HI All,

I traded in my 04 MINI about a year ago on a 2008 MCS that only had 9k on it....thinking I was getting a super low mileage car at a great price. A month ago the check engine light came on (this was 2 months after having her in to replace the aux h2o pump)....the SA asked me what kind of gas I used and then said that that was the problem....they had to sandblast the fuel injectors due to carbon buildup. I question the whole "bad gas" theory anyway but just to be safe I began putting in Chevron. 3 weeks later and not even a full tank through I get the check engine light AGAIN. Took her Sat and got an ambiguous call Sat afternoon saying they needed to keep her over the weekend because he needed to file a claim with MINI. No details, no nothing. So I email SA today and get this, "BUT BASICALLY FILING A CASE IS WHEN THEY WANT TO TRACK THE STATUS OF YOUR CLAIM TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING THEY NEED TO FIX OR UPDATE IN THE FUTURE... NOT A BIG DEAL, WILL PROBABLY BE A CARBON CLEANING AND WE WILL BE DONE BY TOMORROW HOPEFULLY...." A carbon cleaning 3 weeks and 1 tank of good gas later!!!!!!!! Really....? I questioned him on it and he replied back, "That's why they file the case... they want fuel samples etc etc so they can know what exactly is causing it, and of course check the fuel pressure readings, check spark plugs and timing." I then asked him that since my warrantee will be up in two months do I need to file a claim under the "lemon law" if this keeps happening and it began WHILE under warrantee....no reply. Any thoughts on what is going on and why the run around and lack of real answers from the SA?

Thanks

 

Were you ever explained what fault codes were present?

Was that explicitly written on your returned paperwork?
Carbon build-up rarely occurs in the combustion chamber.

Again, was it the same fault or something else?
How many miles have you driven on the car?
Describe your driving habits; are you easy-paced? Spirited? Bat-outta-hell?
With a lower mileage car with carbon issues, it means the previous owner was too gentle on it...
Which means the engine never got up to running temperature and couldn't burn off oil vapor fumes.

This carbon cleaning would be different than the fuel injector cleaning as this process removes the build up on the backside of the valves.

You'll want to keep all of your documentation.
You'll also want to grab hold of all the service records on the vehicle through the dealer when the car was previously owned.

They are really wanting to learn more on why the direct injection engines have such a poor carbon build up issue.
However, it's known that the engine DOES need to get up to running temperature; so don't take short trips with the car.
Don't be afraid once the engine is warm to wring the RPMs near redline; the engine can easily handle it.
Make sure your using a good synthetic oil and checking it often and changing it more than what MINI recommends.
And finally, consider using a oil catch can, or running a water / methanol sprayer to steam clean the engine when in use.

- Erik

 

Also, what grade gas are you using?

 

Well said, blue.
To further lend a hand in the fuel department, check out 'Top Tier Gas'. The first time I had a CEL, the independent shop manager handed me a Top Tier printout before he presented the bill.
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

After 30+K miles since then, I've not had it back for the same problem, just the normal interval 'turn your head and cough' maintainance and check ups.

PS: The li'l guy gets his Italian Tune Up pretty danged often.

 

Skinny,
You are getting caught up on maintenance that many of us have had done with our cars. Like BlueFox said, these cars don't like short trips. There is a wealth of knowledge here, you need to understand the timing chain issues, high pressure fuel pump, carbon buildup. The Italian tune up is not a bad idea, as well as putting in some fuel treatment (the SA might like it if you buy the MINI one that they sell at the parts counter).

You will enjoy the car, just need to endure the agony for a bit longer.....

Mike

 

I just want to say that when I bought my car I got a complimentary fill up from my dealer. My MA and I rode to the no name economy station across the street from the dealer where the dealer has an account. That's the gas they gave me and that's the gas they use for the cars on the lot and the loaners. No one told me to use top tier gas, only to use Premium grade. Recently, only because I asked, my SA advised me to put a bottle of BMW Crud-B-Gone or Chevron's Techron every 3K miles.

Never the less, I read this today on the MINI USA site, under
Maintenance Program Exclusions and Limitations:
"Damage due to poor fuel quality"
http://www.miniusa.com/#/privacyPoli...ServiceLegal-i
I cannot find a definition for "poor fuel quality" on the MINI USA site or how "poor fuel quality" causes damage to a MINI.

 

Anyway to detect the carbon build up or wait until the computer throw the code? Would it be a good idea to have the walnut shell blaster at 50KMiles.

