So my 2010 (which i was privileged to drive out of the dealer) has been struck with the "i've got a 100,000 miles so now I'm gonna be a bad girl" syndrome.

In April it was replace the vanos valves, this time AAA jumped a low battery and fired Foot Control Module (no windows, no locks, no dash) hefty price of $650.

Replaced gaskets behind radiator near filter (according to my mechanic)

Now my mechanic is having a problem getting it to idle....O2 Sensor? Dunno, but this guy knows his coopers but cant whip it?

Is it all down hill from here?

 

I don't think it is all down hill, just take care of the car from now on and do maintenance as needed. 115k miles on a small car will come up with issues which should be expected. In my opinion it is worth the fun driving a small car that has power vs driving a crappy slow car which has no power and no issues. These cars are just a little more delicate that is all.

In regards to your idle issue, if it turns on and drives well just has an idle issue with no check engine lights I'd check spark plugs, spark plug solonoids, even air filter. I might be wrong but I'd think that you should be getting a check engline light if the car is running odd and its related to a sensor. Also I found that my car idles badly if the oil cap is off or there is a leak in the oil pressure (negative pressure when at idle). Even removing the dip stick on my car will cause a loss of negative pressure causing it to idle oddly. Make sure your seals on the dip stick and oil cap are good and no hoses are off or lose.

I have an 09 mini S with 85k miles and this is my experience thus far. Hope some of it shines some light to your issue.

 

I feel your pain! Camden 50 as well and well, I have a few engine bugs myself and I'm at about 85k miles.

 

I just got a Camden a couple months ago and now I'm nervous.

 

Camden90240, tell your mechanic to clean the MAF sensor that will cause a bad idle too.

 

Camden is really only a cosmetic package. The issue is deeper than just being a Camden, it's the N14 as a whole...

 

If you think $650 is expensive you haven't even scratched the surface. Just wait it is a BMW product and things tend to get out of hand quickly. Just keep on top of it because it the price gets up there quickly.

 

Owning a German car is all down hill because they are a little more delicate, I have spent more money on this single German car than all my 7 other cars combined which most hit 150,000 -300,000 miles with no more than an alternator or clutch and never any timing chains. These Mini's have more trouble long before you get to 80,000 miles, by 50,000 miles it's a new water pump, thermostat housing, valve cover, VANOS solenoid, footwell module and at least one or more timing chains.

Been through 3 tensioners in 63,000 miles. It's all down hill after 50,000 miles, my footwell module died at 49,000 miles. Most manufactures are looking at making larger profits at the cost of reliability, plastic parts that fail, most of the parts on our Mini's are outsourced to third party companies. Whoever heard of a plastic valve cover, I don't see them on other brand cars or plastic water pumps. Mini/BMW knew this which is why there aluminum now, but these German car manufactures never learn from their mistakes.

 

Systemlord I agree with the plastic parts and that has been what has been kicking BMW's reliability in the *** for the last 30 but, they are not the only one. My Nissan also had a plastic valve cover.

 

Like the Camden interior, is mostly an R56 with interior and exterior upgrades, and the Mission control feature.

 

Nissan beats even BMW/MINI when it comes to BAR complaints!

Thats what my BAR rep told me, he said you think Mini is bad, Nissan's takes the trophy for bad. Their the worst period when it comes to covering warranty work!

 

I don't know about new Nissans. My 04 was reliable as hell and so was my 93. Well the 93 did blow a headgasket after the water pump failed.

 

This sounds so much like my car. But the vanos, post cat 02 sensor, rough idle, and serious driveability issues started at 7 years, 32,000 miles :( 2010 Hardtop. Out of curiosity, have your FRM (footwell module) and thermostat housing failed yet? If so, when?
I'm assuming you did, but just in case-you've changed the spark plugs, right?