Cooper SD

Recent owner-reported faults

1. 20 Dec 2016

   Porous cylinder head reported on 2008 MINI Cooper at 57,000 miles. Car has cost £3,000 in repairs over past 3 years. MINI specialist said never saw the condition before and that car needs a new engine. BMW MINI dealer to conduct diagnostic tests for a manufacturing fault.

2. 18 Oct 2016

   Yellow engine EML light came on in 59k mile R56 MINI Cooper S. Garage advised that it needs a new timing chain (which has "jumped a tooth") and a few other parts. Estimated cost £1,900, of which parts are about £1,500, but apparently the replacement parts would not develop the same problem later (ie, the parts have been modified to eliminate (or reduce) this problem).

3. 11 Aug 2016

   Report of 17,400 mile 2012 MINI Cooper auto with Pepper pack perpetually stalling and losing power to steering and brakes. Taken to MINI dealer which has had the car for 12 days and cannot find the problem. (Begs the question why not. See above.)

4. 24 Jul 2016

   65,000 mile 2009 R57 MINI convertible automatic reported to be using a litre of oil every 1,500 miles.

5. 20 May 2016

   As directly above (9-5-2016), engine warning light recently came on in 25k mile 2011 MINI Cooper. Fault was traced to a failed solenoid in the sump, resulting in oil tracking back up the wiring to the engine management system, all of which had to be replaced. MINI and the local MINI dealership dealt with the situation very well. MINI stood the cost of the new EMU, and the dealer significantly reduced his hourly rate. Instead of a bill of £1,800, the reader paid £526. The dealer told him that it was a rare, but not unknown problem. Somewhat friendlier dealer than 9-5-2016.

6. 9 May 2016

   Starting problem on December 2010 MINI Cooper S Cabriolet traced to failed oil seal on a solenoid that allowed oil to track along the wiring harness and into the engine management system, both of which had to be replaced, along with re-programming. BMW dealer response was no chance of a contribution to repair costs on a car of that age. Owner opted to have it repaired at local independent MINI specialist. This cost £2,525.

7. 9 Jan 2016

   Timing chain failed on used 2009 MINI Cooper S bought 3 months previously.

8. 16 Nov 2015

   Rear brake discs of 3 year old 30,000 mile MINI Cooper corroded and MINI lease demanded they were replaced by lessee before returning the car.

9. 3 Aug 2015

   Strange case of 3 year old MINI Cooper S failing to start after a recent franchised service. Local mechanic found that CV joint had detached from driveshaft.

10. 21 Jul 2015

    Number of problems reported with Cooper S. First, a timing chain failure (often the result of too infrequent oil changes). MINI provided goodwill. Then a coolant leak from a failed header tank (£600), and now another coolant leak at the seal with the oil filter for which the dealer is asking another £600. This could be connected with the electric pump that circulates coolant through the turbo and which was the subject of an NHTSA recall in the USA.

11. 11 Jul 2015

    Report of peeling and blistering of clearcoat lacquer on Chilli Red MINI Cooper S.

12. 29 Sep 2014

    Another yellow engine light showing on a 2007 MINI Cooper S. Suspect oil/timing chain problems.

Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 30 reports indexed, top 12 shown