This is my first time posting. I have an 07MCS I bought used at 23K miles alittle over 3 yrs ago. It has 53k miles now. So far the timing sensor has gone (under warranty). Put new tires on it and a tire sensor went. Valet parked on Fourth of July and when the valet returned it to me the clutch was smoking and burned up on my drive home. I am middled aged and don't race or abuse this car. I drive 5 miles round trip to work/home. Is this normal. I thought this car would be fairly reliable. I had a BMW years ago and only had to do normal maintenance. No clutch replacement at such and early stage. Just might have to trade it in. Any thoughts?

 

The TPMS was likely damaged by the tire shop and the clutch was probably burned up by a valet who doesn't know how to drive a manual since hardly anybody has one anymore....The one issue you can actually blame on the car was the timing sensor. The abuse may not have been done by you but it sure sounds to me that of the three issues you listed two are very likely abuse caused by others

 

I think no doubt the valet was doing burn outs in your car. Or, he didn't
know how to drive a manual is a posibility.
I have found that 90 percent of shops break more than they fix. They usually
try to hide it and you find out way down the road. You did not specify what
shop (dealer vs aftermarket) broke your TPMS. Luckily the timing chain was under warranty.
Was your BMW a manual transmission [with a plastic release bearing] or auto?
I had a BMW too before a maniac totaled it (used). I put 40k miles on it
with no problems. I've put 80k miles on my mini with no problems.
Both my BMW and MINI were non turbo with automatic.
I put 218,000 miles on a honda crx before a problem. It was also non turbo, but
with manual transmission.

I think more info is needed before drawing a final conclusion.
There do seem to be more design flaws on the turbo than the non turbo though.
On average, based on reading this forum.

 

Yes, both the BMW and Mini were manual transmissions. The shop who put the tires on was a local owned company who has a good reputation, however, we couldn't prove the busted the TPMS. So the light stays on until it's replaced. I can only go to Mini Dealer in Ft. Myers to have it replaces. Every other shop has no way of identifying which sensor is broke. This is another frustrating issue.

 

I called the condo assoc. spoke with valet super their going to look into it and get back with me it's a long shot.

 

Judging by reports in this forum, a clutch going out by 53K miles in a MINI is not unusual. Others have complained that the MINI clutch has a shorter life than they are used to. That said, the circumstances of your incident seem suspicious.

My previous two cars (Honda and VW) went for over 100K on the original clutch but my MINI's clutch just went out for the 2nd time at 60K. However, we're in a lot of stop-and-go city traffic on hills and my wife is hard on the clutch.

 

Just FYI, I've been a valet in my younger days and most of the guys there had to make sure I drove the manual cars because they had no idea how.

EDIT: just an extra addition, as a former valet I must say never trust a valet with a car that is even remotely fun, especially with a clutch. Actually, just never trust a valet :P

 

I hate the valet process. No, you can't drive my car. It's cases like this where it just adds big unknown. Did you check your mileage when they took it? Bad timing, or a kid playing hot rod (or just ignoramus) in some else's car.

 

lhopkins25: You posted in the correct forum. The three problems you mentioned having over 53k miles doesn't seem out of the ordinary for a MCS. In fact, from what I've read here, that may be a bit lower than average, so I wouldn't consider your car lemony.

condor: Which NC/VA shops are among that 10% that don't break more than they fix?

 

What place in SWFL valeted the car?

 

This is why I don't Valet. From experience I'd say half the people that actually drive a manual trans car don't drive it correctly.