Hi,

I have a 2015 F56 One (1.2 Turbo, manual transmission, 46k kms).

During the last month, I got the Drivetrain error twice. Both times occurred in 6th gear at highway speed after accelerating to pass another car. I probably could have dropped it into 5th but didn't really feel the need. Both times the error disappeared the next day after about five minutes of driving.

As I was only 2k kms from the next scheduled maintenance, I wanted to wait. I got the same error just before the last maintenance. Back then they said it was probably a software problem and did an update. They said to let them know if I got the error again, which I did about a week after that but it also went away. So I figured it was SW related.

Yesterday I took it to the service center anyway. The rep recommended I do the maintenance and said there was a pulley recall on my car. He also said they would hook it up to diagnose the error. A few hours later he called to say they would have to replace the turbo unit, which would have to come from Germany, and the car would be in the shop for two weeks until the part came. I'm just happy it's still under warranty.

My questions:

1. Is turbo failure common on F56s?
2. What can cause it?
3. I don't really drive that hard - never done a track day - but I do like to have fun once in a while. Could that be the cause?

Thanks in advance.

 

I'm not aware of anyone on these G3 forums having a turbo failure. Or a pulley recall for that matter (perhaps the pulley is unique to the F56 One which is not available in the US, nor is the diesel). I am sure it's not your driving style. I'm sure it was the cause of the Drivetrain error though. Was the car accelerating normally this whole time?

 

Previously, I had a 2006 R50 automatic. It went into limp mode once and wouldn't go over about 50 kph so you couldn't miss the loss of power. My F56 is a manual so maybe I was looking for something more dramatic that wasn't there. But, in hindsight, this last time I got the error I do seem to remember feeling a loss of spunk when accelerating at speed (6th gear). I think that's what made me take it in now and not wait the additional 2k kms for the scheduled maintenance.

Thanks.

 

My Google says:

Description: MINI: SOME VEHICLES HAVE TURBOCHARGER NOISE AND A LACK OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, DUE TO RESTRICTION OF TURBOCHARGER OIL SUPPLY, RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION AND SEIZING OF TURBOCHARGER ASSEMBLY. MODEL ALL. *PE

TSB Reference #SIM-11-10-14

 

Interesting and good to know.

 

OP,

What country are you located?

How often have you been doing the engine oil/filter change?

Any idea what type (brand, viscosity, etc.) engine oil been used?

I visit this forum several times a week since 2014 and this is the first time I hear about a turbo failure. But then we all should know that a turbo would fail sooner or later and certainly before the engine itself, but not this soon.

 

I'm in Israel and I do regularly scheduled maintenance every 12k kms at the BMW service center. Thanks but I don't think that's the problem.

 

I used to have a VW TDI Beetle and was a member of a forum. Many people got their turbos replaced by the dealer when it was really only the vacuum actuator getting fouled. Clean that up, and voila. I have no idea how the MINI's turbo is controlled.

Edit: It is my opinion that it is hard to miss a true turbo failure. Great clouds of smoke, perhaps a runaway engine.

 

When I had a turbo failure on my Chevy Sprint (Suzuki made 3-cylinder) 2+ decades ago, these were the symptoms:
1. Lack of power/boost and poor acceleration. It was intermittent in the beginning and becomes more frequent.
2. Oil burning smell from exhaust.
3. Oil consumption.
4. Hissing sound when accelerating (boost leaking)
5. When engine was hot and idling in night time, the turbo housing was glowing red.