driving my clubman s on its first family trip. We are at a ski resort and had some fun on the way up driving the steep mountain roads. We are loaded heavy with me, wife and two small kids and two small dogs.

Just before arriving I smelled a new burning smell and when I parked a few minutes later they was some whitish smoke coming from the hood scoop. There was not aloe of smoke but any gets me worried. I popped the hood and could smell it was from turbocharger in front of the motor. The smoke disappear quickly and the fan was running pretty hard after I shut it off in this 50 degree weather.

How concerned should I be and what do you think?

 

sorry about the bad typing/grammar but I don't have a computer up here. I am tapping it out on my cell phone.

Thanks,
malc

 

I wish I could offer you some real help. Why don't you call the MINI On Call folks or whatever the name of their road side help group is and talk to someone there. Or call your dealer - they should still be open!

 

great idea....

Called the dealership and they think that since this is the first time the engine has gotten hot... It is probably tv cozmoline getting burned off. I have no clue what that is but I was told it is a coating to the underside of the hood. Well I hope that is it but I have had no engine lights come on so I feel a little better.

Anyone heard of cozmoline?

 

Cosmoline is a greasy substance universally used by automakers when shipping new vehicles on oceanliners. Cosmoline protects the vehicle from the corrosive effects of sea salt while being transported.

More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline

Cosmoline was first used to preserve firearms.

Keep an eye on that engine. Have the dealer check the car just to make sure there isn't anything else going on in regards to temperature, etc.

Good luck.

 

Good news!

 

Sounds like you may have it figured out which is good. And you type and navigate really well from a cell phone - i don't know if i would even try that.

Two thoughts for you - first i would agree with the assessment that you were given - the first couple of times that you get the engine and compartment stuff really hot it will vaporize some of the coatings/lubes that were on the outsides of the assembled units - totally normal. However second thought - double check the oil level while you are in there just to make sure. I've had a bad experience with my R53 and oil. good luck

 

Glad to see you turned to us for help... but if you run out of gas or get a flat, please call 1-800-AAA-HELP instead. We can only do so much from our couches.

 

I had about a 60 mile drive home from the dealer. Made a couple of stops along the way and he was smoking when I parked him. Oil level was fine.

 

I made it home.. and down hill seemed to be a snap. As a matter of fact the car wanted to run down the hills and I found myself pretty heavy on the brakes. Didn't want the engine to get too hot with running in low gears.

The car has not smoked or any significant smells. My wife thinks I am crazy.. she caught me smelling the hood scoop and thought I was kissing my car. I told her it was better then smelling the tail pipes.

The car has run perfectly and so I am going to chalk it up to the coating burning off. I will drop a line to the forum if anything changes but thanks.. and cheers to all for the great information.

Malc

 

Different car, but my Corvette did that after I bought it. It was very prominent after the first few months (I drive it less than 250 miles a month to give perspective). It was very prominent all the way to the 2K mark. Now at 3800 miles the smell is almost gone. It is just the coating burning off. It has a sort of electrical soot smell to it. I wouldn't worry.... I imagine the cooper/clubman S gets just as hot under the hood with the turbo. The Clubman S is a cool car BTW. Can't wait for my wife to get one so I can drive the hell out of it.

 

There's nothing wrong with kissing a MINI.

 

I've noticed the smell on my week old cooper!

 

How many miles does it have?

 

~200

 

You might have the same issue.. my car had about 500miles on it when I reported the smoking and smell issue. The car is running great 250miles later and no smell or smoking.

Cya,
Malc

 

Should be normal.

New cars still smell a bit funny, I had this too in my exhaust a lot of smoke and smell.

Now she's running beautifully!