First of all, forgive the ignorance if I am posting in the wrong section. I have had my mini for a year, but have not spent time online or in groups discussing the whole 1st 2nd gen stuff. I just like the way they look and drive... well, the manuals anyway. Oh, and sorry about the user name, but I got stuck in an annoying stopforumspam loop while trying to register.


Ok, I have a 2008 Mini Cooper S. It has two doors and a hatchback. It has a sport button (that I love to use...sparingly, I can't afford the gas usage) and a 6 speed manual transmission. I believe it is turbocharged and has DOHC. Yes, I am a mini rookie.


Starter started acting up a few weeks ago. Whirring like the gear wasn't moving forward or had missing gears. Always caught on the second or third try. (BTW, one thing I don't like about the push button... it just keeps trying to start until I let off the clutch). Now the time to get it to start is much longer. I get lucky sometimes... but wife didn't want to have to come get me or want me push starting it in town, so it has been parked all week.


So, any pointers will help. I am going to go out and park it under cover and let the rain start dripping off. Then later today I will try and tackle it. I did the rear brakes and discs last weekend and busted one of my finger tips up, so I am not enthused about it. I have watched some videos and read some instructions, but some say it is between the motor and the firewall and some say it is somewhere around the oil filter. I am guessing this is a difference in different models/years. I imagine I will see it as soon as I slide under the car, but I do tend to get claustrophobic under cars..so who knows. I am going to have to find myself a good manual for the future, but I am in a small town on the WA coast and doubt I could find one here.

 

Easiest way to get to it is to remove the intake manifold and come out the top of the engine bay. No lift required. Just make sure you disconnect the battery and have a set of External TORX sockets.

 

Any idea how many bolts? I found two. One up top and one under the starter both removed. Cannot find any others. Have tapped it a bit w/ a rubber mallet, but no movement. Nothing crazy like on old Hondas is there? (Bolt from one side of the engine through to the starter.)

 

There is 3 . Two from engine side and one 13mm from transmission side.

 

You are a candidate for entry into realoem.com/bmw/ for parts and diagrams, will help with most mechanical projects. Best of luck!

 

Went out after I posted and found it. Wish I had seen it before I pulled the other bolts out. Had to hold the starter while I turned it to keep the bolt from being too tight. Thank you very much for the help. Now I just have to get a replacement starter. Wont be able to test the old one until I get out of town. If it is the solenoid, is it better to replace that or the whole thing?