2007 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

SO, I HAVE ONE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF BAD THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS PART #11537534521( COOLING SYSTEM) . NONE OF THE PARTS HOUSES HAVE THEM IN STOCK. MINI SAID THAT THERE ARE 17,000+ OF THEM ON BACKORDER. 17,000! THIS APPEARS TO AFFECT MINIS FROM 2007 THROUGH 2010. SO, MINE SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN INDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. NOBODY ACTUALLY KNOWS WHEN (IF) THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR A LONG TIME.THERE ARE GUESSES FROM SEPTEMBER 12TH TO OCTOBER 10TH. MOSTLY JUST SHOTS IN THE DARK, SO THEY CAN AT LEAST TELL YOU SOMETHING! THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN FAILING PREMATURELY FOR 6 YEARS, AND NOW LOOK AT THE MESS. MINI IS NOT EXACTLY PRO-ACTIVE. CERTAINLY OUR FIRST AND LAST MINI. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI AND BMW TO ASK WHAT THEIR SOLUTION WILL BE FOR ALL THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. ALL THEY DO IS TAKE MY NAME AND NUMBER AND TELL ME THAT THEY WILL CALL BACK . THEY NEVER DO . I AM HOPELESS WITH OUT A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER ( MINI) NO HAVING REPLACING PARTS AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE . PLEASE HOLD MINI AND BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. *TR

ENGINE BAY STARTED SMOKING. PULLED THE CAR OVER AND NOTICE THE TURBO OIL LINE WAS LEAKING HOT OIL EVERYWHERE. COULD OF RESULTED IN A ENGINE BAY FIRE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN A MINI COOPER OWNER SINCE 2007 AND LOVED MY MINI. IT WAS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAD APPROX. 127K MILES, IT DROVE GREAT AND I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE SIX YEARS I OWNED IT. IN JULY 2013, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND HEARD A VERY FAINT PERCOLATING SOUND COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASH. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS SO I KEPT DRIVING BECAUSE I WAS IN A DESERTED AREA AT NIGHT. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER, I SAW A FLAME OUTSIDE MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER TIRE OF THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED 911 BUT WITHIN MINUTES, THE ENTIRE HOOD AND FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE CAR WAS A COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY THE FIRE. NOTHING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE COULD BE RECOVERED. OTHER THAN THE FAINT PERCOLATING SOUND AND A SLIGHT ODOR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I SAW THE FLAMES, THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THE FIRE AN UNDETERMINED MECHANICAL CAUSE AND SAID IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY LOCAL SHOP AND HAD OIL CHANGE,NEW BATTERY,TIRES ROTATED AND ALIGNMENT .THEY COULD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT. CALL ME TO INFORM ME THAT I HAD TO TAKE TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. I CALLED MINI COOPER AND SPOKE TO [XXX] AT THE HOUSTON DEALERSHIP MOMENTUM MINI. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THE COST WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 4000 TO 10,000 DOLLARS. I EXPLAINED TO HER I HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND HAVE ANY DRIVEN 6000 MILES IN A YEAR. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT OTHER PEOPLE WHERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THERE MINI. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 39,126 MILES ON IT AND MY DAILY DRIVE TO WORK IS A QUARTER MILE IF THAT. PLEASE HELP !!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON 580 CAR LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FROZE UP, BOLT ON TIMING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND FELL INTO OIL PAN. OIL PUMP WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT. ON 11/7/13 RECEIVED LETTER FROM MINI CORP. REGARDING A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WITH PREMATURE WEAR, WHICH COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. UPON REPLACEMENT OF TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, MECHANIC FOUND A FAULTY VACUUM PUMP WHICH FROZE WITHOUT WARNING. OIL DISTRIBUTION WAS COMPROMISED. THIS ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER PUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN JEOPARDY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. BMW CORPORATION HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE VACUUM PUMP PROBLEM SINCE 2012. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 3/15/11 WITH 32K MILES. MINI CORP LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE FOR A FAILED VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURE. HIGHWAY SPEED, LOSS OF POWER, PUTTING VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN PERIL CIRCUMSTANCE, BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE/MECHANICAL FLAWS IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS MOTOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COOLANT HOUSING AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

