Isn't that the very definition of concern? Monitoring events and checking to see outcomes?

Main Entry: 2concern Function:noun1 a: marked interest or regard usually arising through a personal tie or relationship

 

No concern here.............

The likelihood of this happening again is extemely remote. As was the case with the first gen cars. Anything can happen to your car. But to be worried about something that has such a remote chance of ever happening is being ruled by your fears.

 

If you had no concern, you wouldn't be posting in this thread. There's a difference between fear and concern. I realize that this is probably a very rare instance. However, since I will soon be a MINI owner, I'm concerned and will keep an eye out for any more such reports. I guess I'm being "ruled" by my concern.

 

Maybe we're talking about different things...speculating can be a form of concern, but only to a certain point.

 

Concerned? Maybe overreacting? We just had a Boeing 777 crash in England about a month ago and up to this point no one knows why the engines just quit. Have people stopped flying? No. Are people concerned? Maybe. Do people overreact? Yes. What am I trying to say? I don't know, but what ever happens, happens, you've got to enjoy life and your Mini while you can, life is short...

 

i think the main concern/issue at hand is who's stepping up to take responsibility for this...

of course this statement would be different if some person, their pet(s), or their home was destroyed/killed because of it.

the only negative thing about the r56 i would be okay with promoting is the cold start issue. but thats a different story...

 

every night i go home and back my MINI right up into the garage. then i go inside. and when i go to bed, it never crosses my mind that my MINI will suddenly burst into flames and burn my house down. there is absolutely no reason to believe that your MINI will do this. it could just as easily been a civic or a jetta or an avalon or...you get the picture.

i will continue to park my mini in the garage and sleep worry free. i would, out of curiosity like to know what caused it. and if it does turn out to affect all or many MINIs, then i will retract my statement and accept the flaming. but im not concerned about that either.

 

There are varying levels of concern. You've expressed one level of concern by simply saying you'd like to know what caused it.

Again, concern does not equal fear or even worry.

 

Wow this thread is beginning to sound like what is the meaning of "is"

Cars burn down, cars crash, components fail, people get hit by cars, kids get killed on school buses, etc...

Bad things can happen, there is usually an explanation, and some choose to avoid certain things...like parking a MINI in their garage. I can understand, especially if a MINI has caught fire on them before, but I can certainly understand those who choose not to worry about such a small risk. I for one would have no reservations parking mine in a garage, but then I haven't had one burn up on me. I would like to know what the issue was if it does ever get discovered though.

 

Actually I use my woodstove amost constantly in the winter months. I have two, as a matter of fact. Both are high quality, I keep the flue systems cleaned, and use them properly. Thing is, I trust my woodstoves to not suddenly burst into flame without warning more than the car. Granted, there have not been many MINIs that spontaneously caught fire, but there is a definite, proveable number, and those cars had their fires started in a specific area of the ABS system or the power steering/starter harness. To this day, it's not been acknowledged by BMW as a fault. For them to do so would be a gutsy move, as any acceptance of the problem would likely label the MINI as another Pinto in the eyes of some people.

 

Or more accurately, one of the fine Fords that have had cruise control fires:

http://www.rvappraisals.com/ford-fires.htm

A few weeks ago there was a fire in Houston that was caused by the cruise control. The owner had not brought the truck in for the recall inspection. The garage and part of the house burned to a crisp. Fortunately they were not hurt, but their vehicles were not so fortunate.

 

First off, to the original poster, I am glad to hear that your wife is okay and hope you are both able to cope with this traumatic event.

To the other posters, lets not forget that car fires are not a MINI thing. I'd bet many, if not most of us, have seen a car fire. Unfortunately, they happen ...to all sorts of makes and models.

Dean.

 

5 years ago the neighbors 2 year old house burnt down to a nub at 4am in the morning . The tires popping woke them up. Everyone got out safe. BTY it was 5 year old Caddy in the garage that started the whole thing, (electrical). Insurance company (State Farm) covered everything 100% , house and car.

 

My main concern / issue at hand is what caused the fire in the first place.

