So my wife drives a 2013 Mini Cooper Roadster Convertible with a 5 speed. She called me last week when she was having problems with it starting. She said when she hit the start button it would just keep turning over acting like it wanted to start but running extremely rough and never actually firing up. Then it would die and won't do anything. After sitting for a little bit it started right up and ran fine but threw a check engine light. The next day, before I could get it checked, the engine light went off. I had her take it to a parts store to run the code even though the light was off. The tech said it had no errors, of course, but he grumbled something about a thermostat in the previous codes. Then the car would not start again. By the time I drove to where she was, just a few miles, it started and ran fine but again had a check engine light. When I got home it would not start again.

It seems like when its at operating temp it won't start. But when it cools off it fires right up with no issue.

 

Could be a number of things and I'll doublecheck with our tech expert. In the meantime, when was the last time the battery was checked, has the fuel filter been changed, and how about the air filter? Also, check your battery connections.

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

So I've gone through all of the basics you mentioned everything checks outs. I drove it yesterday with no issue. Just left it running each time I had to go in anywhere. It had absolutely no problems. When I got back home I turned it off and tried starting it again. It would no start. Just turned over and clugged away until it died. About an hour later it started and ran fine. Oh and when I do turn it off the fan continues to run full speed for about 20-30 minutes. It never did that before. Which also makes me think it has something to do with the operating temp. Or maybe the thermostat housing???


I'm very interested in what your tech might have to say about it.

 

I believe the 'thermostat code' is the clue. If it appears the problem is engine temperature related, then I would suspect the Thermostat Housing unit, which includes the coolant temperature sensor. (The thermostat housing is a problem area for the 2007-2010 models).

MINI considers the Thermostat housing to be a part of the vehicle emissions system, which carries a 7/70 warranty. I would recommend you have your local MINI dealership take a look, and hopefully it will be covered under warranty.

 

You've either got a coolant leak allowing an air bubble near the temp sender or the thermostat electronics are faulty. Hard starts, no starts, constant fans, and stumbling performance can all be associated with a failing/failed thermostat.

Being that you've got an LCI model it may be hard to source a thermostat, they've been on a hefty backorder for over a month but they are slowly starting to come back to availability. We've got a couple on hand.