Hi I just bought a 2014 R61 Paceman. I am noticing that it is difficult for me to accelerate without feeling a jerky torquey launch from stop. Is this normal? This is my first Mini. I also notice a definite deliberate downshift from 3rd to 2nd to 1st. It has 14000 miles on it so far.

Also...
I just recently and reluctantly had a fuel injector cleaning service done at 13000 miles. I had a check engine light come on and took it in to have the code run. The manager said it needed a ECU reset. It was not discussed with me beforehand the fuel injection flush and was conducted without my authorization. I was slapped with a $425 bill which today still astounds me. I will be visiting another dealership going forward. But is this how it goes with BMW/Mini dealership servicing?

 

What state are you in? In certain states it's not legal to charge for an unauthorized repair. Also, isn't the car still under warranty? It might not cover an injector cleaning, but I would think an ECU reset would be covered.

 

I am in NY state and yes the ECU was covered under the factory warranty. The problem is the fuel injector service was not. After arguing with the service manager and the sales manager from my dealership I was only able to get the dealer to cut the bill in half. Thank you for replying to my post.

 

For the most part, especially with N18 engines, performing that sort of injector cleaning service is the equivalent of performing Oil Service on a MINI that just came off the boat.....definitely would be at the very bottom of a long list of solutions to conditions described.

Service advisors are supposed to contact car owners before performing internal customer pay services. My guess is, the SA thought the injector cleaning service was covered under MINI warranty and since that was not a pre-approved procedure via PUMA case to BMW, the bill ended up in your lap.

Contact their Service Manager and complain, If no headway then send a letter to MINI USA regarding this service visit. And no, what you experienced is not indicative of services found at most MINI Dealers...

 

Thank you for your help.

 

Yep, EVERY TIME I take our Mini in for service at the local dealer, they always hit me up for the expensive fuel injector cleaning. As the OP stated, is several hundred dollars. If it was actually needed, they would have included it in the original maintenance warranty, which was my first tip that it was a rip off..

 

How expensive, and what sort of fuel inj service are they doing? Curious if they are connecting a piece of equipment into the fuel rail itself or just a bottle of cleaner in the fuel tank ?