The other day in the morning, I drove less than 10min on local street, then I smelled burning scent and spotted white smoke escaping under the hood. I immediately parked.

2002 Mini Copper S – R53, 49K miles, mostly highway driven, Mobile 1 engine oil changes rigorously every 4000 miles interval.

- Engine temperature was normal
- No oil or anti-freezer leaks on the ground
- The temp gauge is steady
- Exhaust smell/smoke color was normal.
- Clutch works fine
- A faint whirlpool of metal grinding noise but it wasn’t loud to attract my attention from my freaked brain afterward (I was so freaked out that I returned immediately since it happened proximity from home.)
- The smell – it’s definitely burning smell but not distinctive sweet anti-freezer nor sulfuric rubber/plastic brurns.
- No noticeable rattles (but I drove very short distance and adrenaline charged worrisome mind didn’t help much to notice.)
- White smoke – There was a white cloud escaping under the hood.

I read some horrible stories of failed superchargers.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ater-pump.html
I haven’t lifted the car to inspect further but I like to hear from all first before my hands get dirty..

 

Anyone??

 

Check your Power Steering fan and pump. Your PS fan should go on when you turn on the A/C.

When mine caught fire that is exactly what happened. I was hosing the car down after getting tires and thought the white vapor/smoke was water on the manifold and it turned out to be the PS unit. I suspect that the fan caught fire and then burned the pump on mine.

 

Same exact thing happened to me on Sunday afternoon. My A/C high pressure line pipe was rubbing against the sway bar and refrigerant was coming out of there like a geyser....White smoke with a funny sweet smell. At first I also taught it was my engine overheating. Nope it wasn't that. Every time I turned on the A/C compressor, white smoke was coming from the engine compartment. Turning off the A/C and the smoke would disappear. My A/C also stopped cooling...All I was getting is warm air on the dash vents.

Also my radiator fan failed. It was working only on high speed (It has to work in both low and high speed)....And guess what else happened....My A/C compressor failed too. Because the radiator fan was not working in low speed, the pressure inside the compressor finally seized.

$1,600 and 2 days in the shop afterwards, I have my car back working like a charm.

My independent MINI tech told me the following....

The radiator fans of these cars are crap and fail between 50K-60K miles. The water temp gauge is useless until the engine is totally out of coolant. The low speed fan setting is crucial for engine and A/C compressor survival. If you hear the fan loudly all the time it means that the engine is running hot all the time and your A/C compressor is running at max pressure until it seizes.....

This is a $300 repair that every R53 owner will have to face every 50K miles. The radiator fan can only be sourced from MINI. No aftermarket options exist at this time (I see a huge market for this part) Cheaper than replacing the A/C compressor (AC Delco) $750 for the part and it can only be sourced from MINI as well.

Take the car back to the dealer or a reputable independent mechanic and have them verify your radiator fan. After that, have them put the A/C gauges to see if your system is charged (or not) and if the compressor is still working. Also the presence of white smoke suggests that your high or low pressure A/C line may be kinked somewhere.

Get it fixed pronto!

 

BTW, my 2005 MCS has 55K miles.

 

Thanks! I should check Power Steering fan and pump as well.

 

Thanks for shed the light on me.
I will thoroughly check A/C hose, compressor, the radiator fan.

Phewww...some relief from scapegoating costly supercharger failure for all my initial symptoms but sad to see my mighty-mouse like car has a such inherited weak stomach only after tender 50K miles of flying...

 

Sounds like the KERS battery burned..... oh wait. This isn't the Formula One thread is it?

 

Is $1,600 repair done by an independant shop ?

I would be very appreicated if you can share the parts and labor hours they worked on.
I plan to elaborate troubleshoot to pint point the glitches and see if it's DIY work over the weekend and of course, clamping my wallet to squeez... :(

 

Yes independent MINI shop, owned by a 3 time MINI owner friend of mine. God Bless him He is an absolute guru

I don't have the repair bill in front of me, but this is a recap of what was replaced as best I can recall:

New AC Delco A/C compressor = $675

New high pressure A/C line = $169

New radiator fan assembly = $300

Recharge system = $69

Tire rotation and balance = $40

4 hours labor @$75.00 = $300. In reality, it took him 6 hours to get the job done but discounted 2 of them.

All the parts had to be sourced from a MINI dealer.

Hope this helps.

 

It could be an oil leak that is dripping onto the exhaust manifold and burning off rather than dripping onto the ground. Maybe just a valve cover gasket leak.

 

Can anyone give the name or number for the newer PS pumps? I need to replace my 03 pump. It's a preemptive strike. I got a good deal on a new PS pump but I want to be sure I've got a bugless one, if that's a possibility.

 

Thanks for the information.
This really helps me to get started.
$75/hr seems very reasonable rate to have specialized service.
I have seen three digit number rate, more or less of my primary doctor's, in mini dealers.

 

I should be able to see once I gut out over the weekend.
Thanks for the information.

 

www.realoem.com is a source for your part number. Our aftermarketparts section has over 25 links that may help the search.

 

Do anyone know where exactly the high pressure A/C line is located??
Is it passenger side or driver side??

 

Did this issue ever get solved? I bought a 2008 R55 a few weeks ago and last week I noticed white smoke coming from the hood and a burning smell when I'm sitting at stop lights. The car has 85k miles on it and the 2 previous ownes always kept up with the service and maintenance at MINI dealerships. When I first bought the car I noticed the oil was topped off to the very brim (I typically don't fill my vehicles THAT full, but I've never owned a turbo car either)... but if it was from burning excess oil I figured I'd notice it right away not 2-3 weeks into driving it. The water pump, thermostat and coolant hose in between was replaced last year. I DID notice that the valve cover gasket seems to have a slight sheen of oil all around it so if it's leaking, even slightly, could it ve causing the problem?

 

Could be, but try the second gen section, this is the first gen section, there might be a second gen specific problem that we don't know about in this section.

 

Thanks! Sorry forthe mixup. Didn't even realize this was posted in the 1st gen section.