So I made the move to grad school in mississippi about a year ago and my mini and has since started to fall apart. I have a long list of issues with my 2010 MCS it has about 54,000 miles. The biggest issue is the oil which was apparently completely depleted on my most recent drive from miami up to mississippi. I checked the oil level before leaving and it was perfect, when I arrived the car sounded as if the timing chain problem had returned with a vengeance... turned out there was no oil. Filled it back up and have been monitoring the oil level ever since and it doesn't seem to be leaking oil or burning it (the level has remained constant). I did notice some oil build up in the engine. Another issue I am having is the sunroof, it currently functions when it wants to. All the other problems are more cosmetic, like all the plastic trim on the outside is turning a light gray and the mesh inside for the sun roof is currently flapping loose. I know those cosmetic issues are a result of the total lack of shade trees in the parking lot in the complex I live in, however I would appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with these cosmetic issues! Also, any thoughts on the vanishing oil? I am so in love in my MINI but I really need it to survive (and preferably in decent condition) until I get through medical school! I also, cannot get the phone to connect via USB or the AUX port to play music (just slightly inconvenient during my long drives).The dealer back home is absolutely horrible and nothing is ever resolved with them. I am hoping to get a chance to mke the drive to Baton Rouge to get it check out there, just dreading the potential cost.. Living off student loans and trying to keep this MINI up and running is proving to be problematic. Thanks!

 

A MCS 2007-2010 probably wasn't the best choice for a student on limited funds, most here that plan on keeping their Mini's have a few thousand dollars just laying around waiting for the next problem. 50k miles is about the time things like the thermostat housing develop cracks at the base, timing chains/tensioners, valve covers and HPFP's to name a few.


It's almost impossible to lose that much oil from a 14 hour trip, you're not the first but some of these dipsticks are horrendous and sometimes give you a false reading for oil levels. This is what probably happened, no thanks to your Mini you got a high or full reading when it was actually lower. This seems more plausible than your Mini drinking 4.5 quarts of oil on a 14 hour trip, it's happens to many and some of these people needing a new engine.

My brother gave me a real hard time after learning that I paid $75 for an upgraded dipstick, he doesn't understand why because he doesn't own and maintain a Mini Cooper.

 

I am well aware of the difficulties reading the dipstick on the MINI. I am sure that the car had oil, being that the oil was changed about a week and a half prior. I checked the oil and the tire pressure as I do before all of my long drives, and even if it gave me a faulty reading I know that the car was not that incredibly low on oil before the drive. I do not think that the car burned that much oil during the drive, and hasn't been any signs of oil on my parking spot so I am trying to get an idea from where it may be leaking.

I am aware of the cost of upkeep of this car when I decided to go ahead and purchase it, and for that reason I have also kept a nice sum aside to deal with any issues which arise. I rather deal with the upkeep from time to time than to deal with monthly car payments, financially that is what makes more sense for me right now.

 

Any blue smoke coming from the exhaust?

 

I did notice smoke yesterday, but not particularly blue.. Just lightly colored.

 

I'd check your intake tubes on the boost side, maybe the turbo seal let go and is pumping oil but I would think it would be smoking like crazy.

 

Turbo oil line....
Or one of a million other places...drip...drip....or even burn...remember...
1quart per 1000 miles or even 800, and it will usually NOT smoke....so a 3000+ mile trip....being 4 quarts low is kinda expected...not good...but expected if not checked....
Oil tends to drop a bit more in the first 1000 miles or so as the thinner parts of the oil burn off....
Having run low on oil is pretty bad....good luck longterm....keep an ear out listening for timing chain/tensioner issues....

 

jag12,

This is the exact reason why I traded-in my 2008 MINI Cooper S, a car which I bought new with only 3-miles on the odometer. After 40,000-miles it had a thirst for oil...and it just got worse over time. You might as well start buying two or three quarts of SYN 5W-30 motor oil at a time...one quart will not be enough for your future needs.

What systemlord says is true, the dipstick gives false readings. I'll testify for him. A good option for you is a trade-in for a newer MINI (2011 and fwd.)...do it before you have a blown engine on your hands...you'll thank me in the long run.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear.

Good luck!

 

What do you guys think about switching to slightly thicker oil, say 5W-40 instead of 5W-30?

 

Your mechanical problems has happened to my 09 (40k)too(losing oil, timing chain) but I've gone through extra 3 water pumps, a thermostat housing, etc...... The dealer fixed my oil problem by replacing the whole engine :(( Luckily its covered by warranty) Then its somehow got a transmission leak and still repairing. Its quite difficult to keep it running well unless you got deep pockets or a warranty covered it. But you can sort out some of the cosmetic things. Faded plastic trims can be sorted out by tire shine( get the gel ones, apply it once every few month and it will look so much better) But you might not want to hear, mini_wisconsin was quite right that get rid of it and get another mini before it really blew up an engine. If you really want a more reliable mini, justa will do a better job than the S. Its still fun to drive, or its more fun coz u need to floor it most of the time.

 

Yours was an 2009 MCS or a justa? I thought that most of the oil in an N14 is burned off oil vapor being ingested into the engine through the PCV system coating the intake valves. I know for a fact that my piston rings are sealing do to the excellent psi readings I took with a compression gauge (dry test).

 

Mine is a S, it was burning oil for a month or so (no oil comsumption previously) and at the same time it was superknocking. They did compression test (low on compression)and took the engine apart and all 4 cyclinders were scored.

 

I don't understand how or why some of these Mini's have cylinder scoring, what causes it?

Dry compression tests at normal operating temp:

1. 170
2. 158
3. 170
4. 155

 

My best was 150 worst 120, even the dealer cant explain why i have managed to scored the cyclinder. Never let the oil drop below 1/2 way, strictly 91 diet, never floored it.......

 

Did you buy you Mini new? I don't understand why all my cylinders aren't the same psi, it only takes 5 compression strokes for my cylinders to reach their rated psi readings. They build up their pressure quickly (54k on MCS), 5 needle movements! I would have been very pleased if they were all 170 psi on a dry test!

 

I bought mine as CPO, 21k when I got it, new engine at 40k -.-

 

I only dream about getting a new engine!