I've seen this 3 or times in the last couple of months, but all seems normal. It disappears after a restart. What does it mean?

 

What year is your MINI? 2014?

There was a bulletin about this a while ago on 2014 and 2015 Hardtops and unfavorable software was the cause. A software update performed at the dealer may fix it, especially if you're not noticing any other symptoms. Definitely something I would have your dealer look at though.

 

To agree with siriuszero, I have a 2014 F56 and saw the same thing. The dealership updated the software and I haven't seen the problem since.

 

Yea, a 2014 MCS. Thanks!

 

Then I'd bet money that a software update from the dealer will fix that right up.

 

You'd lose. Failure in pre-cat sensor.

 

Lucky you!

I have had that a numerous time on my 2014 MCS since last a couple years. Finally I took mine to my selling dealer (when the light was off) last year in 2016 June, and mentioned about this intermittent error, and asked if there is some kind of TSB about software update. Dealer service write up guy said "no such thing", and told me to come back later. They test drove and everything was fine. This was last year when my Mini was in warranty (<50K). Now the light is coming on again at 64K and I'm out of warranty. No wonder this dealer (Mini of Monrovia CA) has 3.5-star rating from Yelp.

 

How did you or tech diagnosed it was the pre-cat sensor?
I hooked up my professional grade OBD II scanner but could not pull up any code when the light was on....

 

If the problem is the pre-cat sensor like my dealer claimed, doesn't the emissions control system carry a longer warranty?


I handed the service writer a picture of the problem (as shown above) and they went from that. I'm on record with the problem if it returns, so would expect them to deal w/ it if it happens again.

 

Damn. Five Internet dollars for you.

 

You may be getting those dollars back. My '14 F56 is at the dealer again with the same error message. The experts up north (NJ?) will be coming up w/ a solution, so I have a Chrysler 200 loaner sitting in my driveway right now.

 

Ew.

They couldn't have given you a pair of sneakers and some uber credit?

 

Wife's 2017 F55 had this error. Dealer was unable to reproduce or pull any logs. They asked lots of questions to try to figure out if it was some kind of corner case where the software had a problem. They ended up replacing the transmission, possibly to send the old one back to MINI to bench test.

About 10 months later and the problem came back again. This time car failed to move forward after waiting its turn at a 4 way stop. It actually rolled back. Turned car off and on again and car could move but with the 'drivetrain malfunction' error. We'll contact the dealer in the morning; this will be interesting. Will they replace the transmission again and doom the car's carfax report?

 

Intake charge pipe was off on one of my JCW's and that's what was causing the issue.