About 6 weeks ago I bought a clean 2008 S with 54,000 miles. It replaced a 2003 non-S with 165,000 miles that I'd owned for 3 years which was both fun and trouble free. The newer car felt like a big upgrade.

Last week I started hearing the death rattle. My first response was to check the oil (2 quarts low). Once topped off it ran okay for a couple hours, but noise returned the next day along with CEL. A check of the codes showed misfires on all cylinders, both O2 sensors and cam timing.

Thank goodness I bought the car from a new car dealer in a state (NY) with a strong lemon law. They sent a wrecker two hours to my home in Vermont and took it to a Mini dealer near them. Diagnosis was failed turbo oil supply line and timing chain guides .... All to be repaired at my dealer's expense. They made no mention that I should have checked the oil level, which I promise to do every time I get gas from now on.

Since this cropped up I've read a lot of nightmare stories with the same issues. I know I got very lucky. Sorry to all those who weren't as fortunate. I'll report back in a few days when I get the car back.

 

Sorry to hear this, but glad it was taken car of. Check your oil often.

http://minicooperforums.com/forum/07...dipstick-6548/

 

Getting the car back on Friday. Lesson learned - I'll be checking the oil regularly in my Mini, but also the Subaru and two Toyotas in the family.

 

ok, what did they say ? Everything ok.

 

Sorry to hear that you had to deal with the above mentioned problem. I can tell you...my 2008 MINI Cooper S used a lot of oil, and I mean a lot of oil.

Keep an eye on the oil level and enjoy your car!

Any pictures?

 

Thanks to the Lemon Law warranty, I came out unscathed, but it was a hefty tab. Without going line by line on the work order, a Mini dealer replaced the turbo oil feed line and timing chain assembly at a cost of about $3,500 to the dealer that sold me the MCS. I've driven it a few hundred miles since and no signs of continuing problems.

As I put in the subject line - lucky.

 

Thats good.

 

Honestly, though - 6 weeks isn't all that long since getting the car. Sure, continue to check the oil regularly, but I would have expected it to work properly (and be topped up) from the dealer. I wouldn't blame yourself too much for this!

 

+1 to always check your oil. Also, if MINI replaced that oil feed line with the same OEM one, it is probably destined to fail as well at some point. That is great that everything was taken care of by the dealer, I have heard some horror stories.

 

Well, sounds like the dealer may have taken your dealer for a ride. The timing chain and tensioner is covered for free under the Service Campaign. And my dealer quoted $1800 for replacement of the turbo feed line and oil filter housing gaskets. (I replaced the turbo feed and return lines, and gaskets in the filer housing and oil cooler for under $200 with the Detroit Tuned Super kit). Engine hasn't use a drop of oil in the 1000 miles since I did the work and inspection shows no visible leaks of any kind.