Hi All --
Help! My new 2010 Mini Cooper with 1,100 has been in the shop 2x, once with a tow. Each time I had cold start and rough engine noise. Check engine light came on the first time. The dealer said it was a bad servo motor. A week later the car died on the drive home--needed to be towed. Check engine light came on as well as the oil light. I also had no power. Dealer said the vacume pump failed and the timing belt flew off, engine toast.

They are in the process of replacing the engine with a refurbished engine. Mini USA has offered an extended warrenty on oil changes which seems pretty weak to me.

My questions: Should I insist on a new engine not a 2nd hand one? Should I dump the car? Demand a new one/refund? What sort of extened warrenty is appropriate?

The dealer had been okay but the Mini USA rep has not been very helpful.

At this point the dealer has had the car three weeks-Estimate is that I should get the car back next week. Right now I'm not sure i want it back. I was in love but I'm falling out of love very quickly.

 

By "refurbished engine", what do they mean? If it means a completely overhauled, like new, engine, With new rings, bearings, valves, etc and a fifty thousand mile warranty, then that wouldn't be bad.

If it is a freshened up used engine, with just more oil changes, then no.

Dave

 

Your engine was new , they should replace it with new .

 

From what I can tell refurbished means it has been taken down cleaned etc and then installed in the car.

Mini USA also offered an extended maintenance warrenty for two years beyond the 4yr 50k but it's not for parts just oil changes and the like--it seemed like a lame offer to me given how new the car is.

Thoughts?

eg