Good day, everyone.

Just picked up my first Mini last night in Dallas:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ME:B:EOAB:US:6

A rather prime example, I would add--it was a showroom car with dealer installed mods, and its condition 'in person' was better than stated in the ad.

I was pretty pumped, as it was going to be my first 'nice' car. I've had Honda's, RX-7's, and an assortment of GM's--all of which I repaired when there was a problem, and was something I enjoyed. But, I was ready for a car that I could drive carefree under its warranty period.

Unfortunately, I had my first experience with Mini Roadside Assistance on the way home. And more unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it was due to a thrown rod--yes, a thrown rod. The standard, 'Pop!', a plume of oil smoke large enough to stop traffic on the interstate, and then the sound of metal grinding through the rest of the block. Not cool...

So, before I get the 'buying a used car, i told you so's..', I should reemphasize the car's condition. The seller was an extremely trustworthy guy & was selling the car b/c he has a new Vette, GTO, 3 Lexus's, and other toys. This used to be the wife's car--so, we know she didn't abuse it...

Also, I've never bought a new car, so I know all the standard checks--underneath, fluids, accessories, everything else--and, it all passed inspection. Did a 30 minute test drive, and then bought the car.

I was driving back from Dallas to OKC and got 2 miles from home--approx 225 driving miles--when the engine blew. The car made it to the dealer this morning & they're checking it out on Monday.

So, being a new Mini guy and new to this forum, I should ask what are you all's experienced impressions of this situation?

Needless to say, the outcome of this will determine if I ever buy another Mini or BMW.

Thank you for your time.


Zack

 

Well being that your MINI is still under the Factory warranty I would hope all will be taken care of. Don't let this get you down, just make sure that the Service Advisors keep you well informed.I hope that this won't be in the shop for to long.

Cheers and hope to hear your motoring soon.

 

I wonder, was it really his wifes' car. Did she put in the strut brace, CAI and aftermarket exhaust?

 

Just because someone tells you it was the wife's car how does that equate to not being abused? Are you saying wife's don't abuse cars? If you are you've got to be one of the more gullable people I've read posts from. As for ebay it just isn't all that hard to get a good rating and have it be false. There's always the fact that it was just bad luck and I'd rather have you say that than the other garbage. Ebay has some good deals, but it's also much easier to get ripped off there than from a dealer(some would disagree), but most folks feel too stupid to admit they were suckered on e-bay.

 

If she is anything like me she did, just to start

On topic, since you mention that the mods are dealer installed it might help, in general, to show that paperwork to the dealer the car is at now. Your biggest problem if it did throw a rod/spin a bearing, from what I've experienced with a friend's blown M3 engine as well as read from many people on forums that have gone through this, is that they will try to show that the car was over-revved/miss-shifted, and thus it would not be covered under warranty. If they do run a report from the ECU and see an over-rev the key will be if they can prove when it occured (I don't know what the Mini ECU stores, the E46 does not show when). If they cannot show when the over-rev took place then they can't prove that it was not done by Mini service when they had the car - and as we know, MINI/BMW has been known to take customer cars out and treat them, how can I put it, "unkindly".

Anyway, with hope you won't have to even argue that or have to fight for proper treatment. Let us know what the diagnosis is and how it goes.

Best of luck.

 

I did not join this forum for eBay speeches, Fred.

The online transaction had nothing to do with it--the car was seen, inspected & driven extensively before the final in-person transaction took place. Furthermore, you weren't there and your third person speculation is much worse than my experience in buying used cars.

I should say, it is unlikely that 'this' guy's wife abused the car. She's totally chill & putts around in her new cars. She bought it b/c she thought it was cute, and had no idea what the dealer installed mods were even about.

Besides, the car ran flawlessly beforehand, so that kind of catastrophic failure was just as likely to happen to them as me. My assumption is it was some fluke from assembly, as I haven't heard of too many Mini engines exploding--but, maybe you guys can comment more here.

Thank you for everyone else's replies.

Regarding the over-rev you mentioned, eVal--do these cars have a rev limiter? Is it good enough to prevent missed shift over-rev's? BTW, that's not the case here, but just curious.

I hope I don't have to argue, either--thanks again everyone.


Zack

 

I don't want to state the obvious here, but it sounds like you over-rev'd it. What were you doing to it when you broke it? Sounds like a neutral drop to me.

I think Fred's right - you prob got taken on this one. People try to sell things on Ebay that aren't always fully disclosed... if you know what I mean. Do you? Have you ever used Ebay before - it's sounds like Fred knows how to use it - the next time you buy a car you should talk to him first.

Yeah right it was his wife's car - that's what I'd tell you too. With a CAI and a strut bar... the guy was obviously runnin' at the drags. Did you check the FRONT tires for wear before you bought? - It's not a rear wheel drive you know? If he did any mods to the engine, you're screwed, cause that'll void your warranty. I can explain how the warranty works if you need me too. He bought a Vette, when his other car was a Mini-S... Hmmm

If you want to treat your car like this and blow up engines, you may be better off with something from Japan - like a 350Z.

