I would agree with 2minis The spot I have seen most of the leaks coming from is the seal half way up the coolant expansion tank. The coolant slowly leaks out and onto the heat shield below. Check the heat shield and see if there is a greenish white residue. If so, it's the coolant expansion tank that needs to be replaced. I haven't heard of the oil cooler being connected to this problem.

 

I can't believe the dealer said, "Don't worry about it..."
That dealer knows of 2, I have seen 2...starting adding
and it is a lot of cars...and MINIUSA has no answer yet. :evil:

 

Mine seems to be leaking at the tank, and the water pump.

Even though it seems obvious to me that the tank is leaking, the service department says it was just the hose connection. Why do I feel that I will need to visit the service department again after I get my car back?

 

>>Mine seems to be leaking at the tank, and the water pump.
>>
>>Even though it seems obvious to me that the tank is leaking, the service department says it was just the hose connection. Why do I feel that I will need to visit the service department again after I get my car back?
>>
You know, you'd think MiniUSA could answer that one. They have
been disappointing on this issue. :evil:

 

>>You know, you'd think MiniUSA could answer that one. They have
>>been disappointing on this issue. :evil:
>>

I have been reading up on this on all the boards the last two days. There are A LOT of people going through this. A lot of people have had more than one fix too. So I have to agree with you, some answers would be nice.

 

I have written to MINI USA demanding some help on this issue mentioning that many owners here are having the same problem/issue with no REAL fix and different fixes from different dealers. Let's please all drop and emal through MINIUSA.com and put some pressure on them.

 

I spoke with them on the phone 2 days ago..."Oh no, I haven't heard anything about that."

 

>>I spoke with them on the phone 2 days ago..."Oh no, I haven't heard anything about that."

That is a good one!

 

Mine looks like weak tea after about 3500 miles. No drips on the shield though.

 

No email response today. Any other time I've emailed , I get a fast response. Even on a Sunday.

Keep those emails and calls going. :evil:

 

The coolant in my MCS also looks a bit like weak tea. Got 6,000 miles on it. No leaks that I can detect. No change yet in my wife's MC, but we only have 600 miles on her's. Can't wait to see what MINIUSA does about this one. I've not been very impressed with them with other issues I've had. Hate to think about yet another trip to the dealer who is 30 miles away.

 

>>No email response today. Any other time I've emailed , I get a fast response. Even on a Sunday.
>>
>>Keep those emails and calls going. :evil:

Ditto. :???:

 

I sent in a comment to MINI to see what they had to say about this issue and here is their reply:

We have heard from a small number of customers who have been experiencing change with the coolant color and concern over the overflow tanks. We have already "flagged" these contacts so that it may be reviewed by our engineering department for consideration. We rely on feedback, such as yours, regarding the MINI passenger car and what you like, dislike, would like to see in the future or problems that members of the "MINI Nation" of motorists might be experiencing.

Please rest assured that there is nothing special that you need to do at this time other than take delivery of your MINI when it arrives. Please stay in touch with the service department at your authorized MINI Dealer for future updates in the future.

Not sure if anyone has already seen this, or has gotten the same reply, but at least they know about it and claim they are looking into it. We can only hope this is true.

 

MINI2 Coolant Poll

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=18659

Chime in!

 

>>I sent in a comment to MINI to see what they had to say about this issue and here is their reply:
>>
>>We have heard from a small number of customers who have been experiencing change with the coolant color and concern over the overflow tanks. We have already "flagged" these contacts so that it may be reviewed by our engineering department for consideration. We rely on feedback, such as yours, regarding the MINI passenger car and what you like, dislike, would like to see in the future or problems that members of the "MINI Nation" of motorists might be experiencing.
>>
>>Please rest assured that there is nothing special that you need to do at this time other than take delivery of your MINI when it arrives. Please stay in touch with the service department at your authorized MINI Dealer for future updates in the future.
>>
>>Not sure if anyone has already seen this, or has gotten the same reply, but at least they know about it and claim they are looking into it. We can only hope this is true.

