Now that I've had my car for over 6 months, the honeymoon is over. When I first got the car, it was several weeks getting used to and learning to use the sometimes quirky features of the R56. Heading around corners was a challenge with all the power available (even below 4000 RPM). LSD would spring into action trying to find traction, and torque steer made me fell that I would never need an engine mod, as I already had as much as I could handle. Could even set off the DSC if I wanted, almost at will. And even with a heavy foot, 30mpg+ was common.

Now I feel like the turbo has died. If I press on the throttle with anything but a feather touch, mileage (according to OBC) drops to 6-7mpg, and averages, no matter how I drive, are typically 22-24 instead of the 28-30 I was getting.

I know some of it was getting used to a powerful car, but there is NO torque steer anymore. No DSC light, and starting from a stop up an incline nearly stalls the car unless the 'sport' button is engaged.

Rattles are appearing from the sunroof. I've got a couple of dents in the boot (albeit barely noticeable), which I suspect come from having to give it a good push to close so I don't have to get out of the car because a light comes on telling me the boot isn't shut.

And having to take a 100+ mile trip (in Philly traffic) just to get any diagnosis will get old very fast.

Paid $500 for the comfort access. The description used to say that the doors would lock when I got 5 feet away from the car. Which I thought would be great, since I didn't always remember if I pushed the button on the fob to lock my previous car. Now the description has changed to say I have to "touch the door" to accomplish this. Touch the door my ***. Try pushing a flexible little button, sometimes three or four times, to get the door locked or unlocked.

Auto down windows should have had auto up (just like my last car). On hot days I like to keep the sunroof cracked to vent the car. Don't get this set up before opening the door, and you have to use the button on the door to open everything, then reverse the process, holding the button (or using the key) just long enough to close the windows, but releasing it a split second before the sunroof closes again.

I know some of this is petty stuff, but when you pay big money for a feature, it should work as advertised. And with gas prices heading toward $4, a 5mpg mileage drop is simply unacceptable. I bought this car mostly for its exceptional fuel mileage. Now I'm lucky to do as well as I did in my Audi TT.

Sorry for griping (yeah, you're right, I'm not sorry), but my love for MINI is starting to deteriorate. Someone's going to respond with "sell it and buy a Honda", and at some point I may just take that advice.

Hopefully when I bring the car to the dealer next week, they'll find something (like a defective turbo), and my power, fuel economy, and love for MINI will return. I WANT THE MINI I BOUGHT BACK, not this inefficient thing that's parked in my driveway.

Jas.

BTW, I did pick up an OBD2 device and no codes have been thrown by the car.

 

You should calculate your actual mpg rather than paying much attention to the computer.

Sorry some of the features are annoying. This is why we order our MINI's with minimal extra gizmos.

Sadly, a MINI Cooper S is not really an environmentalist's car. For its size, it is no more efficient that a Hummer, maybe even worse.

But on the bright side, it doesn't sound like there are any deal breakers in your list of complaints and I bet the dealer will get it sorted out easily enough.

 

For its size it is not more efficient than a hummer? Are you talking about mass to fuel consumption ratio? If I drive to work in the mini vs a hummer with one person in the car that would make the car a more environmentally friendly car.

 

and that is noteworthy. It's surprising that the power levels would change so much and not have any codes. Sorry, I can't really help on this one. Any other R56 owners notice the same thing?

When you drive, does the OBD-II device allow from data logging? Then you could look at boost level and timing advance. How many miles are on the car?

The rear hatch can probably be adjusted a bit to get improved latching (not having to really slam it as much, us real early New Mini owners are more than familiar with that one!)

You're not the first to notice that the Comfort Access isn't really all it's claimed to be. Too bad MINI isn't better at matching new owners expectations with reality on that one.

Yucca's comment about "relative to a Hummer" isn't really helpful. So what if it's got pretty poor efficiency per lb of car? We don't really drive or count emissions that way. We do it per car, or per person. Either way, 30+mpg kicks serious *** over pretty much any Hummer. Especially the H1 that took my same route home yesterday. Also, you'll find that pretty much all high power per displacement engines fall into that camp. So what? And the Turbo is and should be much, much better than the SCed car in terms of gas efficiency.