WHILE IN IDLE AND ANY RPM, A RATTLE/GROWLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING OF THE ENGINE. WHEN SHIFTING IT WAS HARDER TO PLACE INTO GEAR WITHOUT GRINDING AND VERY EASY TO MISS A GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THIS HAS A FAILING/FAILED TIMING CHAIN. A NEW TIMING CHAIN WAS INSTALLED, COSTING ME $1,400. ONE WEEK AFTER BEING FIXED THE SAME SOUND IS ARISING FROM THE TIME CHAIN HOUSING AND NEED TO BE TAKEN BACK IN FOR A NEW CHAIN YET AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THIS MINI COOPER, IT IS JUST THE 1ST WHILE I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH IT. *TR

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH ON THE NJ TOLL ROAD, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. AFTER SEVERAL MECHANICS, THE 3RD MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS " LOCKED UP VACUUM PUMP ON ENGINE THAT CAUSED CAMSHAFT SPROCKET TO SNAP CAUSING BENT VALVES IN ENGINE,MOTOR OIL WAS FULL ." TOTALLY UNSAT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON 580 HIGHWAY, MY CAR LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE LANE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF OF THE FREEWAY OUT OF THE WAY OF MOVING TRAFFIC. HIGHWAY PATROL WAS ABLE TO ASSIST WITH WARNING OTHER DRIVERS OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE. DUE TO A MECHANICAL VACUUM PUMP FAILURE, CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND THE ENGINE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ALSO FAILED ON THE ENGINE WAS A CAM SHAFT FAILURE, TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THIS IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. COST OF REPAIRS PROVIDED BY DEALER IS ESTIMATED AT 9,700.00 DOLLARS MANUFACTURE AWARE OF OIL ISSUES WITH THE VACUUM PUMP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE BREAKDOWN. OIL FEED HOLE ON THE PUMP CAN BECOME CLOGGED ON THE PUMP. VACUUM PUMP WILL INADEQUATELY SUPPLY OIL TO THE VITAL MOVING PARTS ON THE ENGINE.WE HAD JUST COMPLETED AN OIL CHANGE A WEEK BEFORE THIS FAILURE. MANUFACTURE INTERVALS FOR OIL CHANGES, PUT FAILURE OF PUMP A REALITY, NOT A POSSIBILITY. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSED IMMEDIATE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DAMAGED TIMING CHAIN HOUSING CRACKED CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY THE HOT ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT OIL STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY DRIVER. *TR

HAVE FOUND THAT MY MINI IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THOSE COVERED BY THE BMW SERVICE RECALL ARE HAVING, ALTHOUGH MINE IS NOT COVERED AS CONFIRMED BY MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THIS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDED ALL MINIS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND NOT ONLY THOSE THAT OPTED FOR THE UPGRADED MODEL S. *TR

THE MINI MADE A BEEPING NOISE / WARNING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH TO START SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE MINI DEALER IN MY TOWN WHICH HAS A HORRIBLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.) THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILING TIMING CHAIN AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN TENSIONER, ADJUSTER UNIT CAM, GUIDE RAIL, SLIDE RAIL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, GASKET RING, VALVE COVER GASKET, DRIVE BELT, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS ... EVERYTHING. THIS FAILURE COULD GAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITHOUT MY IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS A $3,000 + FIX. *TR

WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES, ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT IDLE, AND RUNNING UP TO ABOUT 2800 RPM, WHEN NOISE WOULD DISAPPEAR. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PISTON; THAT FAILURE CAUSED THE CHAIN TO SKIP AND THROW THE CAM TIMING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER... COST OF $188.00 TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, AND $471 TO DIAGNOSE CAM TIMING SKIP AND RESTORE CAM TIMING... TOTAL COST $659. DEALER REFUSED TO SUBMIT CLAIM TO MINI NORTH AMERICA FOR GOODWILL COVERAGE, DESPITE OUTSTANDING CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE, REGULAR DEALER MAINTENANCE, AND PROPER OIL LEVELS AND CHANGE INTERVALS. THIS ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AND RESULTING DAMAGE IS WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND REPAIR OF ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM AT MINI'S COST-- SEVERE CASES CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND POTENTIAL CRASHES/FATALITIES. NHTSA, PLEASE MAKE MINI DO THE RIGHT THING!!!! *TR

