I brought my 2011 LCI MCS in for oil service and tire rotation and upon return, the tech noted on the paperwork that "OVC leak engine oil." When I asked about it, the SA said it was a slow leak that hasn't made it to the DME yet.

I had the DME-solenoid-thing done when the recall was issued early on. When they checked my service history they said a DME reprogram was done and unrelated to this. But the way they are describing it sounds very similar to the symptoms that caused the recall.

This stuff being somewhat foreign to me - and as an attempt to understand what's going on - what is the "OVC?" Is this some sort of oil control valve and is it related to the DME? I don't want to pay for something that should've been already done under a recall.

 

Checked my service records and what I had done in Dec. 2012 was a replacement of the OPC solenoid which was leaking oil and contaminated the DME wiring harness. At the same time, they reprogrammed the DME.

Now they are saying the "OVC" (according to the tech notes) is leaking oil and, per SA, hasn't made its way to the DME yet.

So is this the same thing? I am out of warranty but since this seems to be a reoccurence of a previous recall, the dealer should be footing the bill, no? It's the same dealer that did the work in 2012.

 

Sounds like the same part to me. Oil pressure control solenoid, IIRC. And mine was replaced under warranty as it was leaking up the harness towards the DME. I would push the dealer to explain what the difference is between OVC and OPC. Maybe just a tech hitting the wrong key on his keyboard, or 2 different techs using different names for the same part.

 

It's the same part, same leak as confirmed by the SA who I worked with when the repair was done in 2012. However he says it was not a recall but simply a repair that was done under warranty. This time I'd be on the hook for the repair.

 

Mini has a wire fix kit - labor is about four hours and the wire update kit is $49. About $540 in total. Just had this done too.

2011 Mini S 83K

 

Does the oil pan need to be removed with this kit?

 

No - my understanding is the right axle and rear motor mount need to be removed for access, hence the labor. The existing wire is hooked into the new wire harness before it is pushed down in the oil pan. The new set up has a gap in the harness before it exits the motor to allow any oil that has wicked up to fall back into the pan.

 

Mine was replaced under factory warranty, what was left on it. Not much. But after one year from replacement, from what I have heard, the part is not covered again. This is a known issue, and should be a recall, or at least a goodwill warranty fix. It seems that the replacement part was NOT improved over the defective factory part. I would push MINI on this.

 

OPC is oil pressure control solenoid. OVC is oil volume control solenoid. My guess is that it's the same known-bad unit. Both seem to leak/wick oil into the DME harness, causing damage to the DME. Just from what I know, should be a recall or some kind of goodwill. How long will MINI deny there is an issue?

 

Does anyone have the PN# for the new wiring kit?

 

Got the PNs from the other thread in the R58 subforum. Thx.