I’ve done a search, and seen multiple threads about stalling, but nothing that quite describes my current annoyance.

My 2k3 JCW MCS (with 29k miles) is “stalling” – the engine just dies, and the power cuts out completely. I have to turn the key all the way off to restart.

The issue started two weeks ago, with a one-off incident late at night, on the freeway, when the car just cut-out on the freeway when I was shifting. At the time, I thought maybe I just mis-shifted.

Last Tuesday, it did the same thing, which started getting me thinking. In between each time, I had filled the tank after draining it. I use exclusively Union 76 premium.

But yesterday took the cake. Of all things, I was returning home from my dealer after having picked up a front turn lamp.

On the freeway, on cruise control, the car just died, as described above. I engaged the clutch, and re-started with no apparent issues. Since I had just turned on the A/C, I turned it off. This problem started after I had driven approx 96 miles on a fresh tank of gas (between the issue on Tuesday and Friday)

After I got off the freeway, my car proceded to “stall” at least eight times during the 9 block drive home. There was no apparent rhyme or reason – at stop lights, and while at speed. It did not stall when under acceleration, for whatever reason, but at just about every other time.

I have never had any stumbling or yo-yo problems, so I’m a bit confused at what could cause this. The appointment is already made wit the dealer, so we’ll see what they say it is.

Any suggestions / comments?

 

No clue???? I am very curious to see:
a. if the dealer can replicate the problem
b. what they determine is the cause/solution.

Keep us posted.

 

Sounds to me like the bypass valve scenario.
Tons of info with a search.

 

I just got back from having the Mini towed into my dealership.

After I posted the above, I decided to check if it the problem only occurred when the engine was fully warmed up. I got about a hundred feet from my driveway, and it stalled again - I coasted to the side of the street and parked.

Thinking it might be a better idea to be in my driveway, I turned the car over, and proceded to attempt a three point turn, and the Mini stalled at the top of the crest of the road, with the engine at a higher position than the boot.

That's when it got really frustrating. The mini wouldn't turn over, no matter what I tried (and try I did, at least 15 times.) So I had to push the mini up so that I could coast back into the parking space.

By the time the two truck arrived, of course, it started right up.

 

Doesn't sound like the supercharger bypass valve if it occured while the car was in cruise control.

The SBV problem puts the car in limp mode when you try and use the supercharger. It shouldn't prevent the car from starting, or pop up out of nowhere when cruising at a steady speed.

 

Picked up the Mini yesterday.

According to the dealer, it turns out not to be (apparently) a mechanical problem. The dealership traced the problem to an intermittant electrical fault in the steering column - in effect, a loose wire, which was mimicking the key turning "OFF."

It's consistent with some of the issues that I had on my nightmare drive home - in particular on two occasions I had to pull the key out to get it to turn over.