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR FLAW WITH OIL SUPPLY/RETURN LINES TO THE TURBO. A CONDITION EXISTS WHERE IF LEFT UNATTENDED AND UNCARED FOR CREATES THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE/VEHICLE. THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN AND/OR LATER PARKED. THE RISK IS CREATED WHEN OIL ACCUMULATES, EITHER THROUGH TIME OR OVER A LEISURE DRIVE, AND COLLECTS NEAR/ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD & TURBO COMPONENTS, BOTH OF WHICH OPERATE AT EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. IT IS BECOMING A DAILY TASK TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR HOOD AND INVESTIGATE FOR ACCUMULATION OF OIL NEAR THESE PARTS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SMELLS OF BURNING PETROLEUM. NEED I BE MORE APPARENT OF BURNING OIL THAT WILL BURN AND DESTROY A CAR DUE TO A FAULTY PRODUCT? THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE MAJORITY LIFE OF THE CAR BUT HE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESSED DUE TO DISREGARD OF THE MINI/BMW DEALERSHIPS TO ACCEPT THIS DESIGN FLAW. IF RESEARCHED FURTHER, THERE ARE MANY STANDARD EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NUMEROUS DESCRIPTIONS, IMAGES, EXAMPLES, FORUMS, AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS FLAW OCCURRING IN MANY CARS OF VARIOUS STYLES, MILEAGE, AND TRIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF 2007. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE MANY OF THE MAJOR FLAWS ALREADY LISTED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT ON THE NHTSA SUCH AS THE ??DEATH RATTLE?? BELT TENSIONER FAILING (LUCKILY NO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WHICH HAS BEEN LISTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON NHTSA, NUMEROUS), VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT (ALSO LISTED), ETC. NHTSA, ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS AN AVID AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMMON PERSON DOES NOT CHECK UNDER THE HOOD DAILY AND ITS ONLY TIME BEFORE SOMEONE PARKS THEIR MINI IN A GARAGE AND THE HOME GOES DOWN IN FLAMES. I PERSONALLY DON??T PARK THE MINI IN THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE. DO NOT REPAIR THE MINI WITH THE SAME FAULTY OIL LINE DESIGN. RECALL DESIGN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WAS GETTING HOT. I MOVED MY HAND DOWN TO THE GAS PEDAL AREA AND FELT A LOT HEAT WHICH I LATER DETERMINED TO BE COMING FROM THE PLASTIC PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS SO HOT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TOUCH WITH MY BARE HANDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHANGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 07/12/13*LJ

I WAS THE ONE THAT REPORTED THE "DEATH RATTLE" ON MY WIFE'S MINI COOPER A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND MINI FIXED IT FOR $1800, WHICH WAS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THEIR ESTIMATE. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN (IT WAS STRETCHED 70MM... 70!!), THE TENSION PULLEY, THE GUIDE, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE AUX WATER PUMP (WAS A RECALL SO IT COST $0), RETIMED THE ENGINE, WASHED THE CAR, AND CLEANED THE ENGINE BAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CAR RUNS LIKE NEW. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE CALLED MINI ON MY BEHALF AND THEY GAVE US A $500 DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS "ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY". PERHAPS THAT MEANS MINI IS FINALLY WAKING UP TO THIS PROBLEM? I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW BETWEEN THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED 70MM, AND THE BROKEN PIECE OF GUIDE RATTLING AROUND FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, DIDN'T DESTROY THE ENGINE... BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING. ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO LET OTHER MINI OWNERS KNOW THAT THERE'S HOPE AFTER ALL. AND $1300 IS BETTER THAN $1800 ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. CAR RUNS GREAT AND NEITHER MY WIFE AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH POWER THE CAR HAD LOST. WE'RE STILL GETTING RID OF IT THOUGH... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT'S DRAMA. AND THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. *TR

