This is going to be a long post and i apologize in advance, just want to give you guys all the facts so maybe i can get pointed in a right direction. I have a 2007 Mini Cooper S Hatchback with the sport package. It's and automatic and has 63000 miles on it. I bought it used and have had for about 7 months.

About a week ago i noticed i had and exhaust leak, right around the catyilitic converter, not sure if this has anything to do with my current problem but is the only thing i noticed going wrong. The exhaust leak was very evident for about the first five minutes, then when the car warmed up, the leak would seal itself and go away.

Then about 4 days ago i was driving home from work and a guy pulled out in front of me. I hit the brakes hard but not unusually hard. The car just flat out died right there. The lights and radio still worked but no engine. I pulled over to the side of the road and tried to crank it and it would turn over once but would not start. I tried again and i noticed that it was smoking so i popped the hood and saw the smoke coming from around the ECU. It smelt like electrical component burning up. I'm not sure the smoke came from the ECU but definetely something on that side of the car. I had a tow truck tow the car home and went out the next morning to try and crank the car. It would turn over several times but still would not crank.

I thought that i had a bad alternator so i unplugged the battery from the car and charged it. The battery wasn't really low, it read like 12.4 amps before the charge, hooked it back up and the car will not even attempt to turn over now. I have checked all fuses with a volt meter and all are good. Battery is good, i'm getting power to the alternator, power to the starter, and power to the solenoid when i try to start the car. The radio and lights all work but it will not try to crank. I put a code reader on the car and it says there are no drive train or trouble codes to read at this time. The car has plenty of oil and no belts are missing.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm not opposed to taking it in to the dealer, it just seems like i'm missing something simple and thought you guys might be able to point me in a direction, or tell something im overlooking.

Thank you so much.

 

Damn I have no idea sounds like a mechanic trip. Doubt that the exhaust anything to do with it but that is an easy fix with some welding.

 

Check the wire harness around ECU for damage. If the ECU is not get signals from the engine sensors it won't allow the engine to crank.