It will happen, but it may take a few weeks.

 

No problem we'll be patient. The ones I've seen have just been with the head off the engine and no good documentation. It'll be great to see someone spill the beans!

 

Well I should find out soon if mine has carbon buildup...its sitting at the dealer. Will be interesting because I SeaFoam pretty regularly and just did it about 3k miles ago.

 

make sure they take pictures of what they find.

 

How many times per week do you get the opportunity to drive the car hard?

 

a good full rev full boost run... 2nd and 3rd gears can clear out a lot of crap.

 

Not really. Just how much does it cost a dealer to make a customer happy ?

IMO there would be no adverse effects upon the dealers monthly bottom line diagnosing this.....and the time spent fixing a car correctly to bring a customer back into the door for another MINI in 4 yrs is an ounce of medicine for a pound of cure. Isn't that how you increase quarterly profit margins, and secure the future of a business.....Just sayin.....

Could always contact the regional service rep for BMW/MINI ?

 

Oh, all the experts here will shoot you down for that obvious remedy.

 

From what others have reported, it's about a week of labor (i.e., very expensive) to pull the head and do a manual carbon cleaning. I wouldn't expect a dealer to foot the bill for something like that, especially when it's likely an issue with all direct-injection models in their service area.

 

It would be great to be able to do this ourselves down the long road after warranty but the fact that you need a special BMW tool to set the cam timing is torture!!

 

, their cars need to poo once in a while.

 

Checked with some folks who have run diesels in the past. Yes, they have vapor separators on them. Big real ones, not little catch cans.

Big: If you read this thread, you would understand we are talking about crankcase vapors cokeing on the back of the intake valve. A high power run will INCREASE the issue. "Italian tuneups" were used in the old days ( pre 68) to burn carbon off spark plugs. This has not been an issue for probably longer than you have been alive.

 

What's the verdict?

It could be fuel pump failure...which is now waranteed for 100k or 10 years.

 

100% true. High inlet valve temperature mixing with crankcase vapors is bad news. Cokeing is a nasty process and something, in this engine configuration, which could potentially be a long term nightmare.

 

Ugh the verdict is they found a boost leak...which is great because my car was not holding boost too well and that answers a lot of questions about how my car was behaving for a while now. They also said fuel pump checked out fine.

But.....still pinging under acceleration...UGH. They didn't check for carbon, as once they found the boost leak they stopped there and assumed that was the cause. They took it for a drive and didn't hear it afterward.

Car goes back to them on Monday. And I'm making them go for a ride with me so they can hear it with me there.

 

Where did they find the boost leak?

 

I guess it would technically be a vaccuum leak as it was pre turbo...

The intake tube going into the turbo....right up by the turbo, it was underneath and fairly large they tell me. Fixed my boost issues (car wouldn't hold boost, and sometimes boost was very erratic)

Car is back at the dealer today, for them to figure out why it pings constantly. Tech went for a ride with me and heard it instantly. They're gonna pull the intake mani and also look into the cylinders.

This is all on stock tune/stock intake btw...

 

You were having inconsistent readings via sensors since you had more air coming in that was monitored

 

Yes....

Doesn't explain why it still pings though. The boost issue was a seperate isssue.

Literally knocks/pings anytime I accelerate under boost

 

Thumber, Sounds like a sensor problem. Ignition timing is off.

 

I am having the same issue as everyone else. Car started pinging here and there I wasn't absolutely sure then one day it started to misfire and momentarily lose all power...Took it to the dealer and the chalked it up to owner error by not using top tier gas. And they were charging $470 and they even had the B@lls to say that this overnight carbon removal process may not even work. I asked will i get a refund if my car still pings? Answer, NO. What kind of BS is that... On my fourth bottle of techron and no major misfires recently, but still pinging... Haven't tried the seafoam yet. Kinda reluctant but will probably try.

 

I have the BSH boost tap and catch can coming next week. Car has 3K miles on it and I want to avoid this coking issue at all costs.

 

Thumper MCS, I am in the same boat! My 08 MCS was just dropped off this morning for the 3rd time! I have had a rough idle issue that has been diagnosed twice with two different causes:

The first time I was told was due to carbon build up at 23k miles and the dealer tried blaming it on bad gas(load of *%^$ after reading all the other posts on this issue). The second time I was told was the vaccuum leak and was "repaired". The rough idle is back again and I have taken it in and told them to be sure to check for carbon build up and possible fuel pump problems.

If they can't fix it this time, I may have to return the car under the lemon law. At a red light, the car shutters so much I feel like it might stall and it hesitates sometimes when i accellerate. My car has also been in the shop for a bad gear shift assembly and a msyerious rattle from the rear hatch area. I love my Mini but I'm starting to fear life with a Mini after Warranty (I'm at 38k miles)

 

An 08 probably no longer qualifies for lemon law status in many states. Usually a lemon law covers problems in the first year or 18 months. Also you will need a lawyer, Mini is not just going to roll over when you demand they buy back the car. The states with good lemon laws provide for lawyers fees, so it will not cost you anything and there are lots of lawyers who are eager to evaluate your case for free and take it if there is a valid case. Just Google lemon law and your state name to learn more and probably find a zillion ads for lemon law attorneys.

 

Seafoamed the mcs after the first application a world of a difference car drove with the same urgency as previous. Did it twice more to see if it would be be even better but only accomplished an engine light coming on:(

Overall highly recommened for all Mini owners just don't step on the gas too much on restart