Spontaneous engine bay fires!
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
The numbers , Mini failure, are greater than the Toyota. If you include ABS harness failures, fires, with other brands using the same module ( VW comes to mind ), the liability is far greater than Toyota.
Fire, any kind, is a much bigger problem than a sticking throttle pedal or a slight delay in the regenerative break system. It's amazing what the government chooses to investigate.........
Fire, any kind, is a much bigger problem than a sticking throttle pedal or a slight delay in the regenerative break system. It's amazing what the government chooses to investigate.........
Possibility of danger ? You have the same level of danger from being struck by lighting on a golf course as you do from death or injury from an engine bay fire. Afterall, every car ever manufactured had their quirks.
The fact that people are actually being killed and actually sustaining high impact deceleration trauma all over the world....I would say Toyota by far has a much bigger problem than MINI....and the attempts made