Today I pulled into a car wash in San Luis Obispo and rolled down the window to pay. I smelled burning oil and saw smoke and asked the attendant who was outside if the smoke was coming from my car. I couldn't believe that it could be because the car is brand new but believed her because there was no other car around me.

I couldn't back out of the booth area and asked her if she would raise the gate so I could pass through. I did and found a parking spot behind the car wash. Between the gate and the parking spot there was little or no smoke. I checked the oil level electronically and the idle became rough and a message popped up saying the oil pressure was low. I immediately stopped the car and popped the hood.

Standing in front of the car looking under the hood all looked normal but as crowded as the space is, there isn't much to see other than the top of everything. At this point a huge puddle of oil started rolling out from under the car. Two hours later the car was on a flatbed being towed over 100 miles to the closest dealer to San Luis Obispo, but still MANY miles from home.

Getting back to the hotel I looked at the pavement and saw a trail of drops entering and leaving the parking spot where it was parked prior to heading to the car wash.

Can't imagine what failed under the hood, but given the probability that it was running low on oil until it started smoking then went 200 feet to the parking spot where the last quart was ejected I am thinking that there had to be at least some run-dry damage to the motor.

This event trashed our weekend as well as introduced a huge issue of anxiety over what will happen to the car and assuming that it is brought back to good status how I can get the car returned to me.

What is really crazy is that just a few weeks ago we got a call from the dealership telling us that the car had Berne selected by mini to receive a full exam as a way of ensuring that the car was 100 percent. The car was checked out at the dealership by a special technician from mini who was at the dealership for this purpose. I pressed the woman who asked us to come in if there was anything particular that they were concerns about and was told no, that it just routine and a part of minis effort to provide excellence.

I didn't think that was the whole story then and am even more suspicious now.

Comments about what you think failed on the car or information about there quest for exam of the car from a few weeks ago would be appreciated.


Paul

 

Loose oil drain plug?

 

No idea. No oil changes since new- only had 2600 miles. The last time the hood was raised it was at the dealership receiving a "quality" check.. They may have passed the car, but I have to give it a failing grade. Now to see how Mini treats me... I promise I will let everyone here know if I give them a passing grade.

Paul

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experience OP, I hope MINI makes it right for you! Subscribing to this thread.

 

I'd be a little suspicious of that call...

That doesn't make sense, I have never received a call from any dealer asking to fully inspect the car after delivery.

Maybe they are hiding something and there was a problem already? Regardless what a shitty situation. Sorry to hear man. A brand new car should be exciting and worry free. Hopefully it all works out for you.

 

This was a base 3-cylinder model?

Didn't they recall the oil filter housing? I wonder if what cracked. I've replaced countless seals on that particular part on other BMWs.

 

The mini is an S model. Drove like a champ right up to the end. I looked under the car and saw no signs of damage. The tow truck driver said this was the fourth brand new mini he had towed this week. He said the last one had paper plates.


Paul

 

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults **

I wish these were clearer but there was a TSB on the oil filter housing for sure :(

** for some reason I can't post the correct link. You will have to search the NHTSA for Mini Cooper 2014 to find the TSBs and the air bag recall.

 

Waving goodbye to 2014 purchased June with 2600 miles. You can see oil that fell off car when lifted onto flatbed. Also oil trail on ground as it made its last drive.

Paul

 

Boy this really sucks on many levels. Not sure what is worse, that there was an oil leak on a brand new car.... or that all the electronic monitoring on the car did not give you a warning long in advance before it blew the engine. Either the oil low, low oil pressure, engine temp, or all these warnings should have gone off far enough in advance to stop the car and avoid severe damage.

Anxious to find out more.

Hope Mini makes your car right. You may need a new engine.

 

Yikes...Good Luck!

 

Wow , that is terrible.As stated by Rocket man the inability of the monitoring system is concerning.Damn,give us our dipsticks back!! Good luck,let us know.

