGED, BUT CHECKED THE LEVEL ANYWAY AND FOUND IT WAS DOWN ABOUT 2 QUARTS. ADDED OIL AND ENGINE NOISE WAS REDUCED. DROVE A FEW HUNDRED MORE MILES AND ENGINE NOISE RETURNED. OIL WAS AGAIN LOW. TOOK CAR TO OUR MECHANIC AND THEY DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE FAILING TIMING CHAIN CAN ALSO CAUSE THE MOTOR TO FAIL. OUR MECHANIC IN CONSULTANT WITH THE MINI DEALER INDICATES THAT THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE IS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES RESOLVED. WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $7000 AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THIS DATABASE AS WELL AS ACROSS MANY MINI OWNER FORUMS. IT APPEARS THAT A RECALL ORDER SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

HAD TO TAKE MY MINI COOPER S WITH JCW PACKAGE IN TO CORRECT A SERVICE LIGHT ISSUE. WAS CARBON BUILD UP ON THE VALVES. CLEANED IT FOR 1500.00. DROVE IT ABOUT A MONTH AND THE TURBO BYPASS SOLENOID VALVE FAILED. BACK TO THE MINI COOPER DEALER IN CLEAR LAKE. THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID AND DID A OIL CHANGE FOR 550.00 GOT IT HOME AND NOTICED IT HAD A FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THOUGHT IT COULD BE THEY GOT SOME OIL ON SOME PARTS THAT GET HOT. ONE WEEK AFTER THE TURBO SOLENOID WAS REPLACED I NOTICED A OIL SPOT ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. RAISED THE HOOD AND THE TURBO HAD A OIL FILM ON IT AND THE AIR INTAKE SUPPLY ON THE TURBO WAS LOOSE AND PRACTICALLY OFF THE TURBO. TOOK IT TO DEALER. THEY SAID LOOK LIKE OIL DRAIN BOLT LEAKING. REPLACED IT BUT THE ALSO CLEANED THE OIL OFF THE TURBO? NOT SURE WHY. I DIDN'T TELL THEM IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LEAKING. MAYBE THEY KNEW? DROVE IT HOME AND IT STILL SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TURBO WAS COVERED WITH OIL. BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY CAN FIX IT FOR 1200.00 IT IS THE TURBO OIL FEED SUPPLY AND RETURN LINE. ALSO THE OIL DETERIORATED THE AIR INTAKE LINE AND CAUSED IT TO DEFORM SO THAT IT NO LONGER WILL STAY ON THE TURBO INTAKE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION LOOKS LIKE THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE IS A MAJOR ISSUE. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE. I ALSO SAW A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE HEAT SHIELD ON THE OIL FEED LINE. BUT THEY FAILED TO DO THE INSTALL ON MINE. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SEVERAL SERVICES SINCE THE BULLETIN. THERE IS DEFINITELY A ISSUE WITH THE OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO. WON'T BE PURCHASING ANOTHER BMW PRODUCT. WILL NOT BE USING THIS DEALERS SERVICE IF I DECIDE TO KEEP THE MINI. *TR

MY MINI HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICE AT HABBERSTAD MINI SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE NOISE IN NOVEMBER 2011 AND THEY FOUND THE OIL WAS LOW AND REFILLED IT. AT EACH SERVICE I MENTIONED THE NOISE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND EXCEPT TO TELL ME I NEED INDUCTION SERVICE, REPLACE LEAKING WATER PUMP (EVEN AFTER THE RECALL FOR THIS PART WAS DONE ALREADY) AND COOLANT EXCHANGE FOR $1300. THE LOUD RATTLING ENGINE NOISE PERSISTED AND CAR BECAME ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE. IT TOOK THEM 3 DAYS TO FIND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ETC. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I HAD ALREADY FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE MY WARRANTY WAS NOW UP SO I HAD TO PAY $3000. AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!! I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND I SHOULD CALL MINI DIRECTLY AND LODGE A COMPLAINT, WHICH I DID. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED, AS MINI MUST CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD FROM MORE CUSTOMERS BESIDES ME AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING STUCK PAYING FOR A DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE DO AN INVESTIGATION AND MAKE THEM ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT AND REFUND OUR REPAIR COSTS. MINI NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR MOTORER PLEDGE AND GIVE US THE QUALITY PRODUCT THEY ADVERTISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

