Hi everybody, I just bought a 2011 Cooper S as a bit of a project, but I'm at a loss as to where to start. Among other issues, the dash lights up when over 3000 rpm. Speedometer goes out, all the lights come on (but don't flash), hvac quits, radio cuts out, etc. I think pretty much all I'm left with is the tach. Over roughly 3500 rpm, the engine seems to go into limp mode, power is cut and it runs rougher. When kept under 3000 rpm, it seems to be completely fine, not even a check engine light. Does anyone have any idea where to start diagnosing or any possible causes?

 

Have you scanned the codes? Hard to say much of anything without the codes.

 

There are no codes at idle, only when being driven over 3500 rpm. Could a scanner still retrieve those codes? I always thought they had to be present on startup.

 

It will archive the codes in memory. If it popped a code, it will still be there until you manually clear it with a scan tool or something like it. Definitely need to read the codes to see what’s happening.
One thing to remember with these is that there is proprietary Manufacturers software that will store and show some codes that a general scan tool will not see. You need one with software specific to BMW/MINI.
Ill use my example I tell folks to underline the fact.
While my R60 was actively in limp-mode, with the half engine light on the tach and nav screen. I stopped into Autozone and asked them to scan for codes. Their scan tool said “No Codes”! While in limp mode, so I knew that wasn’t right, and did some googling and learned what I’m telling you now. I then drove to the local Euro specialist and had them scan it, and lo and behold, 5 different codes showed up!
I went home and ordered a Schwaben scan tool from ECS, now I can do darn near anything I need to. It has paid for itself over and over.