Hi all, First posting here, but have been lurking. We bought our 2009 MCS convertible last November and have been to the dealer 6 times in 5 months with the Check Engine light problem. It is always a cylinder misfire issue. We have been to 2 dealers The high performance fuel pump has been replaced twice (once at each dealer) and the light comes back on in a week or so. Both have also claimed it to be bad gas (we use name brand 91 octane, and have from the beginning). Is this dealer BS, ignorance, common mini problem or did we get a lemon?
Frustrated in Fullerton

 

In my experience

the check engine light is an indicator for the emission system

if it is not a bad seal on the gas cap (very very common)

it is usually an O2 sensor. (as experienced on a similar experience on a 95 Miata ... when I finally replaced the 02 sensor the light went away)

"bad gas" is a cop out service departments - especially MINI - have been using for years and IMHO it is total b.s. I don't run 'top tier' more than 20% of the time and have no warning lights .... 07-S

you don't say where you are but seems to me you still need to search out a decent service department and/or mechanic

of course that might mean going out of 'warranty' aka 'free' work....but where's that gotten you to now?

 

Thanks for the comments BJ. I now have a little more info We are located in the LA area (So. Cal). There are 2 mini dealers in the area and been to both. 5 times to the dealer where we bought the car and 1 time to a larger dealer in the area. I am hesitant to go outside the dealer circuit because we bought the car new and have it for less than 6 months. I may be crazy but when you pay big bucks for a NEW car you expect it to function properly for a long time. Getting ready to pull the "Lemon Law" on the dealers but want to make sure that I won't be trading one lemon for another.

 

I had a similar problem with a 98 Neon. It was always something in the emissions. Some celanoid cap or something (I don't remember well). Every 3 months I was replacing this one part. They also tried to tell me the gas cap wasn't on tight or right or whatever bs they gave me that day. I would stop dealing with the dealer and contact MINI directly. If they can't get it fixed for you, then go the lemon law way.

 

Yep, that's the game plan. I am taking it to the dealer on Saturday to have them come up with another attempted fix. I have sent a message to MINI USA and will follow up once I here what they have to say over the weekend. If I don't get any satisfaction, it is off to Lemon Law land.

 

Just got a call from the service dept. Same issue, misfiring on all cylinders. The checked the gas and now the ethanol content is up to 17%. I find that hard to believe as i have been hitting a different station with every fill up and it never get's down below a quarter tank. At 17% it would mean that one of the station is above 20% ethanol (aka illegal as limit is 10% in CA). Alway put in 91 octane and have been rotating between Shell, Exxon Mobile, Chevron and 76 stations. To me this sounds like a fairy tale to save Mini from going to the replace the car route. This has been the 6 time to the dealer (including to HPFP replacements) in the 5 months that we have owned the car. I think the next stop is MINI USA corporate. Comments?

 

I agree with you writing to MINI corporate. If you refill by paying with your credit card, see if you can get the reciepts pulled to prove its not that you're putting in "bad gas". How ridiculous this is of them!