My second MINI is a 03 R53. P/O replaced blown engine with 50k used one, and then S/C, and then tensioner and pulleys after the belt broke all within a year, and finally gave up when it had a fuel pump issue. I was told it died on them and they towed it home only to have it start the next day, then a while later it died again only to start a couple hours later.

I picked it up on a tow dolly and brought it home to see that it had ZERO gas in the tank, added a few gallons and it ran fine. For about 600-700 miles over about 2 months.

Then one day driving on the highway at 70 with cruise control I accelerate with the cruise to pass a car and then drop back to 70, but she keeps slowing down, so I hit the pedal and still nothing and I realize the engine cut out. So I put it in neutral and try to restart while coasting to no avail. I coast to the shoulder. Think for about a minute and before I get out to pop the hood, er.. bonnet, I try to start it just one more time.. and it runs? Weird. I continue 10 miles to a gas station and fill up, 100 miles later, no more troubles yet.

The car has a pulley, intake, and stiff clutch, nothing more. It wasn't hot that day, probably 50-60F. It wasn't raining. I had been filling up mostly at the same gas station and had plenty of gas in the tank.

Ignoring the ECU possibilities, leaves me with fuel or spark. I'm thinking I could switch the coil pack and wires with my 04 R53 and see if the problem moves. Or I could set up a fuel pressure gauge that I can see from the drivers seat and wait for it to happen again?

Since it has taken so long for this issue to show itself, and it self corrected before I could do any real troubleshooting, I foresee this taking a while to figure out. But I don't just want to throw parts at it, I want to solve the mystery. Any thoughts?

 

Im having the same problem with my 05 MCS, is it kind of like this video?

 

This might be a zebra when I'm looking at a horse, but you might check the wiring connection to the throttle body (The butterfly valve on the intake)

I was working on my car a while back and forgot to plug that in, and it would kind of run but then die like it had a fuel or spark problem (which I guess it kind of did but not in the traditional sense)

 

Its really weird because it only does this during the summer time. I just put new plugs in and it usually goes away for a bit when I put fresh cold gas in .

 

Something to try - not a very expensive wild goose chase - Sounds a little like a plugged up fuel filter. High flow condition packs particles/gunk down, kills the flow. Engine stalls, flow drops, sediment shifts around and flow can resume.

 

Btw, yes, you can attach a fuel pressure gauge to the port on the end of the fuel rail (they often come with an 18 inch hose) and reinstall the intercooler - and view the gauge through the windshield. Wouldn't drive very far like that, but works for troubleshooting. Same for a compression gauge if you are testing compression solo.

 

I second the fuel filter theory. Especially if at one time the car had zero gas in it. Also confirm the pump hasn't overheated from being run dry.

 

This fuel pump and fuel filter DIY here may come in handy while you diagnose and if you decide to replace it.