Well I bought my first Mini about a month ago (used with 34000 miles). It has the JCW package and its an absolute blast to drive. I love it but today I was driving it in the rain and just before I got back to my house the EML, Engine and Traction light all came on at the same time. This was accompanied by a huge loss in power. I got back to my house and shut the car off.
I immediatly started the car back up and the engine light was still on but all other lights went off. The car seemed to run just fine. I have read simular problems on older posts and non of them turned out very well. In fact non of them had the answer to what happened even after going to the dealership 6 times! That particular person had to get a lawer to get MINI to buy the car back.
I am scared as hell because I have a 6 year loan on this car (not that it is going to take me that long to pay it back) and havn't even made the first payment! I bought it from a Lexus dealership so I thought it would all be good but I have no clue if they had prior knowledge of this problem or not. The worst part about this is I just figured out that the BMW dealership here in Tucson stopped servicing MINIs and the closest dealership is in Scottsdale, 2 hours away from Tucson!
If anyone has any incouraging words regarding this issue they are desparetly needed now.
Thanks!,
Mike

 

I bought it from a Lexus dealership so I thought it would all be good

Lexi dealerships are MINI experts?

MINIs throw codes all the time. Take it to a MINI dealer and see what it says. Or go to a auto store and buy a code reader, they are pretty cheap these days. Read the code and google it or ask here. There is no need to panic (well except for trusting Lexus dealership to know about MINIs).

Best of luck

 

Chows4us. Firstly, I did not call Lexus dealers MINI experts so don't put words in my mouth. Secondly, this is the first time I bought a car from a dealership. So buying any used car from a reputable dealership (Highest Rated Lexus Dealership in the Country) I assumed "it would be all good". Did I assume they are MINI experts, NO. Did I think they sell only high quality vehicles used, YES.
Having a light go on usually doesn't bother me but when alot of lights come on at one time and the car looses all of its power, that bothers me. Furthermore, the only posts on NAM that I could find where these problems were mirrored the end result was discouraging. Running codes is an obvious answer, but I was more looking for someone who has simular issues and it turned out ok. But thanks for making me feel like a doofus on top of all this.
-Mike

 

For EML & Engine light, manual says "have it checked". Not sure about Traction. I am far from an expert, but the fact that 3 went off instead of just one MIGHT mean the issue is more electronic than real. That said, I'd get it to the MIni dealership ASAP. What year is it? Did it come with any warranty by the seller? What is the mileage now? Is it still within the Mini warranty?

 

duplicate post

 

Before anyone can help you on here you need to go to an auto parts store and use their code reader it's a free service.Then post the codes on here. Get busy, they're open today.

 

Update:
Hey guys, thanks for the posts. It is a 2004 Mini Cooper S JCW with 34000 miles on the Odometer. It still has the MINI warranty till next May but the closest MINI dealer is 2 hours away (used to have one in Tucson but I guess they aren't around anymore). I went to go get it checked out at a local shop and while driving the engine light just turned off. I don't know if this should be an out of site out of mind deal but I was pretty pumped to look down and it not be there. Thanks again for all your help.
-Mike

 

The codes are still in the ECU, it will happen again. Address it now or later at the worst possible time it's your call.

 

Update:
So I got the codes pulled and it looks like P1688 (Mass Air Flow Sensor Problem). It seems that some people think the BPV is getting stuck causing the problem. I was driving in a monsoon at the time and their was about 4 inches of water on the road when it came on (I was driving about 35 at about 3000 RPM). It seems to rev great now and pulls hard through 6000 RPM so I don't know if its the BPV otherwise it probably would have repeated. Well thanks for all your help guys. Let me know what you think.
-Mike

 

So what did the shop do to fix your problem?

 

I don't know if I need to do anything to it. Since everything happened (initiial problem --> engine light --> everything is fine) I have driven it in heavy rain and still no problems no engine light, no nothing. I don't know if I can justify the 2 hour trip up to Scottsdale (to the MINI dealership) if I'm not experiencing any further issues. Is this justified? I don't know I'm new to MINI.

 

I have an '02 MCS that had the same issue, all the cluster lights c0oming on at once. Trac, EML and Service Engine. I also lost power. My codes were P1125 and P0638. Any Ideas?

P.S. I also boght used. The lights went out and come on at random. always when it sucks.

 

I have an 04 MCS/JCW & I had similar symptoms here in Texas with all the flooding. I made the mistake of plowing through the overflowing right lane as if I were trying to recreate scenes from the '68 Italian Job! Using the diagnostic tool, my codes seemed to point to the O2 sensor or so I suspected... However, after drying out, all my symptoms disappeared & have not returned. Neither have the codes. A buddy of mine here in MetroplexMini had similar problems & was not so lucky - Had to have his O2 sensor replaced under warranty. So, keep your fingers crossed & stay outta high water! Normally, that shouldn't be too hard in Arizona but w/ global warning, what's normal!

 

Mike, it's been 2 months since your first post. Has your Mini had any other problems? Mine's in the shop right now awaiting diagnostics for an almost identical problem, although I was never in water/rain like you describe. After mine stalled and all the lights came on, it wouldn't let me rev above 3,000 RPM before going into limp mode. Had to get roadside assist to come pick it up and flatbed it to the dealership. I'll let you know what Mini finds out about mine.
Ronnie-D

 

Code was P1688 & Mini says it's a bad Bypass Valve. Look at the other extensive posts on that subject for details. Should fix it...we'll know in a day or two. BTW, I have a 2004 MCS w/ JCW and 30,000 miles.

 

Bypass valve replaced. Runs like a champ once again!
Ronnie-D