I noticed some white fluid collected outside the engine (see include pic). Any idea what might that be? It's a brand new Countryman, I've only driven it for ~200 miles. Thanks.

 

They do fill the body panels with stuff (forget the name right off hand) that keeps things from corroding while being shipped. this may just be a little left over residue.

 

It's the cursed COSMOLINE!!!

 

It's cosmoline alright. Which is a rust protector. It will look like white grease, but it will melt. Here in Arizona it is somewhat of a problem, because when it is hot it will melt and drip out from the holes under the hood. So we just wipe it off and eventually it goes away.

 

1 fault of the cosmoline is that when it melts, it tends to clog drainage holes after it congeals. (ie doors, hatches, etc.( these now hold water, so listen for sloshing & be sure the drainage holes are not clogged)

 

Thanks guys. I tried touching it with a q-tip, turned out it's actually hard solid, even though it looks like white liquid. It doesn't have the yellowish look mentioned in this thread Is there an easy way to get it off or should I bring it back to the dealer to have it removed.

 

I suspect if you take that cover off, it's going to look like this:



It's basically a sealer/sealant that was put on the top of the ignition coil.

 

Yep - on the Cooper hatch which does not apparently have such a cover, you can see the white stuff. I figured it was dialectric grease and it would appear I was more or less correct.

Do all Countryman have the engine cover? Both my R56 hatches (2008 Cooper and current 2012 JCW) do not have such a cover.

 

I do not know what that is; but, it is not Cosmoline. Cosmoline is brown. It may be a similar rust inhibitor.

Try mineral spirits on it. That usually does the trick for Cosmoline.

 

OP don't remove it! It is supposed to be there in four spots on top of the engine block.