Hey, I'm having an issue with my 2005 Mini Cooper R50 five-speed, but first I wanted to give you some information about myself and my car. I'm a college student at Bloomsburg University, and my hometown is Pittsburgh. My mom purchased the car for me in January of '08. My Mini Cooper was purchased as a showroom, used car with approx. 30,000 miles. It currently has 42,000 miles on it. It's always had a problem with noisy, cold starts. I've accidently been putting in 89 octane for several months.
My problem started after I had my oil changed. While I was driving on a highway, the oil pressure light was slowly coming on, so I looked for a place to pull off. After having the car towed back to the mechanic, they found that the O ring from the oil filter split, causing the oil leak. After they replaced the oil filter and added new oil, I was driving the car home and noticed that at about 2800 RPM there was a high-paced clicking noise from the front driver-side area. This noise was consistent at that RPM throughout all 5 gears. I returned the car back to the mechanic who later determined that there was internal engine damage, and something about ball-bearing and piston 4. After they supposedly corrected this issue, and oil filters were replaced 5 times, the car was driven back to Bloomsburg in snowy conditions. Several weeks later, on a trip to Washington D.C., the same problem has arisen. I have noticed that the noise can only be heard while in cruise. It is not apparent while accelerating quickly or while the clutch is down. I can hear the noise when I give the car gas, and the amount of gas matches the RPMs. Could this be the knocks? Any questions, feel free to pm me or e-mail me at blsmit3@gmail.com.

P.S.- my car will also randomly drop RPMs while stopping. Issue or poor driving?

 

If under warranty, take it back right away. The clicking is not pre detonation if you are now running premium, but it could be a wide range of other issues that can't be remotely diagnosed.

 

Ihoboy,

Thanks for your fast reply. However I should have mentioned that this I have never taken this car to a mini repair place. Always done repairs at nearby auto repair place. (However that place is not so near). I believe the closest Mini repair shop is in Philidelphia (West Chester to be percise), 89 miles away. Should I take it there? Will something like this be covered under warranty??

thanks,

Ben

 

I believe your problem started with your oil change. The Cooper uses a filter with a plastic center piece that must be reused. If the mechanic is not familiar with MINI he will throw away the old oil filter with that piece still in it. The results are low oil pressure. The sound you hear is caused by low oil pressure. You are damaging your MINI. Get this fixed NOW. A dealer is not a bad thing, they never would have made this mistake. You saved some money by going to a local mechanic, but how much money did he cost you? Maybe a lot if you've damaged your engine due to low oil pressure. Hopefully swapping the filter correctly will fix everything. Good luck.

Info here.... http://www.promini.com/technical/tec...oil_filter.php

 

Interesting info there!

So as mentioned, this is for only the Cooper and not the Cooper S.

Whats so different in the Cooper S that it does not have this Sleeve?

 

+1

To find out if the car still has warranty, call MINIUSA @ 1-866-ASK-MINI and provide the phone rep with your vehicle's VIN number. Based on the original "In-service" date and/or current mileage they should be able to determine if you still have coverage.

Bite the bullet and get the car towed back to Philadelphia. Let the dealer go over the issues and be prepared to pay for parts/repairs if your warranty has effectively expired.

Better be safe than sorry.


Oh and stop taking the car to that repair place that perhaps has no idea how to work on MINIs. Find yourself a good independent MINI mechanic. Tap into the local Philly MINI club which should have a good list of recommended independent places that are well versed on the MINI.

 

Yes that is correct, the filter housing on an S is different & does not require the sleeve that the Cooper uses.

 

If you do have warranty MINI is not going to cover your mechanic's screw up under warranty. IMO your best action would be to have your mechanic order & pay for the missing piece, then install it. He certainly is competent enough to do it. He just fell into one of the many gotchas that happen to mechanics from time to time. Yours is far from the first post about this particular problem.

Also don't drive your car in its present condition. Have it towed to the mechanic's shop at their expense. It is very possible you have already done damage to your engine. I sure hope not, but what you describe really makes me wonder.

Once fixed find a mechanic versed in MINI's. I believe Helix is in or near Phili...

http://www.helix13.com/mini/shop

 

blsmt:

this is perhaps the most unanimous response I have seen on NAM: get the car back to an authorized MINI repair shop.

If still under warranty this is something that will be covered by the warranty as long as the dealer doesn't claim negligence on the part of the independent service shop.

 

Thanks to all.

For the record taking the car to the auto mechanic (aka not Mini) was NOT my idea, it dad is crazy and takes all our cars to the same person. However what he didn't realize is that a Mini cooper is SPECIAL!! its not your Hyundai Accent, Hyundai XG, Ford Escape, or any other Ford / Hyundai he has ever owned. (Aparently thats all they have been driving for the last 16 years! haha). I will get in contact with the waranty compay, the original expired and my mom purchased a new warranty. I will also contact the mini dealership in Phili (West Chester). I will also get in contact with the mechanic in Pittsburgh and inform him of his mistake, I will ask him to cover any repair costs from MINI.

Thank you guys so much,

If you have any more comments please post.
Ben

 

Just let us know how it all goes down!!!

 

Good luck blsmit. Don't be too hard on dear old dad. He did what he thought best. Besides without him there'd be no you.

 

Hey, Papa knows best!

 

I wanted to point out that the oil pressure light is not on, blinking, or coming on at all. I have full oil.
Well I just got off the phone with 'papa' he claims that he has never heard the noise I claim to be hearing. He was driving the car for a few weeks before I got it back. He says "Its your clutch Throwout bearing." The sound is only heard when the clutch is engaged (pedal is all the way out). When the clutch is disengaged (when the pedal is to the floor). I think Ill take a risk and start the car cold and record it, post it online and link it to this thread. Ill be sure to record both engaged and disengaged.

Should I record the car in motion?

thanks once again.

Ben

 

I hope it is your MINI's throw out bearing. Easier to fix than a ruined engine. Your MINI needs to go to the dealer to be diagnosed properly. All of us here are doing the best we can, but heck without being there with your car this is a shot in the dark at best.

Let us know what you find.

 

Crashton,

Do you think it would help if I recorded the car in motion?

thanks ,

Ben

 

If your dealer is a good one they should not have any problem diagnosing it. I guess a recorded noise couldn't hurt.