I'm on my 3rd replacement of a faulty high pressure fuel pump (I'm @ 40k+ miles).. anyone know if MINI USA has extended the HPFP warranty to 100k for 2011 Countryman models like they did with the hardtops (2007-2010)?

If not, I'm most likely going to extend my engine warranty before I hit 50K.

Also yes, I use high test gas (premium).. normally fill up @ Valero.

 

I'm on my second at 28k miles, hope to not get another by 40k.

 

I'll be finding out if I need one on Wednesday or Thursday. First one @ 70k.

 

Not sure if this is related, but I've got a 2011 Countryman as well (75k miles), and page 175 of the manual says to use Top Tier gasoline to avoid fuel related issues. Usually places like Quick Trip are as inexpensive as Valero. I like Valero as a company for some of their practices, I'm just not sure whether they're as consistent in their mixture or have as much detergent as a top tier provider. For all I know, Top Tier is just a racket and Valero didn't want to have to bribe some organization to get on the list.

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

I know for a while with BMW and HPFPs it wasn't clear whether that was statistically a safe bet, since a number of folks in the forums reported HPFP failures on their 335s, despite using nothing but Top Tier premium. But that was a few years ago. Scary to think that BMW/MINI might still be chasing this problem.

 

I don't know if it is true but some people theorize that the ethanol in our gas is a reason that the high pressure fuel pumps go bad. Supposedly there are some parts in the pumps that might be susceptible to deterioration due the harsh effects of ethanol.

 

Top Tier gas is no myth.

Lots of forum chatter about how far on a tank of gas/how many gallons at the last fill up can all lead to a burned up pump. How low do you let the fuel level go? High pressure systems don't handle pumping air well and can overheat and burn out.

 

I really doubt not using Top Tier fuel would have anything to do with a fuel pump failure. The reason BMW specifies Top Tier gas is that it contains a sufficient amount of detergent to prevent engine deposits.

But as Fly'n Brick said, Top Tier gas is no myth. It is specified by 7 different major automakers (including BMW) to help prevent engine deposits.