I've read a bunch of HPFP failure accounts after mine blew (and there were a number of them in the 2007 MCS cars, maybe some newer ones too). In about every case there was a problem like I described, first start of the day, several start button pushes, no CEL or code. Finally no start. I don't think there are any diagnostic tests on the pump itself (which is in the front of the car, the low pressure is in the tank I think). But your CEL came on, and that usually throws a code (what was yours?). Mine finally did at the end and I was able to get the number off the dash somehow by pushing the stalk buttons. I think it was 48, but I could be wrong, and I was never able to find what that referred to. I had Mini send a trailer the next AM and take the car 100 miles to Scottsdale and they fixed it right away, and offered to return it since I was that far away (I was due down there anyway so I got it). It sounds like the SLC dealer is trying and not just blowing smoke (they replaced a part anyway). Ask if the code you car threw would also happen if there were a fuel pump problem.

 

Newt, perhaps the legal route is a bit premature at this stage, I just know that a couple of times in the past my family (parents once, and once with myself) got much quicker results when the media was involved or even threatened to be invovled. In the case of my parents, their lawyer got nowhere with a large company that was in the wrong. Within hours of the local paper making inquiries of the company they changed their tune and admitted their mistake. I've found BMW/MINI to be rather difficult and unresponsive.

So often dealers simply say, drop it in and they'll take a look, but they never truly consider the effort and inconvenience that is involved. If they had to pick up Tim's car and flat-bed it to the shop and then return it at the end of the day when its finished, or if they had to do that 2 or 3 times before they got things fixed, they wouldn't be so cavilere about their attitudes about dropping the MINI off to take a look at.

 

That sucks what you are experiencing. My Coupe should arrive in a couple of weeks. I'm not so much nervous as I am disappointed at all the negative reviews I'm reading about Mini. and I don't buy that it is a 1st gen car and that there are bugs. Bugs on what? What is new? The auto spoiler? Just because the shape of the top has changed doesnt make it a totally "new" car. It's a cooper, with the same components as every other cooper. The things should work. Especially new. I'm still excited about mine of course, but I'm curious as to how BMW has yet to have the know-how to build reliable high performance cars. Lexus, Honda, and infinity just to name a few make great sports cars that last well over 100,000 miles with very little issues. I'm not trying to trash my own car or car company. But I guess I really bought it because I love the design. It's interesting and aggressive and a hoot to drive(though I've only test driven). But it's hard to swallow that a Civic Si can (on paper) out perform and outlast almost any Mini and cost $10,000 less.
Anyway, best of luck Tim. And wish me luck with mine. :-)

 

Latest update on my coupe.... Picked it up from the dealership last night. One week at the dealership, almost forgot what it looked like. It has been at the dealer almost as much as it has my garage. They said they replaced the MAF sensor but could not find any other components out of spec. Nice to have my coupe back. Took it to work this morning, no issues. Half way home from my 10 mile commute........CEL. 4th time in less than a month. I do not reach the one month anniversary until Sunday. I believe I am officially done. Today was the last straw. I will drop it off at service tomorrow, get my loaner, and I will be calling Miniusa first thing. This is completely unacceptable. I cannot even enjoy a round trip commute anymore. I am going to also file paperwork for a complete refund. Still undecided if I want to have another go at the coupe but I am going to raise HELL tomorrow.

 

Ask them how they confirmed everything was OK. How extensive of a road test they give it? If this is happening for you, they have not driven it properly to verify that they fixed anything.

 

Man that really stinks. Now the hard part starts. It will be a grueling ordeal but hey I think you should try again. The car really is a great car. Mine thus far has been trouble free. I'm hoping it works out for you quickly.

Sorry your having such a hassle. I think I would be getting just as frustrated as you by now.

Good luck with the next portion of your ordeal.

 

I dropped it off at the dealership last monday and my mileage was 350. When I got the car back yesterday it was up to 407. My mileage at the time the CEL came back on was 436.

The service department also could not find any explanation for the difficult startup, the extremely loud fan, nor could they recreate either issue. They keep telling me that the CEL really isn't a big deal, the car is driveable and it is not in "limp mode". But something is throwing fault codes and they cannot figure it out. So either I have gremlins in the engine, the service department is inept, or as stated before, I have hit a perfect storm of events, and it is a little of both.

 

Oftentimes when things get this far along, MINI USA will bring in the MINI engineers. They need to take over this case from the dealership.

 

I agree. Tim maybe you could suggest this to the dealer in a somewhat forceful manner. Maybe that will get the ball rolling in your direction.

