time for BMW to step up to the plate: they've done this before with a couple of their problem-ridden engines, so extend the N/A and turbo Prince engine's warranty to 10 years/120k miles from original in-service date (much like what they did with the S's HPFP) and MAYBE then I'll keep my car around after the 4/50k warranty expires.

Otherwise, I can already hear the clock ticking. tick tock, tick tock.

Agreed. Moral of the story, for now, is report timing chain rattles under warranty to get the timing chain tensioner replaced N-O-W.

So the 2011 engine shouldn't be immune to this failure? :(

I have not heard of any 2011s with this issue.

Sorry to hear this man. But I'm glad they covered everything for you. I just got rid of my MCS with 62K, cause I didn't think it would last for 100K.

I'm wondering...could you shoehorn another engine into the MINI for a cheaper cost??? Just wondering.

what month was your mcs made in 07

Not random. Same happened to me this past weekend and I am ticked. Still under warranty (2007 MCS 49K) but dealer will not cover due to oil starvation...which is BS! Very diligent about my car care. Here is another post on the prior listed blog about a British chap who had it happen and actually met with success:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/dealershi...y-wrangle.html

I'm into the initial stages of contacting mini usa. I'm not hopeful though.

Check engine light on my 08 MCSa -- but still running. The engine outline with the right half of it filled in, which isn't in my book. Got outof the Salt Mines early, so took it into the dealer Friday afternoon (early on Memorial Day weekend) figuring I'd set up an appointment for the following week -- but they said they could get to it Saturday. Left it with them and had my wonderful wife pick me up on her way home.

Got a call Saturday morning that they needed a part, so they'd need the car until Tuesday (Monday a holiday). I asked about a loaner, and they told me to come on in. When I talked to the service advisor as I was getting set up with a car, he said it was under warranty (34k miles), and they had to replace an oil hose and the vacuum pump.

When I did a search and found this thread I got the feeling I may have dodged a big one...

I'll find out Tuesday more of what's going on (and hopefully get my car back).

This is very frustrating. I no longer love my MINI. 2007 S, first the cold start issue in Nov.2010, cost $3500 to fix they goodwilled all but $500.changed the chain tensioner & some other stuff. I have 64K on this vehicle. It's been in the shop 4 times now and it's never a minor fix. This one will be costly since they are telling me it's the vacuum pump. 2 reasons it goes out, one being low on oil. Funny because I just had it changed 9,000 miles ago and they said there was only a qt in there & it was really black. Heard a noise last Mon. called the shop, told me it would be fine to drive until Sat. Unfortunely on Wed. got to a stop sign & it dies and won't start. No warning at all. I've seen on this sight that that is pretty common. I've already called MINI Corp. & they are going to talk to the shop & maybe goodwill some expense but it sounds like the engine is shot, although they haven't told me that yet. Very disappointed. the loaner they gave me is a 2011 MCS and there's night & day difference.

Just curious if you ever got this worked out?

This car makes me have nightmares sometimes, the other day the check engine light went on and went into limp mode. I almost felt like driving it off the road into the concrete wall and calling it a wash. No idea what it was but shut it down checked everything out and it started just fine.

This is scary $h!t.

I've had the chain tensioner, HPFP and water pump replaced under warranty. So far I have not had any issues. My question is, with the chain tensioner and HPFP being replaced help prevent the vacuum pump seizing? Ever since the chain tensioner was replaced, I've never had low oil and I've been changing it every 5K.


Thank you.

Blitzed310-
It got worked out, new engine cost 6,802. Mini would not give any assistance, since it was "owner negligence" as they said. I argued but didn't do any good. Tim from Mini service in Omaha told them I did everything right, and they told me it'd be ok to drive until I got it to the shop on Sat but the engine blew on Wed. It was the vacuum pump that caused all the destruction to the engine. Under warranty now for 2 yrs. Will definitely trade it off before then, don't trust it anymore. Will never have another mini unless it was 2011 or newer. Could only come up with 6,000 so Mini of Omaha was "gracious" enough to let me make payments on the $800. They should have wrote that off for all the headaches, but they said they already gave me a discount. What a deal. 64K and a new engine already because "I" let it run out of oil. Funny because it was fine 2 wks before that. Hope you have good luck with yours now. Sounds like it's still a problem though.

I think my CEL was just a hicup.

