My wife has an 09 Clubman S with 28K miles. The check engine light came on today. I took it to a local auto parts store where they hooked up a scan tool to the OBD port. It said there were no codes.

The car seems to be running just fine. I rarely drive it, so it's hard for me to tell if anything sounds different. My wife says it sounds the same. The oil is full, the coolant looks fine. After reading all the threads about the timing chain, I lifted the hood with it running to listen. I can hear a slight ticking from the passenger side of the engine, but haven't done that before so I don't have anything to compare the sound to.

The auto-parts-store-guy suggested the problem hasn't fully manifested itself and the code may still be "pending." I don't know of anyone nearby who works on Minis. The nearest dealer is an hour away so I don't want to make that run unless I have to. Maybe I should just wait a week and go back to the store to check for codes again.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the issue?

 

I didn't think a pending code would turn on the CEL.

 

Try to clear it, see if it comes back?

 

Their scan tool can't read the code, this is an issue with some universal scan tools.

If the CEL is on, there IS a code stored in memory.

 

I had a code once that autozone 's reader couldnt see, but a $20 bluetooth reader and a free smart phone APP did. Make some calls, see if you can find another shop that will check it free or ask your local, fellow miniacs if anyone has their own scanner. If its running fine, be gentle on it until ya figure it out.

 

i had the same problem when my post-cat lambda sensor died. it lit cel, but i couldn't find any codes in my obc's secret menu nor uni scan tool. dealer said what was the problem; maybe it helps.

 

Thanks for the replies. I assumed that there would have to be a code or the cel wouldn't be lit. I'll try to find somewhere else local who can read it.

 

There is a code, 100%. What you have to understand is that BMW uses proprietry codes, and many are not read by generic code readers. Generic readers will read some codes, but not all.

There are very few code readers that will read all of the BMW proprietry codes. Autologic, bavarian technic and autoenginuity are good, provided they have the latest BMW/Mini updates.

Either go to your dealer and they can read the code, or try and find a mechanic with one of the above, autologic probably being the best.

 

Stopped by Advanced Auto Parts today to see if they could read the code. The guy told me ahead of time that he often can't read Mini codes though. But, we were in luck and he was able to read that a code P129E was thrown twice. Searching NAM brought up this:

* MINI DTC P129E (0x2B74) - Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Minimum Pressure Implausible

I'm guessing that's a bad sensor. Is that something I could easily change or do you recommend going to the dealer?

Also, just to double-check... This isn't something that's going to leave my wife stranded on the road somewhere is it? I want to make sure she can still drive the car until we can get it fixed. We have another car if necessary.

 

Spoke to the dealer service department. Apparently they have had a ton of cars coming in with CELs lit in the extreme cold. Most are due to not using premium fuel. We only use top-tier Shell premium in the Mini, so that isn't it. The other is cracked manifolds which she said are about $700.

Since ours isn't running rough, I'm hoping it's not a manifold. I've read the thread about Mini changing the intake manifold design mid-way through the 2009 production run because of freezing and cracking. I mentioned that since it is a design flaw it should be covered for free. She said no, but I could call MINIUSA to try to work it out with them if need be.

 

Any word on this? My wife's 10 clubman s has the same issue, a cel with no detected doc, tried two different code readers

I walnut blasted the intake valves because it was running pretty crappy (surging/stumbling) which that part seems to be fixed as it is now running fine, but the cel remains

 

For me it ended up just being the extreme cold weather. A few days later and everything was fine.

 

Was either of those code readers at the dealer, or a BMW/MINI specialist? Some readers are better than others...

 

AutoZone is where they couldn't get a code at all. Advanced Auto Parts was able to see the P-code.

 

I've been getting the yellow car on lift about once a week , ever since the dealership updates the service monitor system ( or whatever it's called ) . And I checked using a BMS Can Tool and NO codes are set and nothing shows due so they have a bug in their latest update.

 

For me advance and oreillys could not read anything, took it buy a autozone just to see and the scanner showed to codes pending

P197D - MAP Maximum implausible
P1497 - downstream throttle air leak

anyway these are related?.. bad MAP sensor?

When I cleaned the intake valves I did fire up engine accidentally without the intake snugged down, however the CEL was on before that anyway, and has not cleared itself since

 

Mine is doing same thing. Haven't even had it a week yet. 2012 countryman. Took it to Autozone no codes. This morning to it to BMW and the service guy hooked it scanned it and no code for them either. Even Took my key in and scanned it amd still no codes. He is just as confused as I am. Talked to a Mini only service and he said it could be a simple as gas cap. Looking for help on this. Tomorrow will be a week and I absolutely love my mini, but really.. not even a week yet.