Now, lets' hope that other R56 owners can comment on the power changes you've noticed, and can help sort that one out for you.

Matt

 

If you assume that the available space is being completely used. For it's size a motorcycle is no more efficient than a Hummer, but it still costs a hell of a lot less to get a person from point A to point B. If I use that theory, the MINI is far more efficient than my Audi or Miata which had space for 2 people, but not much else. Except for sheets of plywood, the MINI carries everything I need 99% of the time.

Thanks Matt. I do believe the ScanGauge will log info. I just got it yesterday, and haven't read the book yet.

I'll mention the boot adjustment to the dealer when I bring it in. And a cheap kit, or maybe pulling the interior panel should let me get rid of the 2 dents with little effort. You can barely see them, anyway

 

i still love my MCS but i have noticed a sharp decline in MPG. i used to be able to get mid 30s cruising on the highway, now im lucky to get 28-30.

listen take it from me (this is my 3rd MINI), if you sell your MINI and get into any other car you will realize once again why you have (had) a MINI and you WILL be back.

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. My list seems petty compared to your dying turbo. Hope your dealer figures it out.

 

I am sure this is all frustrating for you, and I am sorry your going through this time of angst with the car. But still, even knowing the quirks, the sounds, the look of my car.. I can't help but smile.. when I see that lil mini "face" beam at me in the morning. I can't help not being miserable or sad in that car. It is my pickmeup in the morning. I wouldn't trade my mini cooper, for anything. The car has literally changed me. I am more confident.. ask me about my car? and that shy person I normally am, disappears, and the confident mini owner appears. I have gotten used to its little noises, the rattles, the zippiness, the absolute joy I have when I am driving it. The mini forgives me for, maybe shifting too fast, taking a corner a lil fast, punching the gas pedal.. so I easily overlook, some of the minor irritating things about it. At the end of the day, I have an awesome car that I feel safe and happy in.

 

Don't get me wrong, I still love my car, and driving it is a joy that I haven't had since my ol' Miata (1990-2000).

My complaints are often more toward BMW/MINI than the car. Lack of convenient service locations; charges for options that should be free (e.g. anthracite headliner); paint options that mostly cost an additional $450 (this is the first car I've ever owned that black cost extra), and other stuff too numerous to mention. But MINI is happy to spend a fortune on billboards that flash your name on them when you drive by (at least if you live in San Diego).

Part of it comes from OCD (no not something that has to do with OBD, the psychological condition), but much of it comes from the desire to spend $30,000 on a car and get the promised value from it, or feeling that the people who build it or service it have the same pride that we do in owning it.

We're an exclusive bunch, and I'm happy with that. The PT Cruiser was a cool looking car when it came out, but they're so plentiful now, that it's almost nauseating to see them anymore (apologies to PT Cruiser owners). I like unique vehicles. Audi TT (in the same colors as the prototype), being one of the first in line to buy a Miata (when even convertibles were dying out, and modern roadsters just didn't exist, at least in my budget), and my '66 Bug (that had similar 'youification' qualities as the MINI). The 77 Accord, that when the blizzard of 78 hit, I was passing cars stuck all over the road (I think the only other FWD car at the time, besides Honda was the Olds Toronado). And although it never came to pass, I've always had a dream of owning a classic Mini. Still do (with the name Cooper, it should have happened).

lacning74 - No list is petty. Other car companies have proved that it's quite possible to build a reliable, carefully engineered and constructed automobile. MINI has come a long way with the new engine, but obviously are not there yet. BTW, getting your headlights pointed right is a simple matter to fix with a phillips screwdriver. There are a few thread that describe where the adjustment screw is. I have Xenons, and not sure if it's in the same place.

