At this point, I'm semi wishing I got one of the '06s that were still available when I ordered my '07. But, I'm trying to keep the faith (along with keeping my fingers crossed) and expecting Mini/BMW to step up and resolve the "blazing bonnet" issue.

I'm giving it another 6 months, then I'm going to start looking at S2000's, 350Z's. I don't want to. I think this car might be the most fun car I've ever owned.

The only thing that can ruin it is Mini/BMW not stepping up!!!!!

This is post 126 to this thread, and almost 7 months since Mini/BMW has known of this issue. I'm beginning to lose faith.

 

Is it possible to use thermal reflective and/or insulator materials to keep heat away from "sensitive" areas?

I understand the desire for MINI to have gotten this right the first time, but maybe there are do it yourself solutions. For example, http://www.designengineering.com/pro...asp?m=sc&cid=7 and http://www.designengineering.com/pro...asp?m=sc&cid=8.

Good luck.

 

 

Jinxy (nice name btw...that's our cat's name)

I see you're from MD. What dealer have you been going to? I'm just curious.

Everyone needs to understand that, for some reason, Mini put the turbo up front in these cars. This is where all the heat is coming from regardless of how you drive. The hood scoop definitely needs to be functional to let air in and out from underneath the hood. The more air flow, the cooler the car will run.

On my WRX, they put the turbo towards the back of the engine. My hood scoop was wide open. Tons of air was able to get in and out. The hood got hot, but not like what Jinxy is saying.

It's just a poor design on Mini's part. If you open of the scoop and make it functional, more air will be allowed to get in and out to keep the engine temps lower.

Jinxy, have the dealer replace your hood scoop so every other 'column' in the grill is open. Hopefully this will help your problem. Mine doesn't get hot at all. I drive about 25 miles to work each day. Hood never gets as hot as you are reporting. I can easily touch it with no problem.

I hope that helps. Just my .02 cents

 

I think MINI needs more complaints before they will do a service bulletin/recall on the bonnets or scoops. Anyone know how we can email the engineering dept to do this?

 

If no one else (other then me) has mentioned the "blazing bonnet" issue to their local service department, then Mini will think this is an isolated issue.

Come on... Fellow Mini owners, you need to make some noise if you want this problem fixed.

Otherwise, I'll go order an push radiator fan and mount it in front of the radiator, with a manual switch or timer. This way I can stop wasting my time and quit bitching about it and do something... even though it's a problem Mini/BMW should fix!!!

 

....baked some eggs on my hood right next to the scoop this morning after pulling into work. This is totally insane!!! I thought my MINI was messed up something, but it looks like this common...

 

But why are some folks not having a problem? It's not just the scoop holes, is it? The ECU version sounds more plausible. Jinxy, do you know what version you have, and, if not the latest, has the dealership absolutely refused to upgrade it?

Anyhow, hoping to take delivery today. It's an MCSa, which don't seem to have the problem. But for sure, if it does, I'll be making a pest of myself until it gets fixed.

 

I wonder if it's more widespread than people realize. It seems like the temps feel relatively sane right after you park (at which point most folks probably think, hey, I don't have the problem), but if you wait around for a bit, maybe read a couple chapters in a book, and then put your hand on the hood it's Second Degree Burn City, USA.

 

 

Your right mine takes 3 to 10 minutes .I first noticed it the first week I got it ,actually my son noticed it , I posted about it in april and it got flamed by the R56 haters (remember C-4 )and then the thread got locked and removed .

 

 

Jinxy,

aem421 has a point. Who is your dealer? I almost threw my 1st gen in the trash after taking it to Tate for the first year. It was literally in the shop a full two and a half months during that time. Since taking it to MINI of Sterling, I love my car again.

 

I got mine at Mini of Towson. The SM has already heard my DMF issue and said when ever you want it fixed just let us know. I've been waiting to see if it gets any worse. It hasn't unless you count the 3-2 down shift squeal/groan (wookie battle cry) that happened this weekend.

I've thrown back a couple of shots of turkey tonight, so I try to control myself.