I heard from the same android...same message..and since my coolant tank
is also leaking I am not 'resting assured.' :???:
BTW miniusa....53%of S respondents leaking...so far.

 

Just wondering if anyone got any updates from MINIUSA?

 

I won't get the chance to check color and leak until tomorrow (parking in the city, sigh), but since this seems to be the most prevalent and potentially defect-like issue in the S, could owners please list year and build dates (and milage) as a default when signing problem posts? Reviewing the MINI2 thread, the times build were mentioned, they seemed to be primarily 02 model year (a lot in July). That the design wasn't changed means that it probably has the chance to affect us all equally, but they may have made manufacturing but not design adjustments for the model year switch.

I'm checking anyway, but more specificity would probably help those with the problem aggregate a pattern which might get the attention of MINI (i.e., all July builds have coolant color change problems while susbsequent periods do not, so all July builds should get serviced, etc.)

Thanks

Sept/Oct build (have to check door) S, TN58###, 2050mi

 

My boyfriend works on cars. He says the color change of the coolant is totally normal depending on what kind it is.

 

Color change in this short of time frame is NOT normal - it is a sign of contamination or breakdown of something inside the engine. I spoke with Mini yesterday and there seems to be a bad batch of coolant that was used from end ofJune through July in Oxford (this was an estimated timeframe) - they have a pink slip out on the issue and most Mini places may be updated in th enear future about this issue.

I also will state that my coolant has changed colors and we ran some glycol strip tests on the coolant for Freezepoint/boil point and it was normal. But there is some kind of comtamination in the coolant and over time this is NOT a good thing.

Stay tuned....

-Peter/RSpeed

 

>>My boyfriend works on cars. He says the color change of the coolant is totally normal depending on what kind it is.

Yeah. But I saw the answer he got wrong on Trivial Pursuit.....

 

so if the dealer flushed the coolant and installed new coolant, would this solve the problem? sounds like it would, so why haven't they done this yet?

 

Well, you would think so - but I have yet to do this with my Mini. We have done normal flushes when the coolant is old on BMW's, Mazdas, and VW's - and again, coolant (when contaminated) should be flushed - but it is best to wait and see what Mini says since they are the ones paying the bill should this be a bigger issue.

 

>>Well, you would think so - but I have yet to do this with my Mini. We have done normal flushes when the coolant is old on BMW's, Mazdas, and VW's - and again, coolant (when contaminated) should be flushed - but it is best to wait and see what Mini says since they are the ones paying the bill should this be a bigger issue.

Just what I don't want....bigger issues. I worry about it gunking up the H2) pump!!!
:evil:

 

>>Color change in this short of time frame is NOT normal - it is a sign of contamination or breakdown of something inside the engine. I spoke with Mini yesterday and there seems to be a bad batch of coolant that was used from end ofJune through July in Oxford (this was an estimated timeframe) - they have a pink slip out on the issue and most Mini places may be updated in th enear future about this issue.
>>
>>I also will state that my coolant has changed colors and we ran some glycol strip tests on the coolant for Freezepoint/boil point and it was normal. But there is some kind of comtamination in the coolant and over time this is NOT a good thing.
>>

I was just stating what I know about G12 coolant that they use in VW's that does change color over time.....it was only a SUGGESTION. My coolant is fine, so I have nothing to compare it to.


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I sent a message to the service rep over at my dealer yesterday. He emailed me back today saying that "BMW engineers are working on the situation and are aware of the problem. A solution is to be found soon. Problem cases are being reported with other Cooper'S' owners as well."
I'm also low on coolant over the past month. It started out between the MAX and MIN level, and now is at the MIN level, when totally cooled. No apparent leaks that I can spot. But that doesn't mean there isn't one. Will have to check further into it.
Anyone know what kind of coolant is required for the Cooper'S'? I want to flush the whole thing and put some fresh stuff in despite what the dealer says. He said not to worry, but I can't help but to. I'll do it at my cost, I don't care. I just had it with waiting and worrying about it. I can't find what is recommended to use for coolant in the manauls.
Cheers,