To make a long story short Chaos went in for the coolant temperature sensor recall and to check a "weeping" oil sump gasket as pointed out by the local independent Mini mechanic at his last oil change.

Well in the end it was the oil pump solenoid that had to be replaced and the wiring harness also was replaced due to oil from the leak getting into the connector. The leak was never enough to leave spots (yet) but I'm sure over time it would.

The SA told my wife when she picked the car up that he has been seeing a lot of these. So when you take yours in for service get it checked. And this is an engine issue so it will affect all models with the 1.6 engine. Do not know if it is turbo specific but I would not imagine so. Don't know if this is heading for a recall either. Certainly nothing to get paranoid over just take yours in and get it checked when you have time.

A great big thanks to my local guy at GS Tuning!
And Mini of Marin did a good job too.

 

My car has an oil leak (Cooper S All4, 11/2010 build date), enough to drip oil on the garage floor. It's at the service centre today and they said it was an oil pan gasket that was leaking according to my SA. I hope they got it right and it wasn't the solenoid. This is the second time I went back there for the oil leak.

 

I took Fenton in for a normal service and several problems were found, including this one. The service reference is to
SIM 11 01 12
for oil pump solenoid leaking. There was no oil on the ground under the car, but there was migration up the wiring harness from the solenoid. They pulled the intermediate axle shaft on the RF to get into the area, and found the seal on that was leaking, too. Checking for this is harder on the ALL4.
Replaced (in this part of the service):
Solenoid valve
Gasket ring
Intermediate shaft (they don't have replacement square o-rings for this shaft - $$)
The good news is they got this leak (they're checking for it on services now) before the oil had migrated up the wiring harness to the engine computer, in which case they would have had to replace it as well! $$$

 

I just had my temp sensor done a few weeks ago and I just discovered an oil leak now, too. I was at a light last week when I could smell burning oil. I thought it was the car in front of me. Now everyday I get off the highway and roll up to the light I have this same burning oil smell, so I get under the car and see there is oil all over the underside of the engine. The car is going in Monday to get looked at.

 

Zoreo's started to leave evidence of a slow drip on my garage floor. Sounds like I need to schedule another appointment. My Acura I had for 12 years had 2 service calls in the 12 years I owned it. My MINI's been in 6 times over the last 12 months I've owned it.

Good thing this thing's fun to drive and I'm under warranty for another 3 years, otherwise I'm not sure I'd be so nonchalant about it!

For those that have gone in for service, how many days were you out of your vehicle? Thanks.

 

That was one of several problems and fixes I've had lately. Can't say just for that fix, as I had multiple oil leaks and even bigger problems. 11 days last month and another 12 and counting this month. 38 total.

 

For anyone who had this solenoid leak, was it coming from the passenger side of the car? I noticed a leak of some sort on the garage floor the last day or so. Did not investigate further, but it can only be from the CM and it's from the front passenger side. Looks like oil on the garage floor.

 

Just had this replaced under warranty on my ALL4 as well. I hadn't noticed the leak myself, just happened to be in for my normal servicing when they offered me a rental car since it was going to take much longer than previously expected. They said they had found a drip, but it hadn't gotten to the point of travelling the wiring harness (yet).

 

I am due for my 'in between DIY oil change' so I'll take a peak at where it's coming from while I'm crawling under the car next weekend. It will be a good time to take off the turbo heat shield and CAI again prior to taking it in so I don't upset the SA like I did last time

 

Our car had this leak recently as well. Very small, occasional spots on the garage floor, somewhat on the passenger side. I mentioned it when I took the car in for its 1-year oil change and the temp. sensor replacement. The shop confirmed the oil solenoid leak and did that fix along with the wiring harness as described above. They gave us a Mini Roadster to play with for the 2.5 days days it took to complete the work.

 

Took mine in as several warning lights came on. No leak evident in the garage, but $1800 to fix it! The car isn't even 18 months old! Not sure how this is going to work out. SA told me to call MINI to see what they say, looks like several 1.6's have this issue and could be heading toward recall. I think also one of the supports broke in my seat too. I hope this isn't the beginning of a long line of issues with these cars...

 

Are you saying you paid for the repair? I am pretty sure there is a TSB out for this. I took mine in reporting I was smelling a lot of burning oil, and they replaced it under warranty.

 

No I havn't had the work done yet, car is beyond warranty and I'm gonna shop the work around. I guess I will call MINI to see what if anything they will do for me.

 

My oil leak was indeed the solenoid valve. I did the oil change prior to taking it in and there was a noticeable leak from the back of the engine. Attaching the details of the repair order which includes the bulletin number.

 

 

TSB's (Technical Service Bulletin) in themselves do not extend Warranty coverage. They are not a commitment to absorb cost.
Mine did not leak on the floor either. This leak wicks up the engine harness and left unrepaired long enough has the potential to contaminate the sensors and control units that plug into said harness.
I found my leak during a belt replacement. I did repair it with the harness repair kit, it worked great.

 

 

Here is a pic of mine during replacement. My car is an All4 so there is a transfer case with output shaft removed which will not apply to your car.

The right side axle is removed to access the harness, the harness is removed, then the repair kit plugs into it making it longer. The excess wiring created is pushed down into the pan with a tool that is included in the kit.
I think the nice thing about this repair kit is, while inexpensive compared to a new oil solenoid- the better part is I did not have to disturb a nicely factory sealed oil pan....

link to the harness kit, the silver thing is the tool to push harness correctly into the pan. The kit actually comes with an illustrated instruction.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/11418609973/

 

Did you have to drain the oil in order to install the kit?

 

No you can leave the oil, the work is at the top as you suspect

 

MINI does the oil as a precaution most of the time. Just make sure you clean around it so you dont get any dirt in there that falls off the side.