First off...been very happy with my '06. 11K miles so far. My story...

A month after purchase my clutch starting making "the growl". Never got worse so I waited until the first service to have it looked at. They needed to order a kit so I took it back last Tuesday for the replacement. Also requested a programming change (one touch unlock). the clutch took no time, but the computer change took 2+ days before they realized it just wasn't gonna take. So I go back to pick up the car and drive it back to work. Right after I hit the freeway a red light starts flashing in my speedo...now here's where it gets embarrassing.

I look over and assume it's the low fuel light (only red light I'd ever seen to this point) and notice the needle is pegged to the light and thought wow, wonder if I can make it to the gas station. Flip the OBC to range and it says 190 miles. Weird...so I call my SA to describe the problem and he's stumped. I suggest filling it up to see how low it really is and pull off the freeway to get gas. When I come to a stop my whole car is smoking. Panic sets in and I immediately head back to the dealer. The smoke clears when I am moving and I look at the "other needle" and it's 3/4 to the top. I'm thinking' it's overheating so I max out the cabin heater (old trick, no idea if that even works in the MINI) and all I get is cold air. Make it back to the dealer and he points out that I was confusing the temp and fuel needles (do!). That explained the gas issue. But there is definitely something wrong with the coolant system. Popped the bonnet and found coolant spray all around.

My guess is either the temp gage or the thermostat failed and the car thought the engine wasn't heating up, so it turned the fan off. Temp climbed and the coolant overflowed and hit the block, hence the smoke. Once I started moving again the airflow kept the temp manageable. Can't figure out the cold cabin heat though.

Anyway, went right back to the rental car place (MINI paid) and got back the very car I'd just turned in.

sigh....

 

Thats not good- Good to hear you got a rental sounds like a hose clamp was loose hope you get you car back soon!

 

Exactly what it was...and appears no long term damage was done, but I have 40k miles left to find out

 

if it was a hose clamp, did MINI do that when they installed the "kit" for the growling noise?

Glad you made it back without doing bad damage.

The heater was probably not putting ut hot air cause there was not any coolant running through the coil.

 

Exactly...

 

Rental car? No Mini loaner? Whats up with that?

 

Nope...Desert Mini doesn't provide loaners.

 

Hope this overheating episode didn't cause any long-term issues. You obviously are embarrassed, but I'll rake you over the coals anyway: Any driver should be able to tell the difference between the temperature gauge and the fuel gauge, and you shouldn't drive a car that is steaming and has the temp gauge pegged.

Enough flogging, I hope your car is fine. Spend some quality time with the OM.

- Mark