 

Heh--thank you for that insightful post, cerwalker.

Sorry everyone--one of my 350Z buddies poking the fire....

 

My woman is one of the worst drivers I have ever seen. To me, that part of the ad would have been a WARNING sign!

 

I hope the dealership repairs the motor under warranty. There has been a lot of back and forth on NAM about cars with mods and different dealers' varying responses. If you don't get satisfaction at one dealer could you try another? Please let us know what happens. Good luck.

 

As far as I know it has a rev limiter, however it won't prevent a "money shift" or over rev :(

 

But things like this can happen to anyone. To answer you questions specifically. no there have not been lots of posts about blown motors. I think there were some very early heating issues on the S, or cooling, I should say, but the motor is pretty strong.

Sorry for all those dumping that with eBay, you should have expected it. That's just total BS and everyone knows it. Sometime cars fail, and sometimes the systems crap out long before the part should have.

As to the question about rev limiters, yes, the are there, but they only work if the gas pedal is what is telling it to spin to fast. If a shift is missed, or the car is downshifted with way too fast a speed, then the drive line will over rev the car, and no computer will stop that!

Anyway, we'll never know if the woman beat the car, but that really shouldn't matter, as I've stomped the cr*p out of mine and I haven't thrown a rod.

For all you out there that weren't there and are just guessing, just stop it, as it provides no value or insight. Speculation is sometimes worse than silence.....


Good luck,

Matt

 

There is a rev limiter. On an 03 MCS, I've hit the limiter 2 or 3 times, it backs off power to the engine as if there was a blockage in the fuel line.

 

You should be thrilled that the warranty will give your used MINI a brand new engine!

Once it gets all fixed up, you will be loving it!

 

I wonder what happens when someone downshifts and puts it in to the wrong gear, i.e. going in 2nd gear instead of fourth thus over revving it...

Miatas, such as mine, has a rev limiter also, but I don't think that rev limiter can protect it from damage, when downshifting improperly... what do you guys think?

I actually know someone whose engine eventually died, and blamed it because of this improper downshifting during one track day..

///Gil

 

Thats the case in any car. If you were to accidentally downshift to 2nd instead of 4th, and your engine didnt blow right away, you are lucky.

 

I had to drive from NWA to OKC to get my mini. I dont understand why if you were in OKC anyhow, then you didn't just jet down to the dealer and get a brand new '05 for about that same price?
steven

 

Call me naive, but...

I have no idea what a "standard" thrown rod looks, sounds, or smells like. Wouldn't know it if it hit me in the face...

 

Or not going fast enough to over-rev. My wife bought a Mazdaspeed Miata and is still mastering driving a manual. I was riding with her today and she did a 6 to 3 rather than a 6 to 5 downshift--no big deal since she was only doing about 55 at the time and didn't get close to redline.

Mark

 

Right, but the rev limiter won't save your engine from a 5th to 4nd shift at speed (or what ever crazy downshift combination, say 6th to 2nd). The car's wheels will be turning so fast when you engage the lower (than intended) gear you will have a mechanical over rev. In other words, then engine will try to match the wheel speed in that low gear, sending the revs through the roof. No fuel cut off will save you then.

Sorry to hear about your used ride :(

 

I threw a rod cap once. In a chevy I had. I was driving along without a care in the world (definately not overrevving) when all of a sudden it sounded like someone was hitting my engine with a sledge hammer - or jack hammer since it repeated often, then there was a loud bang as the cap exited through the oil pan, along with all the engine oil of course.

It was a used car so I don't know about abuse, but sometimes things just happen. Zack just got unlucky.

 

Ya. That sucks for zack. Another reason to not buy a used sporty car.

 

Hey, everyone.

Just made it back from the dealership, and getting in good w/ the service manager & technician.

The tech took me into the garage & showed me exactly what happened, and said he'd never seen it before. Apparently, the piston/rod retaining ring gave way, separating the piston & rod and then trashing everything.

I was originally thinking whatever broke shot out of the oil pan, but he showed me where those pieces blew straight out the front of the block (towards the front bumper). There was ~ a 3in-diameter circle of the block missing from that cylinder.

His thought was as mine--that other parts prob would have given way in an abused car, before a catastrophic failure, as such. And, that everything else on the engine & car looked pristine.

They seemed pretty cool & apologetic about it and that it was definitely getting fixed under warranty. I told them to take their time, as rushed engine swaps usually turn into lemon cars.

So, thanks to everyone who was empathic, and no thanks to everyone else--heh. Should be on the road late next week--will let you know how it goes!


Zack

 

So glad to hear it, Zack! I'll bet you're very relieved, too. :smile:

Mark

 

Just read the thread. Sorry about your bad luck. Hope they new motor is in soon. Good luck
John