I went out to start my 2008 Mini Cooper this morning and was greeted by a multitude of Failure Lights and weird problems. It started just fine, but the fuel indicator light (gas pump) came on...indicator looked like the car was empty..but I know it has gas. Then the low tire, the ABS, the Service Vehicle (car on a jack), and the suspension control system failure light all took turns lighting up. I drove the car around the block...and the turn signal indicators wouldn't turn off when I straightened the wheel after turning a corner. The car will not lock with the remote - and I can't get the hatchback open. The speedometer and odometer quit working too.

Major melt down...but the turn signals work, the headlights work, the car runs fine, and the tires are full of air. I've got an appointment at the dealer for 7:30 on Monday morning...just curious if anyone has had a similar experience. I have 42,000 miles on this one. It's my 3rd mini (all purchased new)...never had a bit of trouble with the last two (2002 and 2005). Hope this is something minor...loose plug? Blown fuse?

I received a notice in June regarding a potential problem with the 2008 vapor recovery diagnostic pumps on "certain 2008 Mini's"...but don't know if that could be causing all the errors that are popping up in my systems.

Any advice would be most welcome...

 

I had a similar problem last week. Really weird - the Mini rotated through all the warning lights, and even turned on the radio by itself. It's been at the dealers for a week and a half now. I'm not convinced they even know what the problem is. I should get it back on Monday, so we'll see.

 

How many miles do you have on yours? Also, any idea how I can get my hatch open? I have the privacy cover installed and can't reach between it and the back of the seats to get to the seat latches! I climbed in the back seat and was going to pull one of the seats forward..but no way to do that. There is no key entry to allow you to manually open the hatch from the outside, so without the remote...just can't get in! I tried my spare key...so I know it's not the key. If I have a flat tire, I'd be SOL.

 

45,000, 2008 Cooper Hatchback. Don't know if my hatchback was affected or not. The dealer originally thought it was the radio (?). Water was found on the floor, so then they decided it was a problem with seals.

They gave me a new Countryman as a loaner, so they can keep it as long as they want as far as I'm concerned.

 

I keep mine in the garage...unless I'm at work. Haven't seen any water inside it. I live in Charleston, SC ...it's been pretty dry here.

 

Keep mine in the garage as well. And I live in Nevada - we don't even remember what rain looks like.

 

Since both of our mini's are past the 36,000 mile warrenty period...will we have to pay for any repairs..??? or are we stilll covered on factory defects?

 

I got talked into getting the extended warranty. Seems like a good deal now. The labor costs must be huge. I don't think the seals the dealer is replacing are easy to get to.

 

Got the results back from the mini dealer this afternoon. I had a loose nut on a bonding "cluster". One would think they would use safety wire to hold a nut on that was critical to the functions of all your emergency equipment lights and door remote! In any case, it's fixed. Still covered by the 4 year/50,000 mile warranty...so all I have to pay for is my $110 oil change Hope your seal problem turns out okay.

 

My gauges are all freaking out.. Weird thing is that it only happens when it rains. The mini dealership sait i had to replace the entire. Custer? I told them to suck on it... They wanted to charge me 1000 bucks.. Maybe mine is that nut too. Do u know where the nut is? Or the name of it so i can find a diagram? U'll be my hero if u can help me out... Thanks!

 

The nut that holds a cluster of brown wires is attached to the fwd L/H wheel well. I couldn't see it when the tech tried to point it out - because the engine blocked the view. I don't know if it is easier to see from under the car...??? But just look for a bunch of small brown coated wires that all terminate to the same location - fwd l/h ww. It was amazing how many functions were affected by one loose nut.