Same issue here, new Countryman less than 1,500 miles and 3 days shy of owning it for a month. This situation is very disapointing and the dealership isn't being very helpful, I'd like to take my car in but they don't know if any loaners are available and have no rental reimbursment.

 

Just happened to me this week. 2012 MCS delivered in October, approximately 2,500 miles. Just hauled it to closest dealer in Albany (3 hours away). Haven't gotten a diagnostic yet.

 

I had this problem happen to me back on Nov 10th in my CM. They got it fixed the same day and I haven't had any other issues with almost 2500 miles since they replaced it. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. My dealership (The same as Sharkey R60) was super helpful and got it taken care of really quickly. Now it may have had something to do with the thermostat failing on the way home from test driving a R56 for my husband and they wanted to treat us well so we would buy that one.

 

Happened to me today!

Just over a month old, 2800 km (1740 miles). Cranked it several times this morning. Would fire up once or twice but then die about a half second later. Has been towed to the dealer.

Since you guys mention thermostat in this thread, it does ring a bell. The last few times I drove my car, I noticed that the radiator fan would stay on for a few seconds after I shut the car off. Didn't think much of it, but this hasn't happened before. I hope it's the same diagnosis.

 

Just got my diagnostic. No surprise, it was the thermostat sensor.

 

Picked up my car yesterday. The thermostat housing was replaced.

 

This is F-ing ridiculous! Should I tell them to replace mine before I pick it up for delivery to save me a trip or what? What a French POS!

 

Beginning to think the same thing!!!

 

i heard that the thermostat was updated for 2012 CM build starting in October. (i hope this is the case) for the people experiencing this issue, when was your built?

 

The other morning my MCS4 had trouble starting. I was at work leaving to go to my second job when it wouldnt start, then finally it started but was sputtering. I thought it was just cold. Yesterday I used the car several times, every time it started fine but would not accelerate when first started. The fan was running much more than usual. This morning the car wouldnt start at all. I called Century MINI and the woman who answered the phone couldnt understand that I could not get the car to start at all, she kept wanting to know when I could bring it in. I finally told her to have the SA call me when they got in in the morning. Sounds like I am added to the list too.

 

I beleive MINI's solution to solving failures like this is to simply replace the failed component with another of the same. The logic (missguided as it is) is that if 99% of the parts are good, the likelihood of one customer getting a second bad component is pretty low.
Look at the trim issue. They have still not redesigned the components. They say they are better, but the replacement pieces on my car are the exact same parts that failed in the summer. One is already showing signs of the same issue. They probably will fail again next summer.
I hope the multiple failures of these thermostat/sensor failures are not being handled the same way. Trim pieces failing don't leave you stranded. This issue does.

Mark

 

I would print out all the messages from this thread and show them before you pick it up. This is a known issue with MINI and in my opinion warrants a recall as the car can leave you stranded. They need to be able to guarantee you that there is a newly designed part on it. There are several instances where people have had the thermostat replaced multiple times as they kept replacing with the same part #. When I had mine done apparently they didn't have a new part out yet so they could only replace it with the same. After seeing now on this board that they have a new part # I am going to go back in and demand they change it out to the new one. I'll probably end up on a waiting list though.

 

BT,
Where did you hear that? I want to take that documentation into my dealer to ensure that the replacement thermostat is the new one. When mine was replaced in Dec. I asked if they replaced it with the same part # and they said yes as no other part had been issued at that time. Looks like MINI's strategy here may be to only replace with a new part # as future ones fail. Not good, they should do a recall on all produced before Oct. 2012 build and replace with the new part #. Leaving someone stranded could be a life or death situation.

 

Whats the worst of this is that we are stuck with the part from Mini (French POS probably) because no aftermarket part is available for it yet. I would gladly pay and replace it with a aftermarket part myself if it meant a reliability increase. I guess I don't understand BMW for not fixing the issue because its costing them a lot of money is warranty work or do they just pass all labor cost onto the dealer?