JUST WANTED TO REPORT ANOTHER CASE OF THE "DEATH RATTLE". MY WIFE HAS A 2007 MINI COOPER S WE BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT. 2007. SHE COMPLAINED OF A LOUD RATTLE WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL WARM. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LOOSE EXHAUST COMPONENT UNTIL IT STARTED HAVING IDLE ISSUES. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND THE IDLE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY BUT THE RATTLE PERSISTED. OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER IS AN HOUR AWAY SO WE DON'T TAKE IT TO THEM UNLESS WE HAVE TO. EARLY LAST WEEK THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED THE OIL AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE... ALTHOUGH THE DIPSTICK DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK IN THE ENGINE. OIL LIGHT WOULD COME AND GO OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SHE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE RATTLE CHECKED AND THE OIL CHANGED SINCE IT WAS ALMOST DUE. THEY FOUND THE GUIDE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COVER. THEY CALLED OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER, SAID IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH TURBO MINIS, AND WE SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. HAD IT TOWED TO MINI AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS. THEY HAVEN'T WORKED ON IT YET AND THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THEY DO, BUT AN EARLY ESTIMATE IS ~$1800 TO REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE ENGINE ISN'T DAMAGED (WHICH IT ISN'T AS THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE). I ASKED MINI ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER SOME SORT OF WARRANTY AFTER READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES SINCE IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID SINCE THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW, AND LOW OIL LEVELS EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. HAD NO IDEA THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW UNTIL THE LIGHT CAME ON. PRETTY SAD THAT THIS "COMMON PROBLEM" STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WIFE IS NOW A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND HER SCHOOL IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. SHE MAKES THAT DRIVE TWICE A DAY, THREE TIMES A WEEK. HOW THAT BROKEN PIECE DIDN'T GET TANGLED IN THE TIMING CHAIN AND DESTROY THE ENGINE I'LL NEVER KNOW. *TR

MINI COOPER 2007: DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAD INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH STATING A FAULTY DRIVER AIRBAG. WE HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $600 DOLLARS. CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE REPORTS OF OTHER MINI COOPERS HAVING AIRBAG ISSUES, AND REQUEST A REVIEW OF THIS INSTANCE AS WELL. *TR

MY 2007 MINI COOPER S THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAS STARTED LEAKING TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT PROLONGED STOPS IN TRAFFIC IF FLUID IS NOT PUT IN THE OVERFLOW TANK. I HAVE BEEN READING VARIOUS THREADS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER MINI DOES NOT SEEM TOO WORRIED ABOUT THIS PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WOULD LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE AXLE AND SEAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDY ROAD WHEN WITH NO WARNING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND FORCED ME INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING, BUT STOPPED AGAIN AT MY HOME. THE IGNITION KEY WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN I REMOVED IT. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING OR CAUSE, THE TIMING CHAIN & TENSIONER FAILED, WHICH RUINED MY ENGINE. JUST THE TIMING CHAIN COSTS $2000-$3000 TO FIX, BUT SINCE MY ENGINE IS GONE AS WELL THAT NUMBER IS MORE LIKE $6000-$7000. THIS IS A 2007, AND SINKING HALF OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR BACK INTO IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AS OTHERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS ISSUE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE STAGES. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

UPON ACCELERATION WHEN THE TURBO CHARGER ENGAGES THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL WHICH CHANGES TONE DEPENDING UPON THE ACCELERATION. AFTERWARDS SMOKES STARTS LEAKING FROM THE HOOD SCOOP AND SIDES OF THE HOOD ITSELF. IT SMELLS OF BURNED OIL. I NOTICED OIL POOLING AT A CONNECTION POINT NEAR THE TURBO CHARGER UNIT. IN MID-AUGUST THE CAR FAILED IT'S EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO A CRACKED VALVE COVER. I HAD THE MINI DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE VALVE COVER WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO PASS INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT I HAD AN OIL LEAK IN A LINE TO THE TURBO CHARGER THAT COULD START A FIRE AND TO WATCH MY OIL LEVEL CLOSELY. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS (AFTER NEARLY $900 ON THE VALVE COVER) IS SIMPLY BEYOND MY MEANS PRESENTLY. SINCE LEARNING ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DANGERS THE CAR IS NO LONGER PARKED IN THE GARAGE.

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS IS FROM A SMALL LOCAL LOT JANUARY OF 2013, EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AS PERFECT. I LOVE THE CAR. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND LUCKILY I WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME AND AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN IT FELT LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN A GEAR (CAR IS AUTOMATIC) THEN I NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I REMAINED AT THE SPEED OF 35MPH OR LOWER BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. THEN MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH MADE ME THINK I HAD BRAKE ISSUES. I PARKED IT LIFTED THE HOOD AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND YOU COULD HEAR THE FANS RUNNING EXTRA HARD. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GUY TO LOOK AT IT AS HE TOLD US HE JUST HAD A MINI IN WITH SAME ISSUE WEEKS BEFORE AND AAA CAME TO TOW IT TO HENDRICK MINI IN CHARLOTTE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS VALUE STEMS AND ETC FIND OUT A FEW HOURS LATER NOT THE CASE I NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS A '07 WITH ONLY 54K MILES ON IT IN PERFECT CONDITION. MAKES NO SENSE. MINI/BMW US HAS HEARD OF MY COMPLAINT AND HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT. IF YOU ASK ME FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ ONLINE THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I CAN'T AFFORD $9K TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I LOVED MY MINI COOPER BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW I'M CAR LESS AND LEFT MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CANNOT EVEN DRIVE AND IT IS SITTING IN THE SHOP ON HOLD FOR THE TIME BEING. MINI/BMW NEEDS TO REALIZE ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS THEY ARE LOSING OVER THIS. *TR

