Mini Folks,
I have recently been plagued by difficult starting on my 2008 N12 engine, the straight Cooper. Apparently the S can have this issue too.
I seemed to have fixed it with new plugs, but once we -15ºF it once again had to crank well over 30 seconds and even then it barely fired. I was down to my last cold cranking amps before I got it to catch!

So- on a chance, I wrote my local Mini dealer about it, and got a phone call less than an hour later from their most experienced mechanic, who found my problem familiar, having treated several such cases.

He said that water/moisture builds up in a low area behind the intake manifold. It's moisture from the oil. When it freezes it blocks the intake.

To fix it, one cleans the area out and even can replace the part with a new designed fix that eliminates the catching of the water there. This fix comes to nearly $800, so I might be more interested in a cleaning even though that too is expensive and not easy. I don't know what would have to come off to get at the intake side.

It only affects us who live in very cold, and possibly moist, climate zones. Anyone else recognize the symptoms, and/or had it fixed?

I'm hoping my local garage can get in there and purge the water that may lie trapped in there, or else I may go to this mechanic (250 miles away) and spend more significant Mini Money.

I'm hoping some of you may have some perspective on this water piling up behind the intake manifold. I need to see that in a picture.

 

Any chance of parking in a heated garage overnight?
Might melt the moisture buildup...maybe add a catch can to capture some moisture...
Might need to do it a couple times a winter...and save the $800.
Lived one winter over in *******.....spent a bunch of time in your neck of the woods, since it was the closest "civilization" ...lol.

 

There is a cold weather intake manifold. I haven't replaced mine yet, but I fear I'll have the issue soon. -20 in Michigan, but luckily I didn't have to drive anywhere today.

I heard it can cut power to the car while driving also, seems like a safety issue. I was hoping a class action suit would be in order to replace these under warranty....doubtful though.

Here is the part: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Site...old/ES1875402/

 

I thought the replacement cold weather intake only applied to S models, at least that's what I was told

 

ZippyNH,
Mini gets most nights in a heated garage. It's only when she's out for 12 to24 hours at around 5º or below, that the starting is a struggle. Something must actually turn to ice.
I guess it could be cleaned. I wonder where the water would accumulate? It didn't do this the past 6 winters.

Both S and straight N.A. engines get it. I like the cold intake manifold part.
******* is even colder than here in Traverse! Yes, but we have some culture here :-)

 

doubledown808,
That cold intake manifold part link you posted appears to be only for the S models. They do offer my original intake manifold back to me, but thanks for sharing it. It helps with the perspective.
Essentially what I'm reading here is 'ice in the throttle body', so I must go after that moisture. I wonder how difficult it is to remove the intake manifold unit and get to the actual throttle body on the normally aspirated N12? I'll be finding out soon- we have some serious below zero weather coming back soon.

 

I think I would try driving the car for a long period so it gets really warm and melts the ice and condensation. It should then evaporate and be burned in the engine. Took our non s mini for a trip last weekend, 150 km one way and the problem is gone, I suspect until the condensation builds up again due to short trips.

 

I have also thought about removing the stock intake snorkel which runs to the front of the car. My thinking on that is the engine would be inhaling warmer air ??

 

Good ideas, thanks. It has been a while since I've driven more than 40 highway miles, and even those were barely over 50 mph.
I'm also considering a new intake system, but maybe this would be an excuse to buy one of these :-) http://www.waymotorworks.com/ddmwork...5-r56-r57.html