My FRM went bad last night. Everything else has been stable with the car, minus this ongoing problem.

I was hoping nothing else would go wrong before I could sell it but I started the car last night and got the red service lift symbol. I lost power windows, turn signals, interior lights, gauge lights, fog lights, the adaptive part of the headlights(but not the lights themselves, low beams only) lock/unlock from outside via handle button, and also lost brake lights(except for the top one). I did some quick research and found the above FRM issue. I checked every single fuse in the car, disconnected the battery, and took the FRM box out in the hopes that something would reset it self, but no such luck. There are no burnt traces, no water damage, no appearance of any damage at all on the PCB inside the FRM. There are however, many ICs and chips so no telling where the failure lies. So it appears that I am now out another $500-$700 on the car, in addition to the $1000 I was quoted to fix the starting/idling problems.

I have not fixed anything yet, I can't justify spending that much money on the car. That's a down payment on a brand new car with a warranty. So I've decided to sell it and move on. I really love my Mini - it's the most fun and enjoyment I've ever had in a car but I'm just over BMW's problems. They are only going to continue and get more expensive, as is par for BMW. I know I will lose money on the sale but I have to stop the bleeding and there's no cheap way around that.
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I hear you bud. I've owned my n14 MCS for 6 months and have already sunk ~$2k+ fixing it. I absolutely love the car but I too am getting close to cutting my losses and trading it in.

 

Sorry to hear this. Maybe you'll get back into a MINI in the future. Good luck with the sale.

 

Sorry to hear this :(

 

What's an FRM?

 

It's the Foot Well Module. He linked this thread here with info: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...solutions.html

 

I'd really like to have one, I just need reliability at this point and Mini can't delivery. It blows my mind that a car company the caliber of BMW is still making junk. It's like every generation something new and disastrous comes out. I've been around BMW for a long time and it's been the same thing over and over again. I will be the first to admit that when the car is running well, it's a wonderful car. But when it breaks down, it's expensive and time consuming. I can easily buy a WRX and get fun, performance, and great reliability in the same package. Not that every brand doesn't have it's own set of problems, but BMW is just cyclic and repetitive. Honestly, if I had the money I would just keep fixing it (or buy a brand new one) but I don't and I shouldn't have to. So BMW/Mini has lost my business.

 

I hear you. I've been in the Audi and Subaru community as well for some time now. Currently have a B7 Audi in the garage with us (traded an STi for it) and it has cost a couple grand in repairs so far. Only had it a couple of months. I still have my STi, have had it for a while, and it'll soon be dedicated to the track only, but just with the experience of having it and what I've had to fix/repair over the years vs. other brands is very little. Just have to take all the experiences we get and learn from them. MINI is a super fun brand and maybe in the future things will turn around and you'll venture back. If you have any questions about Subies just give me a shout.

 

Selling if anyone's interested.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-s-manual.html

 

I have this thought at least once a day. My girlfriend drives a Crosstrek, and I have owned a WRX in the past. Next car will be a Subaru for sure.

Sorry to hear about your Mini experience. Mine has been very expensive and problematic

 

I'm trying to buy a Crosstrek, I love them! I want a WRX but out of my price range right now. Moving to the PNW soon so the Crosstrek will be a good choice.

 

I love them, too. Hers is a 2016 and has a 5 speed manual
We still joke when she drives happily away while I have my car on jack stands... because it still happens often lol

 

Have you driven the automatic one? Do you like the manual better? I would miss having a 5 speed, I'm leaning towards that in the Crosstrek.