My Mini Cooper S convertible is just 21,000 miles young! Since it's birth on March 31, 2007, it has decided to spontaneously stop motoring when I press the gas. This was fixed a year and a half ago and now it happened again. Today they tell me the car needs an engine harness $1200!!!!! I am feeling like I got a lemon at this point. No car should go wrong after 21,000 miles! Has anyone been told they need this part?

 

I'd complain and try and get them to fix it under warranty. No vehicle should need a new engine harness in 21,000 miles and you had a previous issue that was identical (maybe?). I can understand if you were out of warranty and had a ton of miles, but your car is only a few months out of warranty and low mileage. What did they do the first time you had this issue? Did they replace the engine harness as well?

Either way, it'll probably be a bit of a battle. $1200 on your car sucks but hopefully its one of the few repairs you'll need to make.

 

My husband is furious! Your right, it is the same problem and it should have been fixed the last time! We will fight this. I am really loving my Honda Pilot after driving it 69,000 with no issues! I think this is my first and last Mini.

 

Well hopefully this has been the only issue your MINI has had. More importantly, give them a chance to fix it. If you haven't had the conversation with the Service Manager then you shouldn't be surprised that they said its out of warranty, because it technically is. Doesn't mean that you should have to pay for it, but it does mean that you'll have to talk to the right people and that could take a little time.

Unfortunately things do break, the bad thing is that they didn't fix it the first time apparently properly or something else is causing the engine harness to have an issue and that should be considered and looked for. It's doubtful that someone at the dealership who you talked to would really be thinking about your past and I'd probably expect the same from Honda as well. If the dealership gives too much push back contact MINI USA directly and voice your opinion and complain, if that doesn't work you still have options so don't worry quite yet.

You have a strong case in your favor considering they already "fixed" it once. I'd be surprised if you weren't able to work something out with them. If things start turning for the worse let them know how you feel about it in a nice way. In a way this is an opportunity to keep a customer or lose one so just remind them it makes a difference how they treat this (if necessary).

Keep us in the loop!

 

The engine wiring harness is a $300 part. It wouldn't take more than an hour or two to R&R.

But cereal makes a good point about looking for the route cause of the wiring harness's failure. Poor routing the last time might have caused it to fray. It may just need to be soldered a bit and some conduit put on.

I soldered damaged wires leading to my ignition coil and things couldn't be better.

 

Thanks for educating me on this! Living Fairfield County CT has it's drawbacks because everything costs more.