This is obviously not an isolated problem. That said, Mini/BMW has done nothing to assure owners that they intend to remedy this blazing bonnet issue. The correct solution to the heat issue is to remove the heat.

It's been almost 7 months since this was first reported on NAM. Who knows how long Mini/BMW has known about it???

Maybe I'm not cut out to be a Mini owner, if these types of problems/issues are the "norm" from Mini/BMW.

Since 1998 my wife and I have owned a Honda (totaled), 99 Maxima, 98 Frontier, 01 Maxima and now and 07 Mini. I already have 6 things on the Mini that need to be fixed, at two months old. NONE of the other 4 vehicles EVER went in for warranty work!!!

I have/had much higher expectations for Mini/BMW!!!! (including a reasonable response time to address these issues)

My wife already wants me to unload this thing. I'm trying to be patient, but based on all I've read (and experienced), it's wearing thin fast.

If someone asked me, would I recommend the Mini; right now I would tell them to look at something else. Sorry for being such a downer. I really like this car, but it has way to many issues.

Please take the time and see. If you can't keep your hand on the bonnet just above the scoop (5 minutes after parking), please take it in and demand that Mini/BMW fix this problem.

Thanks everyone, have a good night

 

Just out of curiousity, can anyone post a photo of a deformed/melted scoop?

 

OK, here are my temps from last night. The bonnet only made to 199F, while the inside of the scoop was 134C translating to 273.2F.

I included a pic of by bonnet up today only to point out that there is a piece of fiber material restricting the flow of air in and out of the bonnet scoop. Even with that piece in place its get up to 280F in the scoop.

Oh Yeah, and just to top Arnbut's temp reading of his turbo charger , I took a temp reading of my own and came in a 351F.

 

Jinxy,
That fiber material actually has nothing to do with the hood scoop. Take a look up under the hood, in front of that piece, and see if you have any holes for the hood scoop. If not, tell Mini you want the 'newer' scoop vent that has the holes. Maybe that will help your situation.

 

I stand corrected. I'm not sure why it's there then

I have verified that my scoop does have every other column opened... it does.

...and it still gets up to 280F

 

OK, cool. That eliminates one problem.

I think you need to find someone with a newer build than yours (that's not having this issue) and do a comparison test. Maybe something like let each car cool down for an hour or so while you drink a beer and talk. Then go out on the same drive doing the same speeds. Come back and do a tempurature test on both cars. That should give you a good idea that maybe there is a problem. Maybe the ECU software upgrade is the answer.

I'd help you out but my car has been at the dealer for a week now while they figure out why my TPMS light won't stay off :impatient . So I wait...

 

Which dealer do you use: Tate, Towson, Sterling?

 

It's at Towson right now. It's been there since last Friday.

 

aem421 -- is yours in for the melting scoop. I just talked to Jeff in the Towson Mini service dept. he said he has never heard of the scoops melting.

 

Why is your bonnet hot? Thank Alta for the answer:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=116608

 

wow.. I have the same issue. It gets ridiculously hot, but I have not noticed any weeping, then again I have not used my washers yet. Also no deformed scoop, but I only have 200 miles on the car. When I first checked I did not think I had the issue, but I found out that it's after a few minutes that it gets hot, so I checked again. I suggest making a new topic to really organize the information, this can be the discussion thread, but there should be a thread dedicated to only those with the issue. I just picked up my car, so i doubt any new software or anything out right now will fix it. Make a new topic and clearly explain what you are seeing and how to check for it (wait 5 min after driving) otherwise ppl like me will check right after and not think they have an issue. Also is this issue limited to manual transmission S or does anyone with auto S have it as well?

Bascially a new thread with the first post stating
-how to find the problem
-to only respond if you have the issue.
-who to contact (service department, MINIUSA, how?)
-responses received.

Unless we get organized, there is no way anything will get done.

 

No. Mine is there because the Tire Pressure Monitoring System keeps throwing the stupid light. They are working with the engineers at Mini to find out how to fix it. If they don't fix it soon, imma ask for a new car.