 

If I had gone through what you've gone through the service people told me the CEL light "wasn't a big deal" and it was ok because it wasn't in limp mode, I think I would have to have been physically restrained. What a bunch of idiots to say such a thing! Nothing is a "big deal" until it's happening to YOUR brand new car!

 

I've GOT to comment on this !! About a yr ago. I set out to buy my 1st mini. Had $14k cash, and another $3 or $4k if needed. Went to the local mini dealer and couldn't get ANYONE to come out of the dealership to talk to me, so I left. E-mailed later that night and received a reply from the internet sales mgr., who got her job because she was young and cute. She said I should have e-mailed I was coming and someone would have been happy to help me !!
Found a 2005 "S" that was mint, even though it was $10,500 and had 108k on it. But-always garaged and not a scratch, complete service records. Bought it and went by the dealership to get the oil changed and see about a timing belt. (didn't know it was a chain at the time) The service "ADVISOR" was clueless, and I couldn't believe that he had the job !! A blind, deaf, german sheppard on CRACK would have been a upgrade !!
So--my 1st thought was -- wtf have I gotten myself into ?? Drove the car for 3-4 months, and loved it !! Super quick, very solid car in every area. (still have it !!) So-I decided to buy a new 2011"S" (ice blue)
Got it at a dealership 200 miles away, and I've got to admit. I feel that my 2005 is ALOT better built, and doubt that I'll be as confident about it at 118k, as I am my 2005 !! Posted that here a few months ago, and people went CRAZY !! 1 jerk went on and on and on, and said I didn't deserve a mini !! Didn't seem to matter to my hero that I have 3 yrs vocational school in automotive, spent 4 yrs in the USAF as a line mechanic, (7 skill level) and have almost 15 yrs experience as a tech, or parts person, and more than likely have forgot more about a car than he will ever know !!
I do love how my 2011 (and my 2005) runs and handles, but have read horror story after horror story about the problems \ issues with the minis, and may trade the 2011 for a CRZ and keep the 2005.
BUT -- the dealership experience has ALOT to do with it. The local dealer got rid of "GOMER" and they have a great guy now, and I have no issues with having my car serviced there. (it now has 9600 miles) But--quality could be ALOT better -- for sure !!

 

Dropped the coupe off at the service dept. this morning. Thank god they are about a mile from my work. They said they are going to keep it for another week while they try to "sort it out". I have absolutely 0 confidence in them. They have already put it on their diagnostic machines three times and cannot figure it out. So, by the time the first month mark rolls around, my coupe will have spent 18 of the first 30 days at the dealership. I will be calling Miniusa this morning, asking to speak with a supervisor or manager and we will see where we go from there.

 

So, if you were in my shoes and you were dealing with this issue, what would you expect from Mini? I just got off the phone with Miniusa. Asked to speak with a manager so I don't unload on some poor rep. but the manager is unavailable. So I give the rep. the update on my issues. She asks what they can do for me. WTH? I told her that I don't know what their standard operating procedures are. Then she asks what outcome I would like? This set me off. I want a FREAKING RELIABLE car, one that I don't have to bring into the shop every other freaking day. In the first 30 days of ownership (which will be Dec 4th), my coupe would be in the shop 18 of them. Does that sound reasonable for a $35K vehicle? Then she asks, "So you don't believe that this car will be reliable?" OMG, I almost rammed my head through the wall. NO, I DON'T THINK THIS CAR WILL BE RELIABLE!!!! Considering I have probably only had about 5-10 hours of drive time without the CEL being on, NO, not exactly off to the best of relationships with my car. So I ask again, if you were in my shoes, what would you expect from Mini? New car? Free extended warranty? Refund? This isn't my first Mini, I love driving them, and I know they are quirky. However, this is more than quirky, this is just plain wrong.

 

Buyback through MINIUSA at your orignal dealer, order new one or move on. Went through similar situation earlier this year and am now happy in our CM.

 

This is what I'd do if I were you: I'd ask the dealership to give you a different car and take back the one that's a problem. Because there must be a problem or the CEL would'nt keep coming on, and because the dealership has had ample chances to fix it (I'd not accept the line "nothing needs to be fixed because it's just a light") and can't do it. So give me a freaking car that works, because this one don't work, and you guys can't make it work. I think I'd take that route at this point. Another route would be they give you 100k bumper to bumper warranty, since you live close by.

