Greetings all! Okay so I am a little sad with my 05 Mini Cooper S convertible. Last year, at appx 25K miles my power steering pump went bad. Because I figured I would keep the car awhile, I bought the extended maintenance plan to cover to 100K miles.
Well, the car just hit 40K and I realized that I no longer had reverse lights. Took it to the shop, it was a failed switch, and then they discovered that I have a rear main seal leak. There was oil showing in two places under the car. Now I'm scared. The car runs out of warranty at the end of March. Had the reverse lights not failed, it would have been later this year before it was due for maintenance again, so I would most likely have been footing the bill for this one.
I have had all maintenance done at the dealership and as stated before, have maintenance to 100k. Givevn the problems I have had, should I expect to have more and get an extended warranty if it is offered? Or should I just get rid of the car altogether? I know I CANNOT afford multiple K's in repair charges every few months. I have read other threads that have said after the rear main seal goes, it goes again, and other problems surface.
I love this car...what do you guys think?

 

All cars have problems as for the rear main have not heard that one to often. Why would your warranty run out at the end of March if you have it to 100K? If you have it fixed have them ck for oil on the clutch

 

Thank you for your input.
The warranty is totally separate from maintenance. Maintenance is brakes, hoses, service, etc.
I love my Mini. I think I am just gonna stick it out and cross my fingers and hope for no more major problems. It just seems like a lot of probs for not that many miles and almost all of them being highway miles.

 

Rear main seals do leak on these cars from time to time, make sure they are not misdiagnosing this leak for the oil pan gasket, they can be confused, and if the rear main is leaking, I would just keep an eye on your oil every few weeks, they don't tend to leak out very fast.

 

Very upsetting news indeed. Sounds like you are a first time German car owner like myself. I have been very disappointed in this car almost from the get go. Unfortunately the car is soo much fun to drive and I really have found a fondness towards these cars in general speaking, I really dont see myself getting rid of my car in the future. That is why I am going to be purchasing a service contract for my car towards the end of this year when my warranty expires in September. I have ZERO confidence in this car and refuse to pay inflated priced BMW parts and BMW $125/hr labor rates when I drive a $20,000 economy car!!!!!! Good luck with your car and hope you get a contract so you can continue owning your car and continue having fun with it.

Steve

 

Make sure you get the contract before your warranty expires, it'll save you a couple hundred bucks.