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS... I WORKED MY A** OFF FOR A YEAR SAVING UP FOR ONE OF THESE CARS AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE TENSIONER GOES... MINI DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU OR THE CAR THEY SELL, ITS ALL ABOUT TAKING WHATS IN YOUR WALLET AND PUTTING IT IN THERES, DONT BUY ONE OF THESE CARS AND NOT EXPECT TO PAY FOR IT TWICE LITERALLY IN FIXING IT..

I'VE BEEN A LOYAL MINI COOPER CUSTOMER FOR YEARS NOW BUT RECENTLY MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I GOT IT TOWED, AND THEY SAID MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CAME OFF AND LITERALLY SLICED SOME PART OF THE ENGINE. THERE HAS BEEN TALKS ABOUT A "RECALL," BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT OFFICIAL BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS TO DO SO. MINI COOPER DID CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE DEFECTED TIMING CHAINS AND I KNOW SOME DEALERSHIPS CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN FOR FREE BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. MINI COOPER DID NOT INFORM ME ANYTHING AND NOW I HAVE TO EITHER PAY 5000 DOLLARS TO GET A USED ENGINE OR SELL MY CAR. I WORK FULL-TIME AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK. *TR

I'VE BEEN A LOYAL MINI COOPER FOR YEARS NOW BUT RECENTLY MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I GOT IT TOWED, AND THEY SAID MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CAME OFF AND LITERALLY SLICED SOME PART OF THE ENGINE. THERE HAS BEEN TALKS ABOUT THE "RECALL," BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT OFFICIAL BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS TO DO SO. MINI COOPER DID CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE DEFECTED TIMING CHAINS AND I KNOW SOME DEALERSHIPS CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN FOR FREE BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. MINI COOPER DID NOT INFORM ME ANYTHING AND NOW I HAVE TO EITHER PAY 5000 DOLLARS TO GET A USED ENGINE OR SELL MY CAR. I WORK FULL-TIME AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A CAR. *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. MINI OF MARIN WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ONGOING ISSUES AND WERE TOLD THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THE ISSUE. CAR SMOKES UP IF DRIVEN SLOW. MUST BE ADDRESSED IN RECALL. *TR

THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE OIL LINE FEEDING THE TURBO CHARGING UNIT. OIL NOW LEAKS DIRECTLY ONTO THE TURBO CHARGER CAUSING LARGE DISCHARGES OF SMOKE AT LOWER (CITY) SPEEDS FROM THE HOOD. THE BURNED OIL SMOKE IS NOT VISIBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH ONCE ONE SLOWS DOWN FOR A RAMP THE SMOKE POURS OUT AGAIN. DUE TO THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE THE CAR IS NO LONGER PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. IT IS PARKED TOWARDS THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY AS FAR FROM OUR HOUSE AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE SEEING THAT THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME. *TR

I TOOK MY MINI S IN TO THE SHOP FOR BRAKE MAINTENANCE, TO BE TOLD THAT THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND THE TIMING CHAIN KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. UNNECESSARY TO MENTION, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TENSIONER IN THE MINI HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SOME SITES HAVE QUOTED SINCE 2007. HAD I NOT TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR A COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSUE, MY TIMING CHAIN COULD HAVE BROKEN, RESULTING IN A THROWN ROD AND A BLOWN ENGINE, WHICH CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. THIS TENSIONER IS A DEFECTIVE PIECE WHICH CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND AREA COMPONENTS WHEN IT FAILS. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN ON THE WEB, A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SHOULD BE MADE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHTS UP. NO ONE HAS EVER SAT IN THE SEAT. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1,600.00. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