Did they show you how it was low on oil? How does one run out of oil, did they show you the CEL code list printout that the car was indicating to you that it was either low or had no oil? If I were you I would keep arguing this until you feel that you have used 6k of your time!

A little more info when mine blew, the shop tech said he saw signs of the filter collapsed which is notice of oil starvation. I called BS on him and asked him for the oil filter, the OBDII print report showing low oil, I said this to him and his manager with my service ticket in hand from the week prior where I took it in for a service and the report said I had another 2500 miles to go before my next oil change. They never showed me anything after that.

Have you argued your case with BMW Good Will, or had a discussion with BMWNA?

In all honesty, if they did the motor for $6800, you got about a $2k discount.

Maybe I did get a discount but someone shouldn't have to put a new motor in a car with 64K

Blitzed310-
They didn't tell me anthing except the engine only had a qt of oil in it. They said the Mini doesn't have a warning light for oil low, only low oil pressure. I sent e-mails and copies of forums like this one to MINI & told them it wasn't just me. Many people were having problems with "the oil being low" after only checking it a few wks before. his response was "well alot can happen in 2 wks you didn't monitor the oil level enough". This engine is known to burn a little oil from what I understand. I talked to the regional customer service team manager & he said once they reach a decision they will not reverse it. The only chance I have is if MINI does a recall. MINIUSA is saying the vacuum pumps go out because of no oil. Period. I fought as hard as I could, don't know what else I could have done.

so what your saying is that the flux capacitor did not have enough fuel in it so it sent you back in time to the old west where you met Marty Mcfly and the DOC? Just get to 88 miles an hour. Wont be hard in a MCS. What am i talking about? the world may never know.....

Dude, shut up.

I keep hearing low oil. Several posters have mentioned that. I have a hard time garnering up any sympathy when the car does not have the proper oil level. I'm trying real hard to but I just keep getting stuck on that one.

Well now this has me a little worried. I just bought my mini a few weeks ago. I took it in not long after buying it because it sounded funny. Noted on the form about the HPFP (starting trouble) and the timing chain. I checked the oil before I brought it in...looked fine. Took it in, SA said it was over half a quart low on oil (WTF?!) and they filled it and said there was no noises they could find. Its getting worse now. I had it at the track not that long ago but I didn't run it hard. Been getting worse everyday it seems like. Now I'm a little worried if I take it in again they will try and tell me it was my fault for being low on oil?!?!

I am sorry for everyone's trouble, and I will be checking my oil daily from now on! Yikes!

I think it is good to check your oil frequently. Daily may be a bit of overkill. I park both of our Mini's in the garage and the garage has a nice clean concrete floor. No oil spots of any kind. Sunday is basically my car check day. I check the concrete floor to ensure no oil or other drips of any type on the floor. If that is clear I then check the oil, coolant level, windshield wiper fluid and clean the windows if necessary. I then check the air pressure in all tires and give the cars a quick once over. If everything is good away we go for the week.

I typically do this in the evening. There are several reason for this. The cars need to be cool and typically in the evening they have been sitting for awhile. This ensures the oil is all dripped into the pan and the tires have had a chance to cool to room temperature. In this way I keep a consistent and correct tire pressure in the tires from week to week.

It's simply a matter of consistent routine.

I thought that oil has to be checked 5 mins after turning off the engine (after it's fully warmed up)?? At least that's what my 2007 MCS's user manual said when talking about checking oil? Or does it not really matter either way?

I don't know to tell you the truth. I have just always done it this way. I don't recall if that is in our 2009 manual or not. From my perspective I'm not sure that it matters. It may though for your car. (Not sure why though.) You can easily adjust for that. Just check it per the manual on the last trip back home on Sunday. Or whatever day you choose to do your home maintenance. The key is to make sure the tires are cool before checking the air and MOST importantly it needs to become a habit.

So my brother was driving the MINI tonight and engine shuts and gives the oil lamp light then exclamation point lamp light. Car losses power. Limped it home and these are the codes I get:
P2D52
P2DCB
P2968
P2982
P2983
No oil splatter anywhere. I open the oil cover and I see a chunk of metal in there (I'll take pictures tomorrow). Car engine is gone for sure just don't know the extent of the damage. Now have to get the car towed to the dealership. I have a feeling that this is going to be a nightmare.

Anyone have insight on these codes? Thanks a lot for the help!