Again, I really enjoy my MINI, but do have some legitimate gripes that need to be addressed. Just last night, temps hit the 30's, and I got a few miles from home and realized "Hey! I've got heated seats!". The only time I'd used them previously was to keep my takeout dinner warm in the passenger seat. Bought an A/C this summer and didn't have to borrow a car to get it home. And took a friend and his adult daughter to dinner, and didn't have to say "You drive, I can only carry one other person". Went on a road trip with a friend and her daughter, and carseat just clipped right in the back. There's plenty of bonuses that I never had in other cars, and when things get ironed out, I'm sure that ear to ear grin will soon return.

Thanks for understanding. This thread is a refreshing change from the typical flaming diatribes that I used to get when I mentioned a problem with my MINI.

Jas.

 

Print out your first posting and hand it to the SA. Tell them you want a loaner until they get everything fixed. How much have they worked on it already? Enough to go the lemon law route?

From what I've read there is a fix for the sunroof rattles. Don't have 'em myself. Don't know about the comfort access since I don't have it (and am I glad!). I don't understand everyone's complaint about the mpg, Humvee or not. I got about 27 to 28 through break in, and have consistently gotten 33 and a fraction since then. And yes, I do put my foot in it, every time. At least that's what the cop said last Wednesday. I've got play roads all over, and I use them regularly. My only complaint was that I got the same 33 and change on my recent trip to Florida. 'Course, I was going...um...fast. (Keeping up with the 18-wheelers, though--ye gads, the interstate speed limits get you run over!)

Good luck and keep us posted. The turbo really should push you back! Even my son was impressed when he drove it yesterday, and he's never impressed by the power our other cars have (BMWs).

P.S. I've got 13,000 miles on mine, and the honeymoon's not over.

 

What does the service department say about the power & mileage drop? Those are two very significant, non-subjective things that they can observe for themselves. I suggest starting a separate thread here on those specific issues. They would really bother me, and I hope you get them resolved.

ps For some reason I just love the comfort access. I know it's overpriced, and would be even cooler if it auto-locked the doors. Fumbling with keys seemed like such a minor thing, until it was removed from my life. Run out to my Mini, hit two buttons and I'm off. Instant joy. (opening door-sitting down-buckling removed for dramatic effect).

 

I did start a thread on the mileage problem:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=118159

I didn't mention the power loss, but now I'm thinking that that might be the cause of the mileage drop since I'm having to press down on the throttle more to make the car move. I've been so wrapped up with the MPG issue, that I've been driving very gently and didn't really notice the power loss till I really stepped on it a few times and realized that I can no longer activate the DSC on curves, and torque steer is all but gone.

It really feels like I'm driving an MC and not an MCS. I'm always over 3000RPM and anything below that is near impossible to accelerate from. During breakin, I had no trouble staying below 4,000 RPM. Now it seems to be a starting point.

 

Yes, because you posted the decrease in mpg I did the test on mine and drove really gently- as gentle as even to make a 78 yo gramma mad. I was able to achieve 36 mpg. So the mpg is still the same. However, I must have gotten used to the power. It doesn't feel as fast anymore. The only subjective way to test the engine performance would be periodically check 1/4 mile times or go get the engine dyno'd every 6 months.

 

I am not having the problems you are describing but I do understand your frustration. Some of it sounds a little normal kinda like buyers remorse. I get that in all the cars I have bought over the years and at some point the car turns into a tool to get from A to B. The mini for me was suppose to change that and for the most part has. But it is still early as the car is only 4+ months old. I bought the car because there was nothing like it and is still true today. If problems start to creep in I most likely will have a change of attitude. For now though, I will do a pretty detailed cleanning on a Sunday afternoon and the sun is going down, I'm completely soaked and worn out and nearly finished. All the doors and rear boot are open and I look down the back of the car towards the front and say to myself yep that car looks like a million bucks. Now all I need is to afford OEM sirius installed. Try to hang in there I guess and maybe the fixes will happen and you will rediscover your Mini all over again.

