My first post! It's a long one, but I wanted to be thorough.

Symptoms
-------------------------
My MINI has a hard time starting. The engine fires up, the RPMs drop, it sputters and dies. This morning, it took 9 tries. There are no alerts/errors when this happens.

Conditions
-------------------------
- SoCal + garaged at night means that the air temp has been between 75-105F each time it has occurred
- it has sat for a number of hours (usually >4 hours, day or night)
- pretty sure it was run "hot" before shutting off each time this has occurred (lots of stop and go or if I've been "stretching its legs" )

History
-------------------------
This "new to me" 2007 MCS 6-speed manual was purchased about 3 months ago with 39K (at the time). It ran great and fired up perfectly for the first 2 months, then threw a Check Engine light, followed by a Temperature alert. I took it to MINI of Ontario here in SoCal and they replaced the thermostat housing. They recommended a fuel injection service, then threw in an induction cleaning.

The second day after the repair, I drove it and the turbo outlet hose blew off while I was passing a semi. I limped back to the dealership and they took care of it and apologized.

Since that service, I have not been able to reliably start my MINI. To be clear, it runs great when I'm driving. I took it back to the dealership, concerned that the service or blown turbo hose may have been the cause of the problem (MAS contaminated? botched fuel injector cleaning?) or that the tech who botched the turbo hose may have put something else back together wrong.

The dealership checked it out and said that it was a bad timing chain, which was caused by a bad oil pump (a dedicated one for the chain). Also, my battery was bad (though I saw no symptoms). They were able to get the chain fixed by the factory (thank you Mike G.!), but dinged me $385 for the battery and "reprogramming" (that Blew. My. Mind!).

Now that I got it back 5 days ago, the problem remains.

I use high octane fuel only and alternate between discount and premium brands.

I'm convinced that this is a result of the initial service, but I can't find any similar examples out there. So I turn to you, my Brothers and Sisters of MINI-fandom.

Anybody out them have an answer, guess, or witty joke to ease the stress?

 

Battery, starter, High Pressure Fuel Pump. Most likely fuel pump which has an extended warranty on it from MINI. Take a trip and get it fixed. Also yes I went through this also.

 

Thanks, Porthos.

The battery was replaced during the service and the starter isn't likely the issue, since it cranks fine, it just doesn't catch. When it does catch, it will occasionally idle *really* rough. Shut it off and crank again, and it runs just fine.

Here are some videos with the *exact* same problem:

 

Yep it is the fuel pump. It is warrantied. Go to the dealership and have them fix it.

 

Check the coolant temp sensor. My car had issues starting a few months ago. Once I got the idle cleared up, it ran fine the rest of the time.

The ECU determines fuel delivery partly by the temperature of the coolant. In certain conditions it will deliver more or less.

The issue is the temperature that your coolant is at during start-up is not what the sensor is mistakenly reading. So, based off the incorrect reading, the fueling is set. Well, if its anything less than optimal, then the car wont start correctly.

Im not saying that is your issue, but its something to consider.

 

I got responses from the people that posted the videos above, two replied that it was the high pressure fuel pump. Bummer, I have already dumped and extra $1,200 into my "new to me" MINI. It's well out of factory warranty, bummer.

 

Mindspin311: I just had the thermostat housing replaced... any idea if the sensor is in there?

 

I honestly have no clue where the sensor is.

Wouldnt the HPFP throw a CEL? I know that my temp sensor malfunctioning did not throw a CEL.

 

You're in luck because the HPFP warranty was extended to 10 yrs/120,000 miles:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/08/...cs-fuel-pumps/

A bad HPFP does not throw a CEL. This is from personal experience.

 

Are you able to drive the car hard? Full throttle pulls, strong boost, etc? If so, I think you can rule out the HPFP.

 

DrewN: That's great news! Thank you!

Mindspin311: It drives great, plenty of boost. No check engine light.

Gonna place a call to my SA tomorrow. I hope he takes my call this time.

 

Where are you in So Cal? There is a good MINI independent mechanic in Thousand Oaks, and another in Orange County, both could give you excellent advice.

 

OFF TOPIC: Why do local Mini dealers provide such terrible service? I've been to Monrovia and Crevier.. I'm not 100% pleased with either. (Then again, I am coming from Penske Mercedes...)

 

MINI of San Diego is GREAT. And MINI of Ontario is also spoken of highly. For the non dealer specialist mechanics, Scott at Motoring Magic in Thousand Oaks is terrific. He drives and loves MINIs and is an active member in SCMM. In Orange County, Miniworx Orange County in Laguna Hills is also terrific. We held a club Tech Day there, and they gave us a ton of information. For instance, when you get close to the end of your warranty, take it there and for a reasonable fee they will give you a list of things to tell the dealer to fix. They know just what to look for and how to phrase it. They work with their customers, they also do tunes.

 

I'm in the Inland Empire, so MINI of Ontario is the mothership for me. Though, I'm always up for a road trip .

 

Hmmm, MoO is well respected in the club, that's a shame that you have had trouble. Well, detailed above are the two I know about, whichever is closer to you.... good luck!

 

I must say that, despite an honest error with my turbo outlet hose by one of the technicians, Mike Gardner at MINI of Ontario has been nothing but great and helpful. He pushed through a factory replacement of my timing chain and was very communicative during the week and a half it took for the approval and repair process.

This is the first time there has been a delay in communication (we've been working on issues for the last 3-4 weeks). I called him on Friday late afternoon and left a message and haven't heard back (it's now Monday eve). I'm going to call again in the morning.

 

Exact thing my car did between 35-37K. Once the car started it was fine, had no power loss afterwards. Took it in and it was the HPFP. Hopefully it is the HPFP so it would be covered. Good luck.

As far as the battery maybe next time you can try to change it yourself to try and save some $. Mine didn't need any reprogramming when I changed it.

 

Not true. Once it is primed up it runs fine. Like I posted before I just had mine replaced and once it got past the start up it ran fine.

 

Thanks for chiming in!! I'm actually at 47k and would love to have everything in tip top condition before my warranty is officially expired. Unfortunately, I live a few miles away from Monrovia. I suppose a road trip to South OC wouldn't hurt. Thanks again!!

 

Fuel pump +1000000000000000000. Had the samething happen to me. Welcome to the club.

 

Man, that is a point of some debate according to The Internets and the Googles. If I can replace the battery myself without harming anything, I'd prefer it.

 

You can. It won't do anything.

 

Took it in armed with video, a copy of the HPFP letter from MINI and confirmation from MINI USA that my car's VIN was with the range of the affected cars.

My SA was cautious about the likelihood of success. Since the timing chain was just changed last week on factory good will (out of warranty), and there are no fault codes for the fuel pump, it's "going to be difficult." That's not what I wanted to hear, but he's been very helpful, so I'll wait and see.

Here's another video:


My SA said it sounded like a tractor!

 

No offense but, your SA is an idiot. He is paid to make appointments and help steer you to repairs not to diagnosis your car that is what the techs are for. Put it in there with a complaint of hard starting issues and they will figure it out. If it is the chain then they will fix it again and not charge you since they just did it. If it is the HPFP than it is warrantied. Unlikely it is anything else.