Hi All,

My extended warranty ends in a few weeks' time. What is the best that I can get from my dealership?
I have an MT 2012 Cooper S with 52k miles on it in 6 years. I recently had an issue when the weather was too hot, I started the car and it started vibrating with an immediate check engine light. I restarted immediately and the vibration went away with the check engine light still on. On the next restart, the engine light went away too. I think that might have been recorded in the key but the dealership may not choose to address it if the issue does not manifest again.

1. Is there a way for me to read the key outside of the dealership?
2. Is there something called 48k maintenance? Or, can I ask the dealership to do a major overhaul? e.g. transmission check and possible repairs, transmission flush etc. The Serpentine Belt is supposed to be replaced at 60,000 miles for Cooper S, can it be done earlier?

Thank you!

 

extended maintenance plan and extended warranty are two different things

and they are often not MINI products but offered by a third party

you need to get out your paperwork and see what might be covered ....

 

Just as life insurance, the company selling the extended car service things are betting that you made the wrong decision. They are playing the odds that more people will not require them to pay anything out.

 

Corrections:
Oops, I posted this in a hurry. I have an extended maintenance plan from BMW/Cooper.

 

The maintenance plan only covers scheduled maintenance. Any additional maintenance you'd like done (transmission flush) or repairs aren't covered.

 

Visit dealer and ask them what if anything is due before maintenance runs out. Beyond that not much you can do. Some higher end MINI repair shops might own a key reader, but all that info is in the car computer and can be read with software that a good indy shop should have.

 

The next thing you need to do is find a good independent BMW/MINI shop and get to be good buddies with them. One big difference: You indie will do what he can to repair problems while the dealership will sell new parts hoping that fixes the problem. A local club or other enthusiasts in you area can help you find just the right shop.

BTW: Is that screen name an indication of O2 status?

 

hint to other readers

do you think OP believes he got his expected value for the dollars he spent on the 'extended' ????

 

Yes, I spent about 1.9k for 2 more years. Not too happy with that. .. I don't want something major to show up just days after the warranty is over.

 

First day out of extended maintenance, 7 codes appeared in 5 mins.
P0300
P0302
P0304

P0300 p/d
P0301 p/d
P0302 p/d
P0304 p/d
Not sure why it is misfiring. I was driving low on fuel, had about 15 miles more per the indicator. Could that be the cause?
Will it go away on it's own?

Thank you!

 

Read this thread again, does OP have 'maintenance plan' or 'warranty plan'? If 'maintenance plan', that will not cover the mis-fires..

 

It was maintenance plan which has anyways expired now.
Can driving on low fuel bring up the misfire codes? I put in a few gallons and drove a bit, but the engine light is persistent. My Actron CP9125 is not able to erase the codes. I don't see feel any difference while driving though.

 

Possibly the HPFP. Also have a 2012 MCS, got a letter a while back from Mini extending the warranty on that pump. Might be worth the money to have dealer do the diagnoses.

 

If you are still running the original spark plugs I'd change those out first thing. Might be the answer, could also be coils and the fuel HPFP but I'd expect to see other codes with that. Plugs are easy to install and cheap if you do it yourself. If you don't have the code that specifically points to the HPFP dealer will most likely not do the extended replacement.

 

Thank you, AZdsrt and Minnie.the.Moocher!

Should I look into these only if I feel there is a tangible issue? The car drives normally without any vibrations but the check engine light and 7 codes are still there. I am planning to erase that with a new OBD tool and if it still does not go away, I will ask the dealership to help or look into recalls etc.

Regards!

 

You can check for open recalls yourself- https://www.miniusa.com/owners/tools...rt/recall.html

Those misfire codes are likely caused by 2 things, I didn't look them up but my experience and your symptoms tell me its coils/plugs and HPFP. The Pump should be covered till 120k, I have a 12' S and mine is covered. The MINI maint. plan isn't worth it, and I'm saying that not even paying for it. The original owner paid for it, and I was covered till 100k. A MINI warranty plan would be smart, but there again may not be worth it. The cost of the warranty and the cost any repairs down the line would be around the same. As stated in a previous comment, find a good reputable Euro shop near you and never step foot into a stealership for any repair/maint. work ever again. Unless your HPFP goes out, then go get your free parts and labor.

 

Have you checked your fluid levels? As a 2nd gen owner you should know that Oil needs to be checked/topped off AT LEAST once a month. After you erase them they will come back. You're at prime mileage/age for some new coils and plugs, among other 2nd gen things.

 

I have never done anything like that in 6 years since I had an maintenance plan till now. Do you have a link to what all needs to be checked / changed? I can replace all of these but I am hoping the coils / HPFP are all good. I just exchanged a useless Bluetooth OBD scanner with Carista, hope it clears the engine light.
Which oil would you recommend for a 2012 S with 53-54k miles? Any inputs on good quality plugs/coils. I greatly appreciate your help.
If I am unable to clear the engine lights, how do I determine the real issue - coils, spark plugs or HPFP? I can start off with cleaning the spark plugs and see if there is a difference.

Thank you!

 

Spark plugs - ngk 95770, amazon link for example: you should be able to find them for $40 to 50 per set of 4. If spark plugs have never been changed before in the car's lifetime, better to replace them completely rather than clean them. I think the MINI recommended replacement schedule for spark plugs is 60k on the MCS.

I'd start with the cheapest thing (spark plugs) to replace, clear the codes and see if they come back. If they do, onto the next...which would be the coils, and then the HPFP ($$$).

Oil is a hot hot debate, nothing wrong with the MINI recommended 0W-20 (been using it on my 13 JCW with the N18 engine, no issues). There's definitely other quality brands that are cheaper. But everyone has their own opinions. In my last mini I did the oil changes myself and would use Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro formula (recently lost BMW LL01 certification if you are concerned with that).

 

Thanks for the link, 3lusive. Is there any benefit of multi-electrode spark plugs over single electrode ones? Could the entire episode be caused by a circuit/chip malfunction, something as simple as a fuse? I have not been able to erase the codes yet through a device. What if I am able to erase and nothing comes up for some time?
Thank you!

 

I managed to clear all the codes with Carista device / app. It reported 19 codes initially (lots of repeats). Mostly misfires, the only other one is a tire pressure related code. I recently had all 4 tires replaced and TPMS was "rebuilt". The engine light has not showed up after 10 miles of driving.
There's one thing to mention. Normally, my car maintenance light would come up every 6 months or 3-4K miles but now, since the last maintenance in March '18, it shows April 2019. I think I may need to top off oil as earlier mentioned in this conversation.
I am thinking of using Mini Fuel cleaner next before I replace the spark plugs, is that a good idea?

https://www.bavauto.com/bmw-mini-fue...xoCunQQAvD_BwE
How does that compare to Techron?

Thank you!

 

Maint. items? Your owners manual has all the recommended intervals. You're likely due for a coolant flush, brake fluid flush, new plugs, and a cabin filter. I always use OE replacement parts. I have a 12' S and I've used the MINI recommended Castrol Synthetic 5w30, I've used Amsoil Euro and Boosted formula both 5w30, I'm now on Motul 5w40. As long as what ever oil you're using meets the MINI specs in your owners manual you're good. If your coils and or plugs are bad your misfire codes will come back, same for the HPFP. Don't clean your plugs, change them.

 

You really need to check your oil every other fill up. I've never used any fuel system cleaners, there's enough detergents in 93 to take care of any deposits that can be taken care of via the fuel system.