I have been getting the signal on dash that a bulb is out--the image of a bulb in orange. When it comes on, I also get the ding sound letting me know a warning came up. It usually goes out after a few minutes. But there is no obvious bulb problem. I took it to the service guy at the local dealer and he confirmed--visually--that no bulb is out. They basically look the same whether or not the warning light is on. He plugged in the key to the computer to see if there was any indication, but nothing. And no bulbs have ever been replaced to the best of my knowledge and it always goes to the dealer as everything is still covered. There is no correlation with other things, like it doesn't happen only when I push the break or turn on a blinker or turn on lights or do anything--nor do these things turn the warning light off. I have gotten out and inspected while the warning light was on, too. Now I wouldn't really care all that much, but the lease is up next month. I have to take it back to the place I got it from because no one else wants it (the residual is way to high). I can only take it to my local for service, etc. as the return place is too far away. I can deal with driving there for the return, but not just stopping in for service, and it's hard to tell the return place that the other place says there's nothing wrong. Oh, and as the problem has gotten more common, it almost always happens on start up, among other times, which is what the return dealer will do. I really feel like those two should have to arm wrestle to figure out if it's a wear-and-tear deal or covered under the warranty, but it shouldn't involve me. Anyone have any ideas about the cause?

2103 hardtop S with leather and sunroof but otherwise fairly basic.

Thanks,
Mike Todd

 

Automatic lights?
If so, try setting them off and see if the problem persists.

 

Check your fog lights and license plate light.

My 2010 Mini showed this error code right before my warranty was to expire(50 miles). When I took it in to have it documented, the service rep stated that unless left it there then, Mini would not even look at it after the odometer turned 50k.
An independent garage looked at it and said it would be either expensive or very expensive. It is a faulty error code. It is caused by a wiring problem (expensive to troubleshoot) or a faulty ECM(very expensive).
I have lived with it for the past 5 years!

 

my 2010 side marker lights are flakey. Usually on but if you tap on them they flicker or go out. I presume that's the cause of my warning light. One of these days I'll get around to pulling them apart to see whats up.

 

One thing I would add/clarify. I have tried to change any of the lighting settings--automatic, fog, etc. I have left them like that still seen the same problem. I have changed them while the warning light was on but no change. And it happens day and night, so whether the lights are on or not--which might suggest daytime running lights or something else that's always one, but seen no change. I will, though, take a hint from gjxj and try tapping the different lights and see if that has the effect of turning it on or off.

One other possibility, and I'll mention to the dealer when I take it in next week, is that I had a warranty repair of a water hose that burst, and the location was right up the the driver side headlight area. (A water hose burst at 25K miles? That was spooky for me, thinking down the road about the other hoses.)

Thanks,
Mike

 

Egg on my face. I just found out a bulb for the brake lights is out. On the sides, there are two, one high and one low. The high one is out on one side and I'm guessing that's the issue. MINI wins this battle. Are these hard to replace? Covered under warranty? (It's under 35K miles.)
Thanks,
Mike

 

 

Don't know if you are still batteling this or not...looks like my left side, top bulb connector won't light the bulb. It works on the right side.

Going to have to do some diagnostics with the volt meter and see.