ON 2/4/13 HAD MY CAR TAKEN TO GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP ON 5925 PEACHSTREET IND.BLVD.ATLANTA,GA. (THE CYLINDER HEAD COVER HAD TO BE REPLACED,WAS LEAKING, I PAID $1291.45 FOR THE SERVICE). I PICKED UP MY CAR ON 2/5/13, ACCORDING TO THEM IS WAS GOOD TO GO. STARTED HEADING BACK HOME, WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT POPPED UP AGAIN, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING,SHAKING,IT WOULD NOT DRIVE HIGHER THAN 40MILES., GOT OFF I-75 IN MACON GA, CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICES, HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED ABOVE FOR REPAIRS. THEY KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. THEY CALL ON 2/20/13 TELLING MY THE CAR WAS READY FOR PICK UP. I RETURNED TO ATLANTA THE FOLLOWING DAY 2/21/13. THEY CHARGED ME FOR SERVICE $3,991.57 . HEADED BACK TO FLORIDA ON 2/23/13, AND NOT EVEN HALF WAY, ON I-75, THE ENGINE LIGHT POPPED UP AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD NOT HIGHER THAN 40MILES, HAD CAR TOWED TO THE MINI OF SOUTH ATLANTA DEALERSHIP IN UNION CITY,AND IM AWAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM WHEN TO COME AND PICK UP MY CAR. WHEN THE RECALL WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED,I TRIED TO CONTACT BMW/MINI HEADQUATERS, THEY TOLD ME I WILL RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE RECALL,WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED. I NEED HELP FORCING THESE PEOPLE TO BE RESPONSIBLE, FIX MY CAR OR IF NOT REIMBURSE ALL THE MONEY I HAVE INVESTED IN REPAIR (NOT ONLY IN ATLANTA BUT IN FLORIDA AS WELL). PLEASE I NEED YOUR ADVISE. A VERY FRUSTRATED MINI COOPER S DRIVER . *TR

MY 2007 MINI COOPER S EXPERIENCED THE DEATH RATTLE. I HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING/TENSIONER CHAIN REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND MINI COOPER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THEIR CARS AND FIX THEM. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE AND WHILE IT WAS THERE HAD THEM DO A DIAGNOSTIC TO ENSURE CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND THAT I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. WAS TOLD TO TOW IT HOME OR LEAVE IT WITH THEM AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR CLOSE TO $2500. THE CAR HAS 37,000 MILES. REALLY? FEEL LIKE THERE'S A NICE SCAM GOING ON WITH A PRODUCT THAT HAS OBVIOUS DEFECTS WITH THIS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. NO VEHICLE SHOULD NEED A NEW TIMING BELT WITH THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. MINI NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TURBO CHARGER OIL FEED LINE - VERY POOR DESIGN CRIMPED TUBE WITH AN O-RING SEAL FAILED IN VERY HOT ENVIRONMENT AND CAUSED LARGE OIL LEAK ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. STOPPED CAR BEFORE FIRE STARTED. DEALER WANTED $1,300 TO INSTALL A NEW $50 OIL LINE OF THE SAME POOR DESIGN. EVERY SINGLE 2007+ MINI COOPER S HAS A SIMILAR OIL LINE - THEY ARE ALL FAILING AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE - NO EXCEPTIONS. MINI SHOULD REDESIGN THIS PART AND ISSUE SAFETY RECALL AND RE-IMBURSE THOSE THAT ALREADY PAID TO REPAIR OIL LINE. *TR

HAVE HAD A SEVERE RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE FOR SOME TIME NOW, RESEARCH SAYS THAT IT IS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE A LEAKING OIL SUPPLY LINE TO THE TURBO. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE MAJOR ISSUES FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS FROM MINI. THESE ARE BOTH EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD.......THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS! PLEASE HELP..... *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING HOSES AND OIL PAN GASKETS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HOSE AND OIL PAN GASKET FAILED AT THE SAME TIME.

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUFFER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CUSTOMER IS EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A REPAIR EVEN THOUGH MINI HAS ADMITTED A POOR DESIGN AND ARE REPLACING TENSIONERS VIA A CAMPAIGN. THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT GET REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE , WHICH WORSENED AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BRAKE AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE , WHICH IF AT HIGH WAY SPEED , COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . MINI IS DENYING ACCOUNT ABILITY. *TR

