That's true, but it depends on the severity. If you start to suspect something, and get out, and see that it's just a small flame that hasn't spread yet, then---a fire extinguisher can be the difference of saving your belongings and your car, or letting it all burn to the ground.

The car fires on the '02-'04 models have been attributed to a problem that could be stopped by unplugging the battery, and hitting it with a fire extinguisher. Whether thats true of the R56 or not, isn't known yet. But since I drive an '05, and there haven't been any reports yet for that model year, you can't ever be too careful.

So yeah, I'd rather save my MINI, rather than have my insurance pay for it, so I can get an R56 or anything other than my beloved R53--and no that's not a bash on the R56--it just IS the reason why I bought the '05 in the first place.

 

Nice dig at my unknown to you car maintenance skills. Funny as I just got done doing an 8 hour inspection/maintenance on my MINI. With more to do tomorrow
How often do you check the attic for damage to the framing?

Glad you feel safe with the MINI parked outside or unplugged.

 

Now, boys, play nicely...

Just hope we can find out the cause of the fire asap.

 

You're right, I dont know anything about your car maintenance/inspection skills. For all I know, it took you eight hours to check the air in the tires and top off fluids. Or you could have completely torn down the top end of the motor and checked for valve guide wear. I dont know. I dont care. All I know is that I wont continue with this conversation in this thread since it adds nothing to the discussion topic. You got anything more to add, do it via PM.

 

The dead battery sounded suspecious; there could have been a short somewhere on the car that caused battery drain. And over time the insulation of where the short is could have disintegrated and cause the fire. Electical problem is very difficult to diagnose. My BMW had a stereo head unit that would keep the amp on even when the car is turned off, and it took the dealer three batteries and four years to find the cause.

 

Shame to hear about this terrible situation...

But just a little light for the people all so worried already that their cars may burn down. Until the reason for this fire is investigated and found we don't know what caused it. Is there a good possibility that it was caused by a defect? Yes.

But every year alot of cars catch fire do to outside circumstances. Alot of times people run over road debris, like bags and such that get sucked under the car. It can sit up against the exhuast and start a fire (interestingly enough this fire seems to have started at the rear of the car near the exhuast).

So I would go panicking that my MINI is going to catch fire. Also, cars catching fire is nothing new, its just very rare. You just hear about it more often now because of new media like the internet.

We had a family friend who's brand new 3k mi. Toyota Camry started shooting flames out of her A/C vents while she was driving down the street. Luckily she stopped it right where it was and got out quickly and easily while the car burned.

I admin another car forum where we've had cars catch fire while on the highway and also while sitting in people's driveways. Does it mean those cars are unsafe too? Nope, it just means those people got their unlucky lottery win that day.

 

You would be amazingly surprised how well that DOESN'T always work. A coworker a few years back tried this with a Mercedes of his that he wanted to get rid of.

He threw his bicycle in the truck and proceeded the to the worst part of town he knew. Parked the car in the middle of a parking lot, left the car with the driver door wide open with the keys dangling from the ignition and rode his bike home. He went back three days later to double check on the car and it hadn't been touched, keys still in the ignition!

 

Many people with marine engines spray down engines with WD-40 when stored to stop corrosion. I have yet to hear of someone having a fire because of the WD40 starting it. And boaters are usually the most cautious about fires.

 

Sadly the truth is that a miracle car with no issue's doesn't exist!!

Many people believe Honda's and Toyota's are bulletproof and they do have a great reputation. But If you hang around a dealership or any of their forums you will see they have numbers of people having MAJOR problems just like EVERY other car maker in the world.

The perfect 100% reliable car does not exist and people seem to forget that!

 

Going to storage and checking her now!!!!!!

 

What does the autolocking feature have anything to do with not getting out of the car?

Two quick pulls and your instantly out of the car, unless you've pinned the door shut against another car or a guardrail, hence now its no longer the fault of the car that it won't open.

