Hi guys,

Got a 2016 Mini, bought new, only 11,000kms. Recently serviced at dealer.

Just moved to new place and now noticed a large pool of reddish oily fluid on the floor. Seems to be mostly coming from the front drivers side. Doesnt smell like engine oil although oil was recently changed.

No warning lights, oil level checks okay.

Talking to a buddy and he mentioned it might be transmission fluid? Why would it be leaking now? Otherwise car drives completely normal, in fact I recently drive 3 hours to move to new place.

Have appointment scheduled at MINI dealership later this week but wondering if anyone has any ideas? Is it still safe to drive the car short distances?

 

If it were me I wouldn't drive it unless absolutely necessary then watch it like a hawk! I'd get it in immediately to have them at least take a close look to see where it is leaking from. Likely is transmission fluid. Depending on what they find may be ok to drive as long as there is fluid in there but sadly there are no dipsticks for oil or auto trans fluid check....right? Don't know as I have a manual. If it's a manual the only way to check is from the trans itself.

 

I don't know where you are at (Canada?) and the coverage MINI gives you. Here in USA I'd be on the phone to MINI and have them send a flat bed tow truck to pick the car up. I wouldn't drive it at all.

If you have a cut on your finger you bandage it, if you have a pool of blood on the floor you call for an ambulance or have someone drive you to the hospital NOW.

 

Assuming no other signs of trouble other than a leak it doesn't mean there is a pending catastrophic failure. It might only be a gasket leaking fluid...easy fix & you could most likely drive the car, but why take the chance? If it's under warranty I'd get it in pronto!...if not take it to an Indy mechanic you trust or get under the car yourself & check it out.

 

My guess is automatic transmission fluid? I would get it over there asap, as you dont want to burn anything up. I would have the dealer tow it just to be safe.

 

I'd take it to MINI today. With an issue like that I wouldn't drive the car anywhere except to the dealership. They can give you a loaner since the car is under warranty. I'd imagine, they wouldn't argue about you needing a loaner since the issue isn't minor and could result in a lot of damage to the car.

Sounds like Transmission fluid, but could be PS or brake.

I had an SUV that leaked trans fluid allover my garage, called dealership and the said I should have the car "flat-bedded" to them. Just sayin'

 

 

NO! Oh man for the love of Sir Alec no!

That sounds exactly like transmission fluid. Who knows why it is leaking but if you keep driving it after such a clear sign of trouble MINI may choose to void warranty.

It also could be brake fluid or clutch. You don't want to lose pressure on those either.

Any way you look at it the car is not safe to drive. Call your dealer. They will send a flatbed to carry it to them (and they will do it with a smile because BMW/MINI North America pays for it, not them). Do not drive unless they explicitly tell you they believe it is safe to drive.

 

In my experiences, when something suddenly goes wrong like this, it is usually related to the work that was just done. So, there is a possibility that the dealer might have caused it.