My 2008 Clubman S just failed to start out of the blue a few weeks back after my wife went out early one Saturday morning. She came back out to the car, tried to crank it and it wouldn't turn over. We had heard the "death rattle" a couple of times for a few seconds at start up for a few days preceding, but had not had time to get it to the dealer.

So, anyway, being that it has just over 70,000 miles and I didn't have the money to have it fixed right away, I just had it towed home and parked it. After seeing the thread about a possible recall on the timing chain, I contacted the local dealer and the service guy told me I could bring it in for them to check it out. But, he also said to check and make sure the oil level was at the top.

I just went out and checked the oil and got nothing at all on the dipstick. I know these things are notoriously hard to read, but I cleaned it, re-inserted it and it came out just as clean. I opened the filler cap and can't really tell anything from the top. Does the R56 have some sort of shut-off that would not allow the car to start if it is significantly low on oil? Would it be worth a shot to put a few quarts in and try to crank it? The last oil change was approximately four months prior and less than 5,000 miles. Could it have burned that much oil in that time? Never had that problem previously.

 

Mini says oil burn is considered ok at a rate of 1 quart per 800 miles or so....
1000-1500 per quart is common.....and more than a quart low is pretty bad....guessing if you cannot see the level on the dipstick, you are 2+ low....maybe more if the car sat a long time, and the oil collected in the sump....
So you MIGHT be ok.....
And no....the mini does not KNOW if thr oil level is low...
It will run till it fails when low on oil....the red oil psi light will indicate the sump is sucking air....then a bit later...its all over.

 

Thanks. Never got any warning lights at all. Just failed to start.

 

By the time a light comes on it is too late, you would have about a quart or less in the motor by then.

 

Add a quart and check the level... If it shows on the stick, the damage should not be oil driven. The engine ought to be able to run 1.5 quarts below the full mark. Any more and you are inviting catastrophic failure. Not guaranteeing, but certainly inviting disaster, and the way they can quite suddenly start gulping oil can be a deadly combo for many drivers who may forget to check the oil OFTEN.

Sorry to rant. Good luck...
E

 

FYI, start checking your oil regularly. No car is maintenance free.