SOUND OF THE ENGINE RATTLE NOISE WHEN STARS IN THE MORNING. *TR

WE STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE AROUND 27,000 MILES. CAR WAS JUST OVER FOUR YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ENDED UP WITH A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPEATED CALLS TO MINI DEALER AND MINI USA PROVIDED WORTHLESS, STUCK WITH WHOLE REPAIR AND NO ASSISTANCE. *TR

WE STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE AROUND 27,000 MILES. CAR WAS JUST OVER FOUR YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. ENDED UP WITH A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPEATED CALLS TO MINI DEALER AND MINI USA PROVIDED WORTHLESS, STUCK WITH WHOLE REPAIR AND NO ASSISTANCE. *TR

I HAD BEEN SERVICING MY 2008 MINI COOPER S AT THE DREYER & REINBOLD BMW MINI DEALERSHIP FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. I JUST HAD IT IN THE SHOP AROUND 50K MILES AND WAS NOT TOLD THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING MY TIMING BELT. ONE DAY I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND DAMAGED MY ENGINE. I AM NO FACED WITH REPLACING MY ENGINE AND A BILL OF $6600+. THIS DEFECT THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION HAS RUINED MY ENGINE AND AFTER THOROUGH RESEARCH OF FELLOW MINI DRIVERS, I AM HESITANT ABOUT WHAT OTHER DEFECTS MAY COME ABOUT IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS CAR. THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER AND THERE SHOULD BE A LAWSUIT OR RECALL IN PLACE TO COMPENSATE MINI OWNERS FOR THIS FAULTY PART. *TR

THE CAR HAS BEEN SMELLING LIKE BURNT OIL FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP ON SATURDAY. TODAY, TUESDAY, WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK IT UP, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE ARE "LEAKS": 1) WATER PUMP 2) TIMING CHAIN 3) VALVE COVER 4) OIL FEED AND RETURN LINE THE CAR HAS AROUND 36,500 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 8,000.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS! WHAT??? I PAID ALMOST 30,000.00 FOR THIS CAR AND NOW HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY TO KEEP IT RUNNING? THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WILL COVER THE FIRST THREE ITEMS ON THE LIST. THE OIL FEED AND RETURN LINE IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED, AS MINI MUST CERTAINLY BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING STUCK PAYING FOR A DESIGN FLAW AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AT 36,000 MILES. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR FROM MY DEALER IS 1400.00!! PLEASE DO AN INVESTIGATION AND MAKE THEM REPAIR THIS DEFECT!! *TR

THERE IS A LEAK AT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE LEADING INTO TO THE TURBO HOUSING. THIS IS A MAJOR OIL LEAK AND SAFETY HAZARD. OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT TURBO CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. ASIDE FROM THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, THE LEAK, HAD IT GONE UNNOTICED, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP SAID THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST AROUND $1,000 WITH OEM PARTS. *TR

A SIGNIFICANT ENGINE OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED BY OIL SPOTS UNDER PARKED CAR. THE DIP STICK REGISTERED 1 QUART LOW. A QUART WAS ADDED AND THE CAR DRIVEN ABOUT 100 MILES THE NEXT DAY. UPON RETURN, THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW AGAIN. DURING THE PRECEDING TWO WEEKS THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF A BURNING OIL SMELL AND ON TWO OCCASIONS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS WAS DURING A RAINY PERIOD AND THE SMOKE WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE STEAM FROM GETTING WATER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM PUDDLES ON THE ROADS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE OIL LINE TO THE TURBO WAS LEAKING AS WELL AS THE OIL FILTER HOUSING SEAL. BOTH OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NOTED IN THE DATABASE PREVIOUSLY. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $1000 USD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (GAS) STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A DIESEL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE TENSIONERS IN THE ENGINE ARE WORN OUT. I HAD THE UPPER REPLACED, BUT THE OTHERS ALSO NEED REPLACING. BASED ON MY OWN RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE. THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS CHANGING OIL EVERY 15000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. THE FIX IS SUPPOSEDLY TO CHANGE THE OIL AT HALF THAT, 7500. I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TIMING CHAIN COMING OFF AND THE ENGINE BEING TRASHED. *TR

I HAVE OWNED THE MINI SINCE NEW. ALWAYS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE MINI DEALER. RECENTLY I STARTED THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDED MORE LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE, VERY NOISY AND UNUSUAL. TOOK IT TO THE MINI DEALER AND AS I EXPLAINED WHAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE, THE FRONT DESK PERSON THAT TOOK MY DETAILS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED LATER THROUGH AN INSPECTION BY A TRAINED TECHNICIAN. LIKE MANY, MANY MINI OWNERS I HAVE HAD A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. THAT THE FRONT DESK STAFF CAN DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS MADE ME CURIOUS, IT MUST BE SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER SEES IT REGULARLY. SOME RESEARCH CONFIRMED THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH MINIS. OWNERS HAVE HAD TERMINAL ENGINE DAMAGE WITH ENGINES THAT ARE LOW MILEAGE AND SIMPLY SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE IS SERIOUS AND CAN LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH I WAS LUCKY, AND DO NOT HAVE A HUGE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE AS I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, I STILL BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY MATTER THAT BMW/MINI APPEAR TO BE IGNORING. IT SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL. IT IS POOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ON THEIR PART, THAT SHOULD BE RECTIFIED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. *TR

I CURRENTLY HAVE AN OIL LEAK DEVELOPING FROM THE TURBO OIL LINE THAT HAS RESULTED FROM A FAILED O-RING WITHIN THE LINE ITSELF. DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, THE HEAT FROM THE TURBO WEARS AWAY THE O-RING, WHICH RESULTS IN OIL LEAKING FROM WHERE THE LINE IS BOLTED TO THE TURBO VIA A BANJO BOLT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THE LINE FAILS, THE TURBO BECOMES STARVED OF OIL AND BURNS UP, WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSES THE WHOLE TURBO UNIT TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE TURBO HAS A POTENTIAL TO CATCH FIRE, SINCE THE TURBO BECOMES VERY HOT DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ALSO IF ANY OIL LEAKS DOWN TO THE EXHAUST PIPING UNDERNEATH THE TURBO, THOSE PLACES ALSO POSE A FIRE HAZARD. MINI RECOGNIZES THIS TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN ADD A HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE CONNECTION TO THE TURBO. THE LINE STILL HAS A RUBBER O-RING IN IT THAT WILL FAIL OVER REPEATED HEAT CYCLES, AND THE LINE NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN HAS LOCKED UP. I NOTICE THAT THIS IS A COMMOM COMPLAINT. *TR

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE ON 2008 MINI COOPER LEADING TO LARGE OIL LEAK UNDER PRESSURE. LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL, OIL SPRAYING ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOSS AND OIL WARNING LIGHT. COULD EASILY LEAD TO COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE/SEIZURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ACCIDENT. *TR

ENGINE RATTLE ON COLD START INDICATED A LOOSE OR STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. REQUIRED A PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN, GUIDES AND TENSIONER

THE OIL INPUT LINE TO THE TURBO HAS STARTED TO LEAK. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SIDELINED BECAUSE OF CHANCE OF FIRE OR FAILURE OF THE TURBO. *TR

MY CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A RATTLING SOUND OFF AND ON FOR A SHORT TIME (MOSTLY IN THE COLD MORNINGS) I DROVE FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS. WHEN PARKED ON THE SIDE ROAD, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. I HAD NO SERVICE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS COME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD MY TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN. I HAVE NO MEANS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MINI COOPER/BMW ARE AWARE OF THIS AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

THE CAR STARTED LEAKING SMALL AMOUNTS OF OIL IN THE GARAGE, APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME. WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED YOU COULD SMELL A SLIGHT OIL BURNING ODOR. THE CAR SAT FOR 3 DAYS, WAS DRIVEN AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE RESULT IS THAT THE "TURBO OIL FEED LINE" AND "CRANKCASE TO VALVE COVER HOSE" WERE REPLACED BECAUSE BOTH WERE LEAKING OIL. AT 50700 MI, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND CCV ASSEMBLY. THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PE11036 FOR A COOLING FAN ISSUE. CONSIDERING THE LOW MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY ISSUES WITH IT RELATED TO THE TURBO CHARGER AND OIL SYSTEM. FROM READING OTHER ISSUES ONLINE IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE DESIGN FLAWS WITH THE SHIELDING OF THESE COMPONENTS FROM HIGH HEAT SOURCES ON THE ENGINE. THESE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND ARE NOT RELATED TO POOR OR ABUSIVE DRIVING HABITS. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BACKED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE TENSIONER WORKS ON ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND IT BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE ENGINE OIL THAT NORMALLY PRESSURIZED THE PISTON TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THE STREAK OF OIL AS I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, BUT IF I HAD NOT I AM SURE THAT MORE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FIRE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS SURPRISING AS THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL FOR BEING FAULTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS STILL A DESIGN FLAW AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MINI. *TR

THE OIL FEED LINE FOR THE TURBOCHARGER LEAKED ENOUGH OIL TO ALLOW ENOUGH SMOKE INTO THE CABIN TO GREATLY DECREASE VISIBILITY. THE FITTING IS COMPRISED OF A BANGO FITTING THAT IS CRIMPED TO THE FEED LINE WITH AN O-RING IN THE FEED LINE. THE O-RING IS THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED AND MY ENGINEERING BACK ROUND HAS LED ME TO THE ROOT CAUSE BEING THAT THE O-RING HAS SEEN ENOUGH THERMAL CYCLED TO DETERIORATE LEADING TO THE LEAK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A RELIABILITY STANDPOINT AND I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER THAT HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. MINI NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

MY MINI COOPER S WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO HAS PERFORMED WORK FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY FOR TWELVE YEARS. AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE, AND IT'S COMPLAINTS THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED TO ME. THE OIL LINES BEGAN TO LEAK BECAUSE THERE WAS A CLOG, AND IT CAUSED THE TURBO TO BURN OUT. PARTS AND LABOR FOR A USED TURBO CAME OUT TO BE AROUND $1,800. A NEW TURBO ALONE WOULD HAVE COST ROUGHLY 2,000. NOW SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES LATER, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK NOTICED UNDER THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME, TO SEE WHAT THE EXACT PROBLEM WAS AND AN ESTIMATE BEFORE TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC. THEY FOUND "SEVERAL LEAKS" OF WHICH THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THE WATER PUMP GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, AND FINALLY THE OIL FILTER GASKET. AFTER THE $1,800 BILL FOR THAT WAS PAID, A CALL WAS RECEIVED DECLARING THAT THE CRANK CASE NOW HAS A LEAK IN IT AS WELL AND NEEDS TO BE RESEALED. WITH THE OIL LEAKING FROM THAT, THE CLUTCH COULD ALSO BE BURNING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED COSTING AN ADDITIONAL $5,400. THE REPAIR BILL ON THIS ALONE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO BRING NORMAL HARD WORKING PEOPLE TO TEARS. ALSO, THE COLD START RATTLE IDENTIFYING THE TIMING BELT ISSUES HAS BEGUN ON MY CAR. THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. GLAD TO KNOW BMW TAKES CARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS AND IGNORES THE COMPLAINTS. *TR

"DEATH RATTLE" NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS ON ONLINE FORUMS. NOW ENGINE IS THROWING CODES INDICATING CRANKSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. OBVIOUS RELATED ISSUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT OR TENSIONER. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP NOT A COVERED REPAIR, ALTHOUGH I'VE READ THAT SIMILAR REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER FOR OTHERS AND FOR OTHER MODELS. AS THIS VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BY MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, OUT OF STATE, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILST SHE IS ON THE HIGHWAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE SHE LIVES, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, AS A FAILURE AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS COULD CERTAINLY ENDANGER NOT ONLY MY DAUGHTER, BUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU.

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

AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED CHUGGING. I PULLED OVER AND KEPT CHUGGING. I STOPPED THE CAR, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND ONCE I ACCELERATED IT STOPPED CHUGGING. DROVE IT VERY SCARCELY AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN. VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT SNAPPED OR SKIPPED BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY LOSE CONTROL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD THE OIL LEVEL TOPPED OFF EVERY FEW FILL UPS. THEY DO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED ON QUITE A FEW CARS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN SNAPPING OR STRETCHING TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 36000 MILES. IT IS DANGEROUS AND ALSO VERY COSTLY TO PAY FOR. *TR

BEGAN TO HEAR LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE OF MY 4 YEAR OLD MINI @ 66000 MILES. HAVE HAD MY MINI SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR 4 YEARS. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE DID RESEARCH ONLINE TO NOTICE THAT MINIS HAVE A TIMING BELT /TENSIONER ISSUE. NOTICED ON THE SAME NIGHT THAT MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN AUGUST OF 2012 AND THIS WAS NOVEMBER 2012. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THE SERVICER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF SOME MINI'S TIMING CHAINS FAILING AT 14K MILES. AFTER DIAGNOSIS HE NOTES THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE OIL FILTER GASKET WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL. THIS IS NOT CORRECT AS MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED 3 MONTHS EARLIER AND NO MENTION WAS MADE BY MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN MINIS AND THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF RELIEF. *TR

BOUGHT CAR FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH ON ISSUES WITH THESE CARS AN COMPLAINTS. BROUGHT VARRO MINI DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER AND WAS TOLD MINE WAS FINE EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER OPENED UP COVER TO INSPECT CHAIN OR TENSIONER. HAVE BEEN BACK THREE DIFFERENT TIMES WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER HORRIBLE RATTLE. MINI SAYS THERE IS NO KNOWN DEFECTS WITH TIMING CHAIN/ TENSIONERS EVER BROUGHT UP. I THEN WAS TOLD BY MY BROTHER THAT HE I TAKING HIS MINI IN FOR A SERVICE ACTION ON THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER, TURBO HEAT SHIELD, THERMOSTAT HOUSING. WE HAVE EXACT SAME CAR, SAME BUILD DATE, AND ROLLED OUT FROM SAME FACTORY BUT MINI STATES OURS ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE SERVICE ACTION EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR AND EVERYTHING. AND MY BROTHER IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEIRS IS GETTING FIXED FREE. PLEASE HELP. I AM AWARE OF THE FREEMAN-SKEEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND HAVE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH BBB SO I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO FIND LEGAL HELP SINCE THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO NHTSA COMPLAINTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY STRONGER. AFTER I ARRIVED HOME I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE THAT SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE INJECTOR RAIL WAS LEAKING. THE WAY THE HOSE WAS ROUTED ON THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, ALLOWED THE HOSE TO REST ON A RETAINING CLIP FOR ANOTHER HOSE. THE RETAINING CLIP HAD WORN A GROOVE INTO THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE AND GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING ACROSS THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST. *TR

KNOCKING NOISE WHEN STARTING AND RUNNING. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE WRONG FUEL ADDED TO IT, OR LOW OIL WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I CORRECTED THOSE TWO ISSUES, BUT IT STILL MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE. I AM VERY AFRAID IT WILL SEIZE. I BELIEVE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL BURNT OIL. AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO I PULLED OVER, IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE IT APPEARED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE TURBO FROM THE OIL FEED LINE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR COOL I PROCEEDED HOME. NOW WHENEVER THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE I CAN SMELL BURNT OIL AND AFTER GETTING HOME I CAN SEE OIL POOLING ON THE TOP OF THE TURBO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTION ON THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE LINE AND HEAT FROM THE TURBO AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS AT MY OWN COST. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, I NEARLY LOST MY LIFE 3WKS BACK, MY CAR IS FILLED WITH AFTERMARKET PRDT. MY CARS COMPUTER IS FAILED ALSO, WHICH WON'T ALERT OR RECORD ANY INCIDENT. I TRIED TALKING TO MINIUSA&CARMAX, THEY WONT LISTEN. I HAVE AN HEART CONDITION NOW COZ OF THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. I DEVELOPED A LOW HIGH BP 80/103 & FAST HEARTBEAT, WHICH I AM TAKING MED. AFTER THE INCIDENT. I WROTE LETTERS&POSTED ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE NO RESPONSE. I NEED HELP! I USED TO BE A PROUD OWNER OF 2008 MINI COOPER! NOW MY CAR TURNED INTO A DEATH TRAP! ITS NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE, SO FAR 3 TIMES CAR WAS TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD & FREEWAY, WHEN IT HAPPENED I APPLIED MY (ALL THREE TIMES) BREAK WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR, DIDN'T WORK, BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CARMAX WITH A WARRANTY (EXTENDED), ALSO THE CAR HAS 53,100 MILES ONLY! CALLED CARMAX BURBANK OFFICE NO RESPONSE, THEN CALLED CARMAX OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AFTER A GREAT DEAL GOT RESPONSE FROM A REP. NOW THE CAR IS WITH UNIVERSAL CITY MINI OF NOHO! CARS BREAK SYS. IS AN AFTER MARKET PROD. MY CAR COMPUTER/DASH DISPLAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SIGNAL COMES ON EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, WHEN IT DOES, THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN IT DISAPPEARS, WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO MINI DEALERSHIP, CAR KEY RECORDS ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CARS ENGINE AND INCIDENTS, WHEN THE REP. AT DEALERSHIP DOWNLOADED THE CAR KEY, HE COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE INCIDENT, THEN I SHOWED HIM THE PIC I TOOK.. HE WAS SURPRISED... " THIS CAR IS NOTHING BUT A LEMON" POORLY HANDLED BY CARMAX AND MINI. THIS CAR WILL KILL SOMEONE, IF YOU LET IT DRIVE. PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE AND OTHERS. LTRS WERE SENT TO CARMAX&MINI USA CEO'S TOM FOLLIARD CEO OF CARMAX,[XXX] AND [XXX]. NONE OF THEM, EVEN BOTHERED TO REPLY, RESPOND OR TRIED TO REACH OUT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN MUNICH, GERMANY, WHERE SHE WORKS FOR THE US GOVERNMENT. LAST WEDNESDAY, WHILE ON THE AUTOBAHN OUR CAR BEGAN TO MAKE SOUNDS AS IF IT WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OR THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF FLUID BEING SPLASHED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR. BECAUSE IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND I WAS PREPARING TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND. BEFORE I COULD DO SO HOWEVER, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND SUDDENLY THE CAR BECAME FLOODED WITH A THICK WHITE/GRAY SMOKE FROM THE VENTS AND DASH. I PULLED OVER AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AND BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE ENTIRE HOOD AND INSIDE CABIN WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE. RATHER THAN POP THE HOOD, I FIRST RAN TO THE TRUNK AND GRABBED A REFLECTOR (WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW HERE) AND RAN 20-25 FEET BEHIND THE CAR TO PLACE IT ON THE GROUND, TO WARN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO SOONER HAD I DONE THIS, WHEN I HEAD AN EXPLOSION, QUICKLY TURNED AROUND AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE MINI WAS NOW ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I COULD DO NOTHING BUT SIT AND WATCH, AS WITHIN MOMENTS THE FIRE HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE CAR AND SOON BECAME AN COMPLETE FIREBALL. GERMAN POLICE AND FIRE OFFICIALS SHOWED UP 15-20 MINUTES LATER AND BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A CHARRED FRAME OF METAL. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HURT BY THE EXPLOSION OR THE FIRE. HOWEVER, MENTALLY I HAVE REPLAYED THE EXPERIENCE A HUNDRED TIMES AND EACH TIME I ASK MYSELF, WHAT IF I HAD POPPED THE HOOD FIRST, OR WHAT IF I HAD TAKEN EVEN AN EXTRA 30 SECONDS IN PULLING THE CAR OVER? THINKING ABOUT IT JUST MAKES MY BLOOD RUN COLD AND FEELS ME WITH DREAD. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN '08 IN VIRGINIA AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT AND IT WAS EVEN IN THE SHOP EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHERE THE FLUIDS WERE ALL TOPPED OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS TOLD TO BE IN EXCELLENT RUNNING CONDITION. *TR

LOUD SUDDEN DIESEL LIKE RATTLE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS "THE DEATH RATTLE" BY IMPACTED MINI OWNERS) FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON A METICULOUSLY WELL MAINTAINED 2008 MINI COOPER S TURBO. DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED WOULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,800. BMW/MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS COMMON AND SYSTEMIC TENSIONER DEFECT (DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL PART). THEY SHOULD "DO THE RIGHT THING" AND RECALL AND/OR REIMBURSE GOOD FAITH PURCHASERS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *JS

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE WHEN I TURNED IT ON. THEN IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE LOUD NOISE AS I DROVE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND CAUSED THE GUIDE RAIL TO BREAK, WHICH FELL INTO THE OIL PAN. THE DEALER SAID I WAS LUCKY MY ENGINE DIDN'T LOOK UP WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS A $2100 FIX ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 53,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WAS ON AND BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WARM AIR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE SO HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL SPILLED EVERYWHERE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE TURBO CHARGER HAS TOTALLY FAILED (CAR IS UNDER HALF POWER) AND THE TOP GUIDE ON THE TIMING CHAIR (TENSIONER SYSTEM) IS BROKEN. I HAVE DONE THE PROPER MAINTENANCE WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE. THE TURBO IS COOLED BY THE KNOWN FAILED AUXILIARY WATER PUMP WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUIT BOARD AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. MINI/BMW IS REFUSING TO COVER THESE FAILURES CLEARLY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PARTS AND DESIGN (OIL LINE LEADING TO TURBO GETS GUMMED UP BECAUSE IT IS TOO SMALL). THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE ME OVER $5200 TO REPAIR THE CAR (20% OF THE VEHICLE COST IN 2008) FOR WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS NOT BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR OVER 2 WEEKS WHILE I CONTINUE TO 'FIGHT' BMW'S DETERMINATION NOT TO COVER THESE PROBLEMS. READING COUNTLESS BLOGS WITH OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM(S) I BELIEVE BMW IS INTENTIONALLY SELLING A PRODUCT IT KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE AND COLLECTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS. NO CAR SHOULD EXPERIENCE A TOTAL FAILURE OF A TURBO AND BROKEN TIMING CHAIN IN 60K MILES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND NHTSA SHOULD PROTECT US CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY BY ISSUING A RECALL - SOONER THAN LATER. *TR

DEAR [XXX], I AM WRITING TO YOU IN REGARDS TO MY MINI COOPER VIN# [XXX]. FIRSTLY, I AM AWARE OF TWO RECALL NOTICES, ID# [XXX] AND ID #[XXX]. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS BUT TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER. SEVERAL TIMES I INDICATED THE SENSORY WARNING CAME ON WITH ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THIS CONCERNS ME, BECAUSE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURES BEFORE 45,000MILES. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE MINI SERVICE CENTER FOR THESE FAILURES, INCLUDING: REPLACING SPARK PLUGS, FAULTY COIL PACK, FAULTY LATCH, BRAKE REPLACEMENT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE, ON-BOARD COMPUTER REPLACEMENT, TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CURRENTLY, THE SOLENOID VALVE REPLACEMENT WHICH IS NOT YET FIXED. I HAVE ENCLOSED COPIES OF MY INVOICES FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND SERVICE VISITS. [XXX], THE TECHNICIAN AT MINI OF CAMARILLO, STATED THIS LAST PROBLEM (THE SOLENOID VALVE) APPARENTLY IS RELATED TO THE VANOS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF WITH CAUTION MESSAGE ENGINE MALFUNCTION CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH HIM IT STILL HAD THE SAME EXACT JOLT THRASHING BACK AND FORTH MOTION HARD ENOUGH IT IS FELT ON THE SEAT. [XXX] AT MINI OF CAMARILLO INFORMED ME IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE IGNITION COIL AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT THE CALABASAS SERVICE CENTER I HAVE TO PAY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN ORDER TO FIX THIS CURRENT PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS SINCE THE TIME I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE ON MAY 24TH THE CAR STILL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE EXITING OUT OF THE FREEWAY AND ON FREQUENT STOPS. THESE CONTINUED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY MINI COOPER HAVE REQUIRED IT TO REMAIN UNREPAIRED AND OUT OF SERVICE AT THE MINI SERVICE CENTER NOW FOR A WEEK TO BE MECHANICALLY SAFE TO DRIVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HAS BROKEN GUIDES AND CAUSES VERY LOUD "DIESEL" SOUNDS. ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OIL LEAK IN OIL LINE GOING TO TURBO. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 MINI COOPER S THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL ,AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE FOUND THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRODUCTION ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MINI/BMW. NOT EVERYONE HAS $2000.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED,I HAVE 28K MILES WHICH I CONSIDER A FARELY NEW CAR STILL NOT FARE FOR US CONSUMER WHO SHELL OUT ALOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR WE BELIEVE TO BE RELIABLE AND IS NOT , PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US CONSUMERS BE TREATED FAIR WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THESE COMPANY'S FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US UNTIL SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS. *TR

MY MINI COOPER S HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND HAS HAD FAILURE OF THE FRICTION WHEEL (AKA TIMING CHAIN OR TENSIONER SYSTEM). THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE ISSUE ARE A VERY LOUD, RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE, IT CONTINUES TO RATTLE DURING IDLING. THE MINI CORPORATION IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WHILE THE DEALERSHIP ITSELF WORKED WITH ME TO LOWER THE COST BECAUSE THEY SAY IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE CORPORATION WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE OR HELP WITH THE COST TO FIX IT. ALSO, IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED IMMEDIATELY, IT WILL LEAD TO A BLOWN ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, I HAVE READ THAT SEVERAL MINI OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THE FRICTION WHEEL ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEAR NOT LONG AFTERWARDS. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING AND MINI NEEDS TO STAND UP AND ABSORB THE COST TO FIX IT AND/OR RECALL THE MINIS AFFECTED TO ENSURE IT NO LONGER HAPPENS. *TR

VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT COLD START, DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER, TOTAL COST ABOUT $1950.00. DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MINI USA. *TR

I WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED END OF JUNE. I BOUGHT MINI-S 08 USED IN FEBRUARY FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP IN WESTCHESTER, ELMSFORD, NY. I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE THAT TO ME DIDN'T SOUND NORMAL NOT TOO LONG AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PEOPLE AT MINI TOLD ME IT WAS FROM SOMETHING ELSE, A LOOSE PIECE AND THAT THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEM." THIS NOISE ONLY BECAME WORSE, AND NOW THE CAR IS AT 45,000 MILES AND NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER, WHICH THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR TRAILER. I CHANGED THE OIL, THE NOISE WASN'T AS LOUD BUT STILL THERE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT IS GOING TO SNAP SOON, AND IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ONCE IT BREAKS, THE WHOLE ENGINE WILL BE DESTROYED. *TR