Recently my mini just stopped on me. I was at a stop light noticed it shaking a lot, and could physically feel it while sitting in my seat. I got to the gas station, put in gas, and as I was leaving and about to exit onto the street it clunked a bit and stopped. The check engine light came on and it would not move or start again. It tried very hard to but it wouldn't. Someone at the gas station said it sounded like an engine rod was thrown but there's nothing leaking, no smoke or visible punctures. We had it towed home and now we've tested the spark plugs, which seem fine, and tested the coil packs which seem a little low but it was hard to get a reading. It will start but shakes hard and has a knocking sound. It doesn't sound like the timing chain, more like it knocks when the engine misfires. Not sure what to do. Any opinions or questions would be welcome and appreciated.

 

If possible, pull the error codes from the OBD2 to be sure about what issue we are working with.
No doubt about you have error codes in your BC, you will not need to guess what the problem is

 

sounds like a possible vacuum pump located on drivers side of cylinder head.

 

I would get a scan tool and scan for codes first. Check if it coming from that little pump on the driver side shown here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ement-diy.html