I had the engine light came on the other day after a 200 miles round trip. Luckily, when I got home came back out for a trip to the market and it came on. The next morning I headed to the dealer and all my power was cut off.

Basically, the turbo did not spool up at all and the MCSC taking it easy to the dealer. My heart sunk and for about an hour in the waiting room to hear the bad news as I kept thinking the turbo blown.

Anyway, it turned out that the fault code was 2880 fuel pressure and the high pressure pump was replaced at 49K miles under warranty while I waited.

Question - is this related to carbon build up ? I don't think so but I forgot to ask my SA since I had to rush out of there to the office.

 

I ask the same question in relation to buying a used car. Is there any "non-invasive" way of knowing how much if any carbon buildup there is? I'm looking into buying an R56 S in the next couple of months and have basically been limiting myself to looking only at low mileage vehicles.

 

So has anyone had carbon issues using Top Tier Fuels and or fuel additives?Sounds like the OP did after but did not confirm the outcome.

How about short trips using TT fuel any problems?

Seems like a dealer could easily weasel their way out of warranty work.

And why are our minis so sensitive to fuel?
I have an '05 Corrola XRS with 118000 miles.It is suppose use 91 octane but I have used non tier 87 for most of those miles with no problems.

 

No. You have to be able to actually see the valves.

No. HPFP is a completely separate issue.

 

Fuel choice is not going to have an impact on the development of carbon build-up. The reason the carbon builds up is because fuel never washes over the intake valves in a DI engine.

So for example, I recently had to have the walnut shell blasting completed even though I've only used Shell or Exxon gas in my MINI.

Carbon build-up is a byproduct of a DI engine. Some steps may help slow down the development of carbon build-up, like installing a catch can. Water/meth injection system may stop it. But in general, cleaning out the carbon is really a routine maintenance step for a DI engine.

 

Do you recommend having the walnut shell blasting at around 50K Miles ...based on your experience of having it done before. Do see and feel a huge improvement on the performance afterward.

 

This post seems to succinctly describe the problem.
From what I have read, some dealers have done the cleaning under the maintenance plan or the warranty, while others require the customer to pay for the cleaning.
I don't know the reason behind the inconsistent treatment.
I don't know what MINI is referring to when they refer to using poor quality gas as a way to void the maintenance plan.

 

We have nearly 90K on our 08 S. Never had it cleaned, although early on they did clean the intake somehow and I told the OL to stop using that cheap Sheets gas. No more problems.

What's with you guys still under warranty with the 09's? Ours gave out at 50K or 3 years.

Dave

 

The warranty is 4YR/50K
The maintenance plan is 3YR/36K

I have 35K on my car, in-service date of 8/20/09.
So, my maintenance plan is about to expire, but I am still under the warranty.

 

I can't really say when you should have it done. Mine was done at 108k miles. Unfortunately, it was done in conjunction with some other work being done on my MINI. So I can't say any improvements (which I would not describe as huge) are due to the cleaning.

 

Mine is a MINI Next (CPO) with 6yrs/100K Miles Warranty with extended maintenance service for 6yrs/100K Miles.

 

Last year I went through similar situation. I have an 07 MCS I had purchased it with 25K on the odo. At 33K started running a little ruff like a miss took it in for oill change since it was due. Same phone call we need to look into it . ( weeks later I get her back ner motor under the bonnet. !
12K on the new engine similar symptoms. I always use Shell v plus a bottle of techron every 3 fillups now change oil every 7500 and strarted using sea foam. Is there a fix for this I love my car but all this is getting a bit much I have other cars with much more HP and performance motors and not near the issues. Please help I'm not looking to get out of the car Im in the middle of modding but I wasnt loooking to change motor again.

 

Grab hold of a snake-camera and insert from the cold side boost tube location.
But, only way to determine is with visual confirmation; fault codes are just a by-product and typically too late.

No; the fuel pump failure has nothing to do with carbon build-up.

I wouldn't say it's the fuel as much as of owners driving habits.
Many owners are coming from a background that are not familiar with German / English vehicles and what the design is for.
These little engine LOVE higher RPMs and run the best when they are up to temperature and pushed to redline.
That keeps the intake velocity high so that oil vapors from the PCV system don't stick onto the valves...
But also the running heat burns off the oil and condensation that does get pulled from the PCV.

Or installing a low-pressure fuel wash-down injector behind the valve like VW / Audi's EA888 engine.

- Erik