 

I have posted this message in the MINI USA Owner's Lounge as a Suggestion for MINI as well as sending an email directly to MINI. If there is a new part # as of Oct. as bostonterrier suggests then MINI needs to recall and upgrade any built prior to that date. I will keep everyone posted on any responses from MINI or from others from the Owner's Lounge.

 

when i called around and spoke to numerous dealership people...sales, service manager...i was told by one that the thermostat issue was resolved and my november 2012 built CMs should be fine. and at the end of my post, i believe i said we shall see (i'm a very skeptical individual.) so with the question about the trim (no straight answer to date), the thermostat seems to fall into the same category (no definitive answer). that is why i was asking , if you had a thermostat related issue, when was yours built - so if i can determine if the later builds have no issue? (apologies to those who thought i was suggesting that i knew, definitively, that there was a fix...i only reported what was told to me)

 

Agreed, that is why I used the word suggested. Mine was built in the summer as I took delivery in September. When they replaced the thermostat in December they told me it was the same part number, but if they now have a new one I will fight to have mine upgraded. I travel too much for work to be stranded. Thanks for the info!

 

-30c here the last few days, the CM has not been starting well at all. But then I guess there is cold and then there is cold.

 

Hello! I've been lurking on here since November when my girlfriend bought a used 2011 CM. Its an ALL4 with most options except for leather and navigation. Had 14000 miles or so, now 17,500 miles.

I hate being that guy who posts with bad news as his first post, so I will start with some positive words.

Where I come from: I daily drive an SVT Focus and have an old Z06. The CM handles well although it seems very stiff. I hear the run flats contribute to this feeling. Power is not bad but you really need to work the engine. I have to remind myself that 1.6 liters is still 25% smaller than my SVTF. The interior is best of the 3 cars I get to drive regularly. I hate to say it, but I really like the car!

I would really like to test drive a standard Mini or even a JCW. I like to think my SVTF could hold its own in the corners.

Ok - spent the weekend in Williamsburg, VA. It was cold, but not much colder than Maryland. During the 3 day trip the car had 1 start up that had a small hesitation. GF says it would sometimes do that in the mornings when cold. Also said 1 time it didn't start on the first push since she bought it.

Sunday morning came and it would not start. I got a battery charger so I tried and tried but could not get it to fire up.

Had to hit the starter to get the car into Neutral, so we could push it to the tow truck. Long story. Anywho, 60 mile tow to Richmond and now we wait.

 

Mine was built in September/11. Thermostat was replaced last week and seems to be running fine now.

 

Dealer took about 6 hours to swap out the thermostat today. Quick work and good overall experience from Richmond, VA dealership. 2011 CM All4 - 17504 miles.

 

Mine got a high pressure fuel pump then 2 weeks later a new thermostat and new clutch and flywheel- they said it broke in half but the clutch with 15000 looked fine. For shots of tequila at the dragon I'll tell all

 

Waiting to get my '12 CM back from the dealer today. Brought it it for running fan & rough starts, had the thermostat replaced. Tech guy said they are seeing this a lot in CM's and that the issue is the temp sensor, not the thermostat, BUT because of how the sensor is embedded in the thermostat, the whole thing needs to be swapped out. If you're stuck somewhere with a non-start, disconnecting the temp sensor will allow you to start and get home. He also said that the replacement part he got from BMW is a different vendor than came with the vehicle, so a good indication of a bad component.

 

Unrelated (I believe) to the thermostat issues you have been discussing, but this morning I woke to temperatures of -33°C (-27°F) and when starting the car I briefly got an icon of a "car on a lift".

Checking the "Check-Info" area, a warning popped up on the main screen stating "Excessive battery discharge".

Anyone else having battery issues in extreme cold conditions? Anyone else get the icon of the car being hoisted on a lift?

Curious...

 

Can you post a picture of where the connection is? This may help some people limp home.