Hello. I am sorry, I know this forum is mostly very postive, and I had great affection for my Mini until I came back from a ten day vacation this Sunday. When I returned my car would not start. I had the car towed in to my dealership, Pleasanton (CA) BMW and they looked at my car. I was not too nervous, because I have only owned the car 16 months and it is still well under warranty. But then they called me to say I got water in my engine and my warranty would not cover this. Why? Because, according to them, I must have driven through a "large puddle" to cause this damage. Now I live in California. There are no large puddles here, and if there are I have been driving through them. Oh, and how much does this cost to fix? $6500. AND, this morning they call to tell me my clutch had exploaded as well (news to me) and will cost me another $2100. But, again, this is not covered by warranty. Why? Because they are saying I must have ridden the clutch too much. Now this is my 3rd car that is standard and I have never exploaded the cluch on my other cars, so this has really come at me from left field. Obviously I am now having to contact a lawyer, but I was wondering if anyone might know of any similar problem with their own, or with acquaintences's Minis. Thanks.

 

Sounds very odd. Did anyone have access to the car while you were away?

 

That was my first thought as well.

 

that sucks, If you drove your mini in there before you went on your trip, someone abviously messed with it, I'd find out who it was.

MINI's response does not surprise me much though, there always on the defensive and that mode never helps. good luck, keep us posted.

 

Reminds me of what Tom Cruise did to his dad's Porsche 928 in Risky Business.

Did you leave your car with this guy?

Parked cars don't suddenly get water in their engines for no reason.

 

notsoluckyhank, so hank is the car OEM stock?
Is this BS because it sounds that way.
You said they claimed water was in the engine which would indicate it was locked up ( $6,500.00 look's like a replacement figure ) so how did they determine the clutch had exploaded if the engine won't run.
Maybe I'm wrong but this sounds strange.

 

Dust it for fingerprints! Sounds like the "Risky Business" scenario to me too!

 

Very strange, indeed.

When you tried to start the car after returning home after 10 days, did the engine turn over? A cold engine should not seize from a bit of water in the intake, and if the motor turned, it's not seized. Did you leave the car in care of someone who may have driven it? Did you notice if the milage was different? Is the intake system stock? Did you perform the cowl modification? Was the car outside in thunderstorms/downpours for these 10 days? Do you have neighbors who dislike you?

Also : Do you heel/toe? Do you use excessive clutch slip? How many miles on the vehicle? Did you buy it new, or was it used?

We need more info.

-joe

 

>>Reminds me of what Tom Cruise did to his dad's Porsche 928 in Risky Business.
>>
>>Did you leave your car with this guy?
>>
>> Parked cars don't suddenly get water in their engines for no reason.

"Which one of you boys is the U-boat commander?"

 

you might as well give miniusa a shot. they will talk to your dealer for you.

otherwise, get your lawyer on the line, and dont get shafted.

 

Well since it hasen't rained here in the last few weeks that is out. Someone must have taken it joyriding, Cluches don't just explode and engines don't just magically fill with water. You may want to get as second opinion form a mechanic you trust to help your case. But it sounds like someone took you little car on a rough ride.