I totally agree with your last sentence. That's what happened when I almost picked up a 2010 MCS last month. I kept telling the MA about all the problems I've been reading about, particularly the hot start issue (which still doesn't make ANY sense to me) and she just insisted that the problem was dealt with in these recently built 2010's. Came back from our test drive and what do you know? The car stalled four times before finally starting with me giving it some gas. I really hope the 2011's don't have these same issues. But I guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

What are the symptoms, i havent had any yet, a few times it wont start because i dont fully press the button but hit it again and im good.

 

Big...basically some MCS owners have been experiencing problems starting their cars up again after driving. When you press the button, the engine fires up but then sputters a bit and ultimately stalls. This process then repeats itself from anywhere to 2-4 (sometimes more) before the engine starts up again. Sometimes you have to give it a little gas to keep it going. Hopefully this isn't a problem with yours and will never be but for some unlucky folks, it happened literally as soon as they drove off the lot. I'm glad the MCS I test drove stalled right on the spot. The look on the MA's face was priceless. Plus it made me wait for the 2011 which is what I really wanted anyway.

 

I don't get it. Has the Push to Start button made us more lazy and raised our expectations that cars need to behave more like computers?

If the car stalls with the AC on, then turn it off. We all know the AC is a power drain on our little motors. If the car needs a bit of gas to keep it going, then add a bit of gas.

I've got a 22 year old Toyota MR2 that stalls on hot days when I go in reverse and am turning the steering wheel sharply. Old cars/new cars have quirks.

Reading about some of the complaints of MINIs these day from AC compressors making more noise than what is expected of them, to stalling engines because the AC is on and therefore is a manufacturing defect?

Maybe some of those dealers can't relate to your problems because they accept that cars are complex mechanical devices that still need human input to keep them running.

 

You're not seriously comparing a 22 year old car against a brand new car off the dealer's lot, are you? I had a Z06 with a huge cam in it, and sometimes on hot starts I had to give it gas to keep it running. That's understandable since it's modded and you pay to play. But on a brand new stock car? C'mon, give me a break.

 

Haha of course! I got the best of both worlds. A 22 year old car and a 2010 Clubman S that both have some troubling idling under load. Both have tiny 1.6L engines too. Same solution..give it some gas and it recovers. Just one car cost me $3,000 and other other cost me $42,000...

When I had a 2003 MC, the A/C was the single worst thing you could do when trying to drive spiritedly...so I drove with it off...or atleast I didn't use it until I got going fast enough that it wasn't going to be an issue at lower speeds. I don't see much different with my 2010 Clubman S.

 

This has nothing to do with A/C, as the problem occured with it off.
Adding a bit of gas to keep it running upon a hot start was unacceptable to me(this car is not a cheap one & was brand new when I picked it up).

 

i've been reading this thread, pretty interesting... but i have a question for you guy's, i've seen it's all been through s and are automatics... has anybody seen these problems happening to a regular cooper automatic...

this car has me lil stumped and wondering if anybody had any issues like this on a base model...

 

let me put it this way Will@ABF: if someone asked me if I would recc the MINI, I would say yes to the base model, and no to the S. For one thing, the base model is less complicated, fewer reported engine problems, does not have the Direct Injection bugaboo, nor does it suffer from the mechanical maladies of the S's engine and DI, ie the tensioner issue, the coking and carbon buildups, and the hpfp hiccuping all the time.

Five years ago, it wouldve been the other way around, the base model was the dud, and the S was the stud. my how times have changed, eh bud?

 

Yeah, but the "S" goes like snot! And for me, that's what it's about! I can take care of any "mechanical maladies" myself.

Dave

 

yea true that sequence... but this one base model that has came recently to me, and multiple people stump, 4 dealers stump... and I never had a issue like this ever happening to a base model cooper... i'm ready to put this car into the dumpster... but you are right, the base model is a lot simple setup of a vehicle, but this one is just gone crazy...

 

Hi all -

We picked our 2010 Mini Cooper Clubman S up on June 1, 2010, and within a week, it was stalling randomly at start-up. One day it was fine, next, 4-5 stalls. Air conditioner on or off, cold or warm start, pain in the bootie.

I took it in immediately, and they kept it for 3 days and told me there was no error code and they couldn't replicate the issue. I picked the car up, it stalled about an hour later, and stalled 10 times over the weekend, which I did video tape on my iphone.

I took the car back. Our service manager (Tom Bush Mini - Jacksonville) is, frankly, condescending, a jerk, and always tries to blame the customer for any issues - and immediately acted like I somehow sabotaged my brand-new car because I just LOVE driving 45 minutes to the dealer for service. He also acted like it was my fault for putting in bad gas (I informed him that I only use premium from Shell or BP) - and then I pointed out, "It happened 2 days after I picked up the car, so if it was bad gas, it would be the gas YOU put in. Where did YOU fill it up?" Jerk. (And Sabotage - yes, it was the gas the dealer put in, and yes, totally ironic!!! LOL)

They put in a new fuel pump and I took it home. It stalled 3 times the next day. I took it back.