 

I'll bet State Farm was grinning to cover both. Wonder how they handled the investigation, and if they attempted to recover damages from Cadillac...

 

I think the Ford cruise control fires have occurred more than Pinto crash fires. And I wonder haw many other folks out there have not had their vehicles fixed due to recall.

I bought a new Chevy truck last year. Recently I got a notice in the mail from GM regarding a recall for a front axle vent tube blockage. The issue was a simple one, where the front (4WD) differential vent may be blocked. During manufacture, the diff comes assembled and filled with oil by the subcontractor. The vent is a foot or so of rubber hose with a vent cap at the end. The tube is folded over and held kined shut with some tape. Someone must have been lax at removing the tape once the trucks are put together. The blocked line can cause seals to leak and oil loss when the 4WD is used. The recall came with pictures of the line, it's location and instructions for anyone to find the line and remove the tape if they didnt want to make the trip to the dealer. My truck was fine (and still had the loose piece of tape dangling from the hose!). A post card was to be sent back if the trouble was not found or if it were found and fixed by the owner. I sent back the card. Learlier in the week I got a big, day-glo orange post card from the dealer saying I did not bring the truck in for the recall. I have to call them and say that it's been taken care of. The jist of this story is that I got two impossible-to-ignore notices for a relatively minor issue. When my MINI was recalled due to the PCV hose being substandard, it came in a no-nonsense envelope. This was a minor issue that basically results in a whoopie cushion under the hood. For something as dire as fires resulting from electrical problems or tires blowing out, the notices IMO should be sent as registered mail. If they get ignored, bad things can happen.

 

Really sorry to see this and glad no one was injured. Since hearing about the car fires, I keep a fire extinguisher in the passenger footwell as well as a wrench to disconnect the battery. I actually recently accidentally broke the nut that secures the ground cable on the battery. I thought about replacing it, but it makes full contact with the battery posts without it.

I put some electrical tape to ensure it doesn't come loose. I'm going to leave it this way--should I ever need to disconnect the battery, it's just a matter of yanking the ground wire off the battery, no tools necessary.

As much as I love the MINI, I haven't been recommending it to family though because they won't take the precautions that I do should it ever come to it!

Richard

 

Hmmmm...I had a '95 Ford Ranger totally go up in flames under me four years ago -- started in the engine compartment. I never did learn if the insurance company listed a suspected cause. I wonder....

 

Do a Yahoo search on "Ford Engine Fires" and you'll get some eye-opening links. (There are a couple of links for MINIs, too, but not nearly as many or as graphic.)

 

Didn't scan all the replies to see if there was a response, but...

The insurance coverage will pay for the Total Loss of the car. Then, the insurance company will try to determine the cause of the fire. If they feel it was due to a manufacturer's defect, they will present their case to MINI and attempt to get their money back from them.

Those attempts are normally only successful when there is a well-documented, known problem with a manufacturer. For instance, there was just such a problem with a few model years of Ford SUV's. Any time the insurance company could prove that an auto fire resulted from that known defective part on a Ford SUV made in those years, Ford had to pay out for the damages.

 

Thank you.

 

So..then a person who has lots of problems with the car who cannot get the car company to buy it back can possibly set it on a fire professionally (i.e. by hiring an electrician) and get the money from the insurance company...

 

If they want to TRY to commit insurance fraud, sure.

But each and every auto fire claim that my company handles is investigated by a specially trained team.

I do not recommend trying it.

 

But the chances of that same woodstove starting a fire in the attic is much higher than the MINI starting one in the garage. You assume the risks of the woodstove, why would you not do the same with the MINI?

 

I think the psychology is easy to understand. He understands the technology of the wood stove, knows about what causes fires, and takes steps to prevent them. To a certain extent, he feels he has the stove under control.

The fire in the MINI is a mystery with no known steps to take to prevent it. So, it is out of his control.

Things we don't understand and cannot control are much scarier than things we have a sense of control over -- regardless of the odds.

As I said earlier, I hope that the cause of the fire can be determined, for the peace of mind of other R56 drivers.

Personally, I'm not going to worry about it until I hear it was from a design defect, or there are reports of other R56 with spontaneous combustion.