 

Definitely no buyer's remorse. If the car was totaled, I'd get another just like it. Maybe a different color, and I'd get the rear fogs this time, but everything else would be the same. The only disappointment would be with the new tire sensors, but that would be offset by autoup windows. And I might get some lightweight wheels instead of the web spokes (but I really like them. Just not sure they're worth the extra $500)

 

Jas, I know you're a competent mechanic, but somebody's gotta ask this question... how clean is the air filter? All of the symptoms you've mentioned (lowered mpg and HP) can affected by intake air restriction that can be caused by a dirty filter. As funny as it sounds, it's not unheard of for a mouse to build a nest in the intake snorkel

It's never hapened to me in a car, but several times on my tractors and lawn mowers. Quite a shock when I opened the housing up to discover Mickey and Minnie smiling at me

And I know you've checked your tire pressures. I am constantly amazed that folks forget that colder outside air temps = lower tire pressures. I betcha half the folks on the highway this morning had inadequate tire pressures due to the colder temps. Anyway, good luck!

Oh yeah. My 07 Cooper (non-S) was getting closer to 40mpg for the first two tanks, and it has lowered to around 37-38 mpg on the 6th and 7th tanks. It's not a huge drop, but still, it's a let-down.

 

I've had rodent problems on other cars so I did check the air filter on the MINI. Nothing unusual. A couple of little leaf bits. I reversed the filter (end to end, not bottom to top) to put the cleaner end toward the intake. But all seemed pretty normal. I've had mice build nests in many cars, and one chewed a hole in a vaccum hose on my Audi, but the don't seem to like the MINI, despite how easy it would be to crawl up the intake hose. My Subaru had a zillion empty acorns on the engine, but it was sitting unused in the woods for a year. The MINI gets driven daily.

I think colder temps also mean richer mix on cold days, but the problem has existed for awhile, and October was unseasonably warm here.

I'm just hoping the dealer doesn't respond with "No codes. No problem." And they actually give it a thorough going over. I mean even I can get great mileage going downhill.

 

Make 'em drive it--really DRIVE it!

Might also have your MA drive it to compare with the fresh new ones on the lot. Less of a vested interested to blow you off.

 

Jas,

I sounds like the catalytic converter is plugged. If you have a P-chip, try replacing it to the factory specs and see what happens. Many times when the fuel curve is changed, it sends more raw gasses through the exhaust, which could cause catalyst failure. It's worth a shot, but see if you can replace the converter with a straight pipe and drive her... If it comes back to life, ask for the cat to be replaced. Hope this helps....

Cheers mate,

Robb

 

Don't kid yourself, they like the MINI just fine. One of my plug wires is eaten down to the colored wire insulation, and most of the rubber is gone on the other three. There's all-out war in my garage right now.

 

has anyone checked the little stickers on their gas pumps lately ? heading into winter a lot of the gas stations start selling oxygenated fuel with a higher ethanol (alcohol) blend. The fuel just doesn't have the same bang. I can't tell you who blends and who doesn't in your area. also since modern ecu's tend to be 'smart', if you've been running the cheap stuff or some poor quality petrol, it'll be dialing back the timing and the power output.

I don't know what it takes to reset the mini's ecu, but often a tankful of premium and disconnecting the battery for a few minutes will kick start a change of attitude.

 

I only buy name brand gas, usually from the same station. On top of that, my problems began with the same tank of gas (Shell 91 octane). So a change in ethanol content couldn't have caused it.

Unfortunately I don't have the option of throwing a different exhaust on the car now. Don't know what a P-chip is, but if it ain't stock, I don't have one (yet).

 

I've been running 10% ethanol for years and years--several cars. The 33+ mileage I mentioned is with it. What's new is the 15% ethanol, and the book states it shouldn't be used.

I buy name brand--usually Shell--and premium only. Around here (and on my recent trip to Florida), it's always been 93 octane.

 

Are they selling E15 there? Minnesota has mandated E20 by 2013 and I am not sure what we are going to do when that happens - conventional wisdom is you definitely need a FFV for E20.

 

I haven't seen E15. I don't think we'll be out of business with the other fuels you mentioned. I'm sure they'll have to have other fuels, too. Too many cars on the road to ban it.

Incidentally, we get premium non-ethenol fuel for our '64 356 in the next county up--no air pollution restrictions there, yet.