 

Complete waste of time on both accounts. You bought the car you own it. The dealership is not going to just give you another car. They will however work to fix it. If you want a new car or your money back you will most likely have to go through the LL process. Waste of time on the warranty as well. It's not the dealerships problem. They didn't build the car Mini did. (I know, I know they represent the Mini brand but they still did not build the car) I doubt very much that they would be willing to eat that cost.

You best bet is to work to get Mini engineers involved as was stated previously. That is the quickest and least painful way to resolve the issue.

You can ask for whatever you want that's for sure but don't be surprised by a no.

 

Just got off the phone with the manager at Miniusa. I am incredibly pissed off now. All he kept saying was "what do you want us to do about it", "we stand behind the warranty" and "I will certainly document your situation". OMFG. You fail to address the fact that the service department cannot figure out what is wrong with the car. They have repeatedly run diagnastics but cannot figure out what is causing the CEL. They are too the point where they are just replacing parts, complete shot in the dark. Well the MAF sensor isn't throwing any errors but because we have nothing else, we will replace it. So now some monkey is just tearing into the engine causing god knows what other issues. And all this jacka$$ at miniusa says is "we stand behind our warranty" and "I'll be sure to document that". What ever happened to customer service. "What would you like me to do about your car?" Grrrrr..... so freaking pissed right now. How about if you talk to your boss and YOU tell ME how you are going to make it right. I kept asking him what SOP is when a car has spent the 18 of the first 30 days of ownership in the shop. "Well, each case is handled individually, on a case by case basis." So I ask him, what can you do in this case then? "Well, we are standing behind the warranty, but if the techs cannot recreate the issue, there isn't anything we can do." HOLY CRAP, this is going nowhere. I am now completely frustrated that nobody seems to think this is unacceptable way to treat a customer.

Any other suggestions? I am close to sending my documentation to a LL Lawyer to review this case. If I get the car back next week and the CEL comes on again. I wont even bother taking it to service but I will definately get a lawyer involved. Cannot believe this is the same Mini company that I bought my first one from in 2004.

 

I took that to mean, he wants you to make a proposal (buyback, replacement car, etc). From his job position, he doesn't want to proactively offer a settlement. He wants to look like he's handling a customer's request.

 

You could take this route: Ask the service manager what you should do the next time the CEL comes on and the car seems to run fine. Tell him that you don't have time to keep bringing the car it there. He'll either say " don't worry, just drive it" (in which case you get that in writing), or he'll say "bring it in again (and again)" in which case you tell him that you don't have time to do that, would he agree to send a towtruck for it? I agree, they probably won't swap cars with you. An extended warranty is just money, last time I was offered one of those on a new car the price dropped by half before I got out the door. Asking whether they think the lemon law is applicable here is an innocent question, but it does convey your saavy in the area. Asking who you would contact in their legal department if that became neccessary is reasonable as well.

 

I did ask him at what point is it a case of enough is enough and offer to build a new car. His response? "Well, there really isn't a set formula or number of times. But we are standing behind our service department and the warranty." So I don't think he was fishing for options that I would like. I think it was more of a "what do you expect us to do?" Time to go home and have myself a brew and try to relax.

 

Lemon Law time.

 

Time to jump the Snake River Canyon with the loaner.

 

I would contact a Lemon Law attorney ASAP. My '02 Mini developed the dreaded 'stumble' when it was very new and even thought they came up with a fix six months later I got a $$$$ settlement just for the aggravation I suffered. Sounds like you should too. My understanding is that if they try to fix it three times without success you are eligible.....just be sure you keep the documentation. Should the dealership not be able to remedy the problem then the LL will get you a new car.....not going to happen by yourself. Good luck!

 

The problem is they can't find anything to fix. The CEL comes on and that's it (except once when it was hard to start but did start and run fine). An attorney will probably want some money for starters (I know I would) and I'm not sure where he would go with this specific situation. It would be different if something kept going toes up and they tried a few times and didn't get 'er done.

 

Yeah, after dealing with that D-Bag at Miniusa, that is the way I am leaning. I have all of the documents from the first three visits (I made sure to grab them out of the car before I dropped it off this morning.) The technician also left the paperwork in the glove box with the fault codes that the car has been throwing. I am not a auto mechanic, but the errors don't sound good. Combustion misfire in cylinders 1,2,&4 and another misfiring in the same 3 cylinders: damaging exhaust gas after start sequence. Guess I will have to wait and see what comes from this latest trip to the shop. I think Utah LL states four times with the same issue or 30 days unavailable in the first year.