 

Really, really sorry about your situation. Not a good one at the moment. Very stressful and who needs that.....I know Mini will take car of you. Last year my 2008 had a coolant leak, it was in for 12 days. I had a loaner for free during that time. They could not detect or fix for a total of 12 days, out of warranty and NO CHARGE !!!!..It was a manifold issue because as they said a twisted gasket assembled incorrectly during production (if you can believe that ?).... And I had a free loaner...I traded in this car for a 2015 F56(still waiting for delivery) ........I know Mini will take of you and they stand behind their work. My question is, is your issue, a one of ?....,is it a issue with the 2014 S models?....,is it a issue with the 2014 models Manual and/or Automatics ?........I wish you the very best and a very speedy resolution to your current situation. Never a good one....please keep us informed....thank you.

 

Having a dipstick would not have helped in this case.

 

Horrible. I hope all turns out well. When I started reading I was gonna reply that maybe something in the track of the car wash tore something up but then you say you say the oil at the entrance of the car wash. You said you looked for damage and saw none. It doesn't take much to hit the oil pan. If it's no impact damage it just gotta be in improper assembly when car made. Loose hose sensor. Keep us updated. Good luck. Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

I think all anyone can do at this point is speculate. But it certainly sounds like they have discovered a serious production problem and are now calling back those units that might have been affected. In the early days of an emerging production problem, it is likely that even MINI doesn't know the whole story, as they scramble to figure out what is going on and get out ahead of the problem. But if they called you in, then that speaks to the severity/risk of the problem.

That MINI previously inspected yours, yet you are having this problem now, seems to imply that either they called you in for this problem but do not yet understand the failure mechanism, or they called you in for a different problem.

I would prepare a list of pointed questions to have them answer about this problem, in writing.

 

BMW has this program called"encore". They contact new customers within like 90 days after delivery in order to go over the car and mor importantly to go over the functions of the car and answer any questions. I dont know if mini dies this but. According to BMW it helos with the JD POWER surveys to make sure that what is precieved as a problem is explained as a function and simple re-instruction answers alot of questions.

Just a thought.

 

That's kind of nice. But, do they call new customers in for an inspection of the car? This sounds a little different; the OP did not write that they wanted to answer any questions, but rather they wanted a look at the car.

 

MINI does have it. They call it the MINI Second Date. It's for all the same reasons as above.

I'd be interested to know as well what happened. Was it damage or defect?? Subscribed.

 

Yeah. They call and arrange a service appt. the BMW genius or delivery specialist talks with cust and the car goes in the shop quickly to get racked and checked. Mind u this is BMW. but the above post does confirm this.

By no means am I taking away from other theories posted just giving my in site.

.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

"Second Date" sounds familiar. While they offered to answer any questions about the car, the visit was tended to by a special technician from mini. He was not a normal employee of the dealership. We had to make an appointment for dates and times that he was available. I asked if there was a particular problem or issue with the vehicle. They said no and treated it like it was some honor or special deal that we had received. They denied that there was anything particular that they were looking for, just checking the car over.

Paul

 

What dealer was it taken to. The nearest dealer from San Luis is 100+ miles away.

 

what happened to it?

 

Sorry to hear this. I wish you good luck. Hope you have answers asap.

 

Latest update: Car taken to Mini Universal City. Should be there right about now. Am going to contact the Automobile Club of So Cal to see if I can get it taken to Irvine Mini. Not that I have any issues with Universal City, but I would prefer to get the car fixed where I bought it, close to home.

About two hours on the phone with Mini. To be honest, given that the car is so new, I would have preferred to have had them ship it directly to Irvine Mini, but they wouldn't budge. They got it within 80 miles. Had they would have gone the entire distance I would have called it GREAT, but they earned an ALMOST GREAT. I wouldn't be so disappointed if it not for the fact that the car was purchased such very short time ago.

Will update as I learn. Thanks for your well wishes.

Paul