Hey all. So I pulled the trigger and bought a '07 R56 Cooper S last week with 68k from a Lexus dealership and couldn't be happier. Pure Silver with black racing stripes and a blast to drive plus I'm going to be saving a ton of money in commuting cost. BUT... The first night I started the car up I got a check engine light. I'm a little worried I may have bought a lemon. Hopefully its nothing serious. I dropped the car back at the dealership and now I'm driving a Lexus Hybrid (leather Prius). Sooo slowwwww. I don't even know its on half the time!
Before i dropped the Mini off i ran the codes at Autozone. P115C & P2177. Help! Anyone else have experience with this? Is it normal? Sorry if I sound like such a newb, its just that this is the first car I've purchased in my name and I want to make sure I've make the right decision

 

Can happen to any car at any time. I drove from Houston To Dallas and back yesterday, about 630 miles. I have had everything done to an 08 that you hear about and then the dang check engine light came on when I was 300 miles from home yesterday. Drives perfectly. Checked oil. Coolant was good in the reservoir. Nothing leaking so I pressed on.

Guess I will have to make an appointment...

 

The P2177 appears to be System too lean off idle
Double check all the intake tubing from the air box/maf into the intake side of the turbo see if it is loose or detached.

 

Wow that sucks. I'm sorry to hear that you're having this issue. I'm looking at buying a used R56 myself so I hate to hear this story.

Did you check (prior to purchase) if this car had the timing chain tensioner replaced? water pump replaced? These are common (according to NAM members) for the R56.

Good luck and keep me updated what the problem is so I can look out during my searches.

 

Buy a well maintained Mini and your good. Find a good shop that works on Mini's not a dealer. Timing chains ($1200 at dealer),water pumps($450 local shop) and thermostat housings ($400 local shop)happen.

Turbo oil lines also need replaced when they start to leak( mine was replaced at 98,000 miles), a day of wrench time to change and $130 for parts.

Drive them like you stole em and enjoy. I now have 104,000,bought it new. Replaced timing chain at 61,000. Valves cleaned at 50,000 and today at 104,000($400 local small shop that used to work for Mini and BMW). They said the build up of carbon was minimal, run high test. I change my oil at 5000 miles after the first timing chain change.

As long as you keep up with maintenance you will be fine. Find a small local shop that knows Mini's

 

Don't forget the high pressure fuel pump...

 

No worries, it happens to all of us. I bought my 07' and brought it in with a check engine light the day after. The PVC valve which is built into my valve cover was so caked up that it stopped working. I highly advise you to look into oil catch cans. These direct-injection cars are so known for carbon build up.

Good luck with your car, and keep us posted!

-Dylan

 

Thanks for the info everyone. Ill keep you updated when I find out more. Lexus has had my car going on the 3rd day now...hope they aren't trying to stall and eat into my 90-day warranty...

 

As an update my check engine light turned itself off... yesterday!

 

At 104,000 how does an oil catch can work. Should I install one ?

 

Just an (Opinion) from a car guy.

Let Lexus keep that one and go get one from a Mini Dealership where you know what the {Service History} is and where the MINI comes from.

This is from a guy that worked for Dealerships for over 18-Yrs.

If the deal sounds to good to be true guess what .........

What I am sharing with you here is this.
Spend more money on the (Front-End) so you know what you are getting.
Then save Dollars in the long run from Service issues !!!

 

Just because it got traded in on a Lexus doesn't mean it didn't get all it's service from mini. If you have 2 keys, take the second to the closest mini dealership and they can pull the service record.

 

Like I said to the OP just my (Opinion).

And mine did not come from our Local Mini of Nashville dealership.

But it was purchased from that dealer and one owner.
Plus (All) Service Records and still under All Factory Warranties.

Each of us will do what we are comfortable with as it should be.
The OP sounds/reads like they don't have a great deal of (Experience) in this.
Therefore I am just offering some hopefully good advise.

As you can see mine was not purchased from Mini of Nashville by me.
But .........
It was purchased from them by the original owner then by me from Global Motorsports.
It is better to be as Safe as one can be in buying used vehicles IMHO.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I love this car too much already to even think of returning it haha. I got it back yesterday and its pulling even better then before. According to Lexus, the MAF sensor mounting holes in airbox were stripped and the hose from Turbo to MAF sensor was loose at Turbo end. Not sure why it took them 2 days but from now on my car is going to Mini or a local shop who deals with BMW / Mini. Anyone know any good garages on Long Island, NY? Its not raining today so ill be able to test drive the car more to make sure everything is ok and Im going to check under the hood to make sure there are no hissing noises to make sure nothing else is loose...

 

 

Glad to hear you are motoring on.

 

Thanks! You were spot on with the analysis

 

Habberstad MINI in Huntington is pretty good. I haven't had any issues with them.

Congrats on becoming a MINI owner!