Drove my wife's 2011 Mini to church this morning and immediately noticed it was missing before we even got out of the neighborhood. Skips/misses under load going up hill (jumps a little), when at idle at traffic lights. Also noticed black soot at the tailpipe as if it's running rich. Please advise.

Thanks, Ken
Clarksville, TN

 

When's the last time you changed plugs/coils?

 

Exactly.

Mine (a 2012) started missing under load at 38k. Reading here there's numerous threads about spark plugs going at 35 to 40k miles. I'm thinking Bull. I have a Chevy 2500 with 135k miles and it still has the factory plugs.

Checking the AP stores near me, No Mini Plugs so I bought some from Amazon. (You need the special spark plug socket.) When I pulled mine they were burnt up and the gap was .060" or more. Putting in the new plugs it solved my problem.

 

I have had coils go bad, causing the same issues. Definitely check your plugs. Coils would be my next step. Black soot on the tailpipe is "normal" especially if an S model, driven in Sport Mode.