ANYway, they ended up keeping the car for a total of 18 days in our first month of ownership, but FINALLY it stalled on them (NO CODE). They ended up getting a Mini Engineer involved, and he wiped all the software off the car and uploaded an updated version of the software, and now it is fixed.

Apparently, there is an error in the software that was loaded by Mini - and there is now an updated version that needs to be put on the car.

Ironically, when I went to pick up my car the service guy told me that there were now THREE brand-new cars that were just came in with the same stalling issue.

Mini really needs to step up and send out a letter letting people know that this is a known issue and a known solution. It is ridiculous.

Hope this helps someone out there!

Tara

 

1. When I told the service manager that I had been on the North American Motoring boards and had seen that some people had a faulty fuel pump, he immediately cut me off, sniveling at me with, "Oh, you can't believe what is on the internet! They couldn't possibly have the solution." Hmmm...he wasn't solving the issue and he didn't even want to consider what others said the solution was? Ironically, his service people ended up changing out the fuel pump. (Didn't help, but they did.)

2. For those that think it is a "give it more gas" issue, I can assure you, it is not. I love to drive, and believe me when I tell you, I rev that engine on start up. It is NOT a matter of giving more gas.

3. They also told me that I "just wasn't used to a Mini" - which was hilarious, seeing that I had just turned in my '07 Cooper S, and was fully aware - and in love with - my Mini.

I am very upset with the fact that it seems that Mini is just not addressing this issue at all. Again, you need to have the computer wiped and the new software reloaded, which is the solution, but it is annoying that ALL Mini dealers seem to be trying to act like they have NO idea what this poor, addled, Mini driver is talking about. Putting their heads in the sand is really not working for them, and, while I have 100% been a Mini girl and have sold at least 10 of them that I know of, their response - or lack of it - is so annoying to me that I am hesitant to recommend them to others now.

The sale should not end at the sale - it is only the beginning. If they want repeat customers, they need to start treating people with respect, not condescention.

 

First off, sorry you had the same issue a lot of us on here have/had. Its really frustrating & disappointing to have a new car with problems. I know I was!
Unfortunately, it sounds like you had a dealership service department that didn't handle the problem correctly. There's no excuse for being rude or un-professional. And to keep your car for 18 days.
But, I have to say that not ALL MINI dealerships are like the one you were at. I went back to where I got my car (north of Detroit, Michigan) & they were fantastic. They were very professional & honest(they told me when I dropped the car off they had multiple MINIs in for the same reason). I had my car back the next day after re-programming & it's been great since. So I don't think you can really say ALL MINI dealers are acting like they don't know anything.
Glad you got the problem fixed! Hope you have a better service experience next time(wherever you go)

 

Tiny, since you got your car back, does the idle dip at all on a warm start?

 

On occasion it will drop a bit, but it goes back quick & stays. Hasn't threatened to stall at all or caused me to take a closer look.

 

Good to hear!

 

How's yours holding up?

 

I think she's ok. Once in a while her idle will dip lower then what makes me comfortable. But for the most part, she's ok. I was at a rally today and I tested her out in the middle of it. Good clean start with only minimal dip. So I'm pretty sure at this point she'll be ok.

 

Good stuff!

 

Hi Tiny -

You are totally right. I should not blame all Mini dealers - there are clearly ones out there that are doing the right thing for their customers. I have little hope that my dealership service department will be any better anytime in the future - I have been dealing with the same kinds of issues with them since '07 when I purchased my first Mini. It comes from the service manager whose first instinct is to blame the customer for all issues (I have several friends who have also purchased Minis and have had the exact same issues with him). I have worked in the service/sales industry for many years, and I am stunned that they still keep him there. All I can think is that they allow him to act that way to save money over things they really should cover - after all, few owners are probably as will as I am to fight the good fight on things, and likely get so tired of the issue that they just pay whatever to make it stop. I don't know - it's just a theory, but there it is.

Anyway, yes - most Mini dealers are likely doing the right thing, but I do still think that Mini Cooper as a company should send out a letter to all Mini owners letting us know that the stall is a known issue with a known solution. It seems inconsiderate at best to leave a lot of Mini owners frustrated with a stalling issue when it is known and could be solved.

Just my two cents on it...I truly love Minis and frankly wouldn't consider another car at this point, but I don't like the way this is being handled at all. Mini prides itself on fostering a level of loyalty and a feeling of community, and so, they need to be letting the community know when there is an issue. It should not just be an advertising focus - but rather a mission of the company.

Hope you are having a terrific day - ) Tara

 

LOL - I have a habit of making my smiley faces with a : o ) which ends up creating an emoticon that looks different than I intend.

So, here is the right one -