The part to be scared of is cars like Mazda's, Nissan's and many other cars which will not open the door no matter how many pulls of the door handle unless you unlock the car from somewhere else.

Haha funny you bring that up. When I had an accident in 98' where a Limo who ran a redlight t-boned my 92 Civic. All the police was concerned about at the scene was where I wanted them to take the wreckage of my car??? I was like, "I don't freakin know! I'm bleeding from the head here and getting medical attention! I have no clue where a wrecked car goes, thats YOUR job!"

 

Never close the door til the car cools down, especially if you have gas, cleaning fluids or even old rags or newspapers stored in the garage. Fire marshall Bill explained this on T.V. !!!!

 

My point exactly! She WAS up against the guardrail. No fault of the car that the door wouldn't open, but just think of a person trying to rescue you, when the opposite door won't open because of the self-locking feature. I think I worry more about fire than anything else because there is a limit to the time available for a rescue. Anything else and the Jaws of Life will take care of it.

I'm not criticizing MINI or BMW--it's just a fact that locks are difficult to go through, and a person might not have the physical ability or mental state of mind to either flip the switch, or double pull the door handle in a case of big trouble. Then it's up to the "outside" people to take over the situation. Is it gonna happen in time with a fire?

 

Just another example of folks being ruled by their fears..........

 

Wake up on the wrong side of the cave?

 

I'm not ruled by my fears. But have you ever been in a situation where you were unable to get out of a car due to a jammed door or injuries? I have--both in the same accident.

BTW, I used to think having a cell phone handy would pretty much take care of bad situations. Nope--in the crash my purse and cell phone wound up on the passenger side floor--W-A-Y out of reach because I had a broken back. It wouldn't have mattered if the phone had been in my pocket, either--I couldn't move! And no one saw me go off the road. I was very lucky to have a broken-out sunroof so I could signal the guy who paused to have a second look. (This was in a BMW.)

As they say, "**** happens and crap occurs." Some time I'll tell you what happened to my grandmother when my grandfather had a stroke while driving...

 

Granted it is not a situation I would wish on anyone. But to denounce the autolocking feature as dangerous is going a bit far. This is the same kind of thinking that lead to folks arguing that seat belts were dangerous because you could get stuck in a car and drown or burn.

I am sorry you had that kind of accident and I can understand your reluctance to put yourself in that situation again, but realistically this has a very small chance of ever happening again.

 

That was my point!!!

 

Sad to hear about this. I'm glad you both were able to get out of the car.

 

No. It's just that I, and many others, are fed up with your negativity and passive-aggressive postings.

 

Something ironic. I talked to someone who had bought a MCS after he bought an S2000 that had burned to the ground mostly new. Had to do with the high oil pressure of the high performance engine. It always seems a disproportionate number of high end engines will cause fires. Especially in testing as I am sure many people have seen the caprio or R8 for recent ones. Cars are flamable and it can happen, just hopefully this is an isolated incidence and BMW doesn't make insurance pay for it all.

 

High performance engines by their nature run hotter and are stressed more than their ordinary counterparts. These days, though, most engines are considered 'high performance' when compared with engines in similar applications 20 years ago. Fuel injection system carry fuel around at extreme pressures, over 25,000psi in many diesels. The slightest leak can create a dangerous spray. Couple that with engine compartments packed tight with electrical systems, complicated engines/transmissions, and a great deal more plastics and there's a lot of potential for fires.

Cars in general are safer than ever, and a great deal more reliable. But cars have become very sophisticated especially with regards to electrical systems. There is just more to go wrong. Sometimes when it goes wrong, it's spectacular. Thanks to the 'net, we hear about the spectacular stuff a great deal easier now.

 

well said.

 

I live there and I loathe the place Staten Island is just a place to pass by on your way to New Jersey.

Anyways, glad your friend made it out OK.

 

I was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn but actually grew up on Staten Island. In the 70 & 80's it was a very different place. It still has its hidden charms, but your right, these days it is, for the most part, the floating landfill you must drive over to get to the good malls in N.J.