>>>They installed a new fan assembly, and assured me that the newer models were better protected. Can anyone vouch for this?<<<

The new ones are supposed to have some kind of build on protection cover. I haven't seen one personally though.

 

here's my power steering fan cover to protect any debris from going in there and locking it up. i have a 2003.

 

Question about overheating MINIs: Does the overheat problem occur evenly between both MC and MCS models, or are the MCS's more prone to overheating than the non-supercharged MINIs? Reading through the posts in this thread, not many have posted which model MINI they own, so I was just wondering...

I have a 2003 MINI (May 2003 build date), and at my first 10K service, they did something to the fan relay...some sort of recall, but I think the dealer called it an "enhancement". But they didn't add a fan shroud...it's still wide open to accept any debris...which worries me...especially since it seems so easy for plastic bags to get sucked into the fan. Anyway, what would happen now that the Power Steering fan is seperate circuit from the radiator fan...if the PS fan got clogged and stopped, the fuse would blow and the car wouldn't overheat, it would "just" lose power steering?? correct?

-boognish.

 

I didn't lose power steering at any point. In fact, the only thing that I noticed awry was that the A/C was cutting in and out. The temp guage didn't move over halfway up at all, and the car didn't seem to run hot.

 

Well the dealer has now had my MINI for a full week. It took them from Thursday last week until Monday to figure out that the fans are on the same circuit and they needed to get a new relay in to fix the problem. The relay came in on yesterday (Wed.) and they called me to say it would probably be Friday before it was ready because the relay was more work than they originally thought.
Now I dont know....I would have thought that they would know how long it would take.

Boognish - mine is a 02 MINI Built 8/02
While it is a good thing that I have a loaner MINI (as opposed to the loaner Hyundai that they usually give out) I really just want MY car back.

 

A full WEEK?!!? That seems... well, a long freakin' time to have the car! I took mine in, and they diagnosed and fixed the problem in about 5 hours. I dropped it off in the morning, and picked it up after work. Seeing that this is what seems to be a very common problem, you'd think they'd be able to identify it rather quickly. Good luck!

 

Well it just happened again last night whie my wife was driving home. This is the second time, I hope the dealer gets it right this time...

 

Ok Start Rant - Dealer never bothered to called me today so I had my husband call them...Maybe it will be done MONDAY!!! Can installing a relay be that difficult. This just seems to me that this is getting out of hand. I'm trying to be reasonable, but how is it that one dealer can have a car out in 5 hours but another has to have the car for 12 days? ok Rant over -
So am I being unreasonable?
Sue

 

That is absurd. This happened to my car a few weeks ago...I had MINI Roadside tow it to MINI of Peabody at 7am. I dropped it off because I had to get to work. They called at about 4 or 5pm saying the car was done. They put the new fan on, replaced the fuse, and installed a thermometer I think. This in one day from the largest MINI dealer in the country.

It's a common problem, should be a common fix.

 

A week is too long, I had our MINI towed friday morning to the dealership. Got the call from the service advisor around 11AM was told they have an updated kit to replace the original fix for the overheat and that it would done today or tues.

Tom

 

Just got a call from my dealer. It is finally ready !! I called 866-ask-MINI this morning and told them what the dealer had said about the directions being unclear, they were going to call the dealership to see what they could do as there is a tech hotline for the dealers if they are having a problem.

I'm just happy to be getting it back.
Thanks everyone
Sue

 

I was in Manhattan today and the car started to overheat. I had MINI roadside assistance tow me to Prestige MINI (where I am now). They are going to fix it on the spot. I think they mentioned the power steering fan. They also said they get quite a few of these a week.

 

My 03 April built MC has the separate circiuts.
Found that out today having my first inspection done.
Not sure about the cover.Will get under the car and have a look.