Where to begin? In august I bought a new 2010 mini. On labor day weekend I took it for a road trip up to San Francisco. On my way back to southern California while driving on the freeway going 70 mph my car died (cheated death, no one crashed into me). i waited 2 hours to be towed back to the city, had to stay an extra night and rented a car and drove back. On the following Tuesday I was told the problem was one in a million, a faulty camshaft sensor.

Days later they towed my car to reunite with me (during the towing my front wheels were scratched and scuffed). BTW, this is my second mini. Then 1 week ago, the unthinkable happened. On my way to work the car died once again, had it towed to the dealership and the next day I was told that a bolt had come loose and the camshaft sensor died.

I feel like i have cheated death twice now and i'm afraid to drive the car with or without my children. I do not want to have this car anymore and I would like to exchange for another one that isn't defective. i'm now in touch with mini corporate and they're trying to get me back in my death trap car. Anyone out there have any suggestions for me?

 

Depending on your states lemon laws you may or may not have a case to force them to provide you another car. I am not versed in lemon laws in ANY state NOR am I a lawyer but I know in Texas you have to have a failure more than once or several different ones in a certain amount of time before they have to buy the car back.

 

Boy, another a "bolt has come loose" diagnosis and affected the camshaft sensor. It seems like there's been more of a recent rash of cam gears coming off, mechanics just opening valve covers and immediately knowing the timing chain is loose, etc....starting to smell real suspect now.

BMW's M3 are also being affected, but able to catch it quick and put in the newer and stronger cam gear bolts, same manufacturer that MINI uses? In all the examples of BMW's, it's not the screw that's not being torqued properly, they are wearing out and causing a groove on the threads themselves, due to the vibration and stress.

Ask to see the "loose bolt" and take pics of it if you can, if the service dept. or manager is going to allow it even being taken.

 

OP plz be specific: is yr. car a MC or MCS?

 

Well Glad to see I'm not the only one this has happened to. On my 3rd mini, a 2010 purchased in Mid April and has been trouble free for 11,000 miles. Brought it in to the shop about a week ago to get an emissions light reset ( even though the light went off after a fill up of good gas) and yesterday night while getting on the interstate, I had the exact same thing happen to me. Down shifted and gave it gas and boom, No power and the rpm's just dropped and then died like 3 seconds later. I was able to pull off to the side after a close call with the car behind me and roadside came in less then 30 min for a tow. Got the call today that as you put it " a million to one" issue that the cam sensor broke off and would have to be replaced. Thankfully I am going to pick up a loaner they are providing me since the sensor is on back order till next week but after the Fiasco I had with my 2007 Mini of it being in the shop 40 + times with 5 being the timing chain tensioner, this is VERY un nerving. I'm not going to hesitate this time to pursue lemoning the car out if I have it happen again! And I FINALLY thought BMW Had worked all of the kinks out of the R-56's. I'm hoping this is a one time incident, knock on wood.

 

Nice to know I'm not the only one out there that this has happened to. 2 in a million. Mini corporate turned down my claim a few days ago. My "customer service representative, Marlin" called me and told me the bad news. She said "I understand (no you don't). She said "no there is no one else you can talk to". She said "no you can not get a copy of your claim". And "I'm very sorry, at this time there is nothing else you can do" And here I thought "Mini" would understand the danger I had been in twice in six weeks, silly me. I'm still pursuing this with my dealership. I have not given up. I picked up my mini a week ago and drive very little. They say they fixed it, and it won't break down. But you know what they say "the third time is the charm".....I'm scared to drive it. My 20 year old son, does not want to drive it. Does any one out there have any suggestions? Thanks.