A CAR STOPPED SHORT IN MY PATH CAUSING ME TO BRAKE HARD AND STALL. SINCE I DIDN'T APPLY THE CLUTCH DURING THE EMERGENCY STOP I PRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WHEN IT FAILED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I HAD IT TOWED TO MINI OF BALTIMORE. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD NO COMPRESSION AND THAT THE EXHAUST CAM HAD JUMPED 180 DEGREES OUT OF TIMING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PROBLEM THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2800. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MINI WON'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2007 MINI COOPER S, THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JUNE OF 2007. I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR AND KNEW THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST CAR I WOULD EVER OWN. IT IS A $31,000 CAR THAT I HAVE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS MADE EXPENSIVE ($560/MONTH) PAYMENTS ON FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. ABOUT TWO YEARS INTO OWNING THIS CAR, I NOTICED WHEN IT WAS COLD OUT THAT MY MINI WOULD GET WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS "THE DEATH RATTLE". WHEN I CALLED RALPH SCHOMP MINI (WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT), THEY TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT AND THAT IT JUST HAD TO DO WITH COLD WEATHER. A YEAR AFTER THAT MY MINI WOULD STRUGGLE TO GET MOVING, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM, AGAIN THE MECHANICS AT RALPH SCHOMP MINI TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, AGAIN JUST COLD WEATHER. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS ACTING UP SEVERELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER IT WENT OFF AND IT SEEMINGLY STOPPED HAVING ISSUES. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT, IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER AUTO PLACE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, BUT IT WAS NON-CONCLUSIVE, AND THE SYMPTOMS ONLY GOT WORSE. I HAD MY MINI TOWED BACK TO RALPH SCHOMP MINI, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS RESULTED IN SAYING THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD COME LOOSE WHICH DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AN ENGINE SUPPOSEDLY BUILT TO LAST AT LEAST TO 250,000 MILES ONLY MADE IT UNTIL 52,000 MILES AND WILL COST ME AS MUCH AS $8,000 TO REPAIR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED LITERALLY SIX MONTHS AGO, AND I AM ONLY ABOUT THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM HAVING HER PAID OFF. IN LOOKING UP THIS ISSUE ONLINE, MANY OTHER 2007 MINI OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE. I AM INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE ENTIRE SITUATION, AND WOULD ENCOURAGE A RECALL TO BE ISSUED ON 2007 MINI COOPER S. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE OIL SUCTION PUMP. THE PUMP FAILED INTERNALLY AND DUE TO THE DESIGN THAT TIED IT DIRECTLY TO THE OVERHEAD CAM, IT CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO SEIZE, STRETCHED AND BROKE THE BOLT CONNECTING THE TIMING GEAR AND CHAIN TO THE CAMSHAFT, WHICH THE FELL INTO THE LOWER ENGINE AREA AND CAUSED FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A RELATIVELY SLOW TRAFFIC SITUATION AND THE CAR WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED OFF TO THE SIDE. DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS SUBSTANTIAL AND CONSISTENT WITH MULTIPLE OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW (IN MY OPINION AS AN ENGINEER) IN THAT THE SHEAR POINT BEING ON THE CAMSHAFT INSTEAD OF THE PUMP CAUSES INSTANTANEOUS ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS CRASH OR INJURY. IN ADDITION TO THIS FAILURE, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE OIL SYSTEM THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THIS PUMP FAILURE. MINI HAD ALLEGEDLY PERFORMED SOME 'VALVE CLEANING' APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SUCH 'CLEANING' WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OPENED. I HAVE EXTENSIVE PHOTOS OF THIS ENGINE AS IT WAS DISASSEMBLED, SHOWING THE PUMP, BOLT AND OTHER PARTS AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE. *TR

WAS DRIVING BACK FROM VACATION, AND UPON GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY WE HAD NOTICED A LOUD RATTLING WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN THE TIMING CHAIN TO BE LOOSE AND DESTROY THE RAILS IT RODE ON. UPON LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE FURTHER, DISCOVERED THERE IS A TSB OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL YET. *TR

MINI USA WAS WELL AWARE OF THE MASSIVE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM (AFFECTING 500,000 MINI COOPERS),BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I'VE COMPLAINED OF THE CANTANKEROUS RATTLE DURING A COLD START WHICH WAS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE FAILING TIMING CHAIN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE AND POORLY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. (APPARENTLY MINI HAS COME OUT WITH A NEW ONE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM). THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $1800 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CHAIN ASSEMBLY. I ULTIMATELY TOOK IT AN INDEPENDENT MINI MECHANIC AND HAD IT REPLACED FOR LESS ($1144). NOW I AM HEARING THAT MINI DEALERSHIPS ARE REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOW A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND CHAIN. THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED IT WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE OBVIOUS AND SHOULD NOW COMPENSATE THOSE WHO'VE PAID OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS FOR THIS POORLY DESIGNED PART. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY; ENGINE ROUGH ON START UP; SOUNDS LIKE RATTLING CHAINS WHEN SHIFTING; MINI SAID OUR OIL WAS TOO LOW SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYING OUR TIMING CHAIN; TECH WAS AMAZED THAT THE CHAIN GUIDES WERE SHORN OFF AS WELL; MINI DOES NOT HAVE A CHECK OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE; WE CHANGE OUR OIL EVERY 5000 MILES EVEN THOUGH MINI RECOMMENDS EVERY 15000. SO, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN 44,000 MILES. COMPLAINED TO MINI CORPORATION AND PROCEEDED WITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION EXPERT. MINI DENIED OUR CLAIM BECAUSE OUR OIL WAS LOW AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. REPAIR COST $1,950.83 AND WE ARE STILL MAKING A CAR PAYMENT ON THIS NEWER VEHICLE. RESEARCHED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS TALKING WITH 3 ACQUAINTANCES WHO OWN A MINI. WE ARE FORTUNATE WE CAUGHT THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, BMW/MINI FINDS OIL USAGE AT 1 QUART PER 1000 MILES AS ACCEPTABLE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY NEED TO INSTALL A CHECK OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE AND CHANGE THEIR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FROM 15000 TO 3000 MILES. *TR

MY CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HAVE TO REPLACE IT FOR $9000! IT S MINI COOPER S 2007 ONLY 29800 MILES!! THE DEALER WILL NOT REPINES ANYTHING AND THE WARRANTY IS OUT! *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2007 MINI USED 1 MONTH AGO. WHEN I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THERE WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE IT FIXED AND CALL ME BACK IN FOR A TEST DRIVE. I WENT BACK AND WHEN THE CAR STARTED IT HAD A VERY SLIGHT RATTLE THAT EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY. NOW IN THE MONTH TIME THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT TAKES ME 6 OR 7 TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO START, AND WHEN IT RUNS IT HAS THE RATTLE THAT HAS PLAGUED SO MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE INADEQUACY OF THE INFERIOR TIMING CHAIN SET UP. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS A "NORMAL" MINI NOISE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT. THAT IS IN A SENSE A "COP OUT" FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS HEAVILY KNOWN IN THE MINI COMMUNITY AND THAT BMW MINI IS WELL AWARE OF. THIS IS A MAJOR MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE CAR AND BMW MINI NEED TO OWN UP TO REPAIR WITH AN UPDATED AND CURRENT CORRECTIVE ACTION OR REPLACE THE ENGINES FOR ALL THE LOYAL MINI OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS VERY COSTLY PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO TOTAL DRIVELINE FAILURE. WE PAID FOR A GOOD RUNNING RELIABLE VEHICLE AND ARE NOT GETTING WHAT WE PAID FOR. *TR

TURBO OIL FEED PIPING FAILS AT CONNECTOR. BANJO TYPE FITTING ON TUBING FAILS ON CONNECTION ABOVE TURBO, SPILLING OIL ON TURBO UNIT. PRODUCES SMOKE AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING DECREASED ACCELERATING POWER AND A LOUD RUBBING/KNOCKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING, THAT WILL CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE IF NOT PROMPTLY FIXED. IT IS A WELL KNOW MINI COOPER PROBLEM (2007 MODELS TO CURRENT YEAR) AND THE MINI DEALERSHIP I TOOK MINE TO HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE. MINI HAS CAME OUT WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS AND A SERVICE GUIDE ON HOW TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AT A HEFTY COST (IF THE ENGINE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED); HOWEVER, MINI/BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR IN MY AREA WERE $1300-$1600 IF REPAIRABLE BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WILL CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT FIXED QUICKLY. MY CAR HAS 41,000 AND HAVE HAD MY MINI SERVICED AT THE DESIGNATED TIME INTERVALS AT ONLY MINI SERVICES AREAS. SUCH A MAJOR REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE EVENTUALLY CAUSED MY ENGINE TO STOP WORKING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 41,000 MILES. MINI/BMW SHOULD BACK UP THERE PRODUCT WITH REPAIRS AND NEEDS TO FIND AN ULTIMATE FIX BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE EVEN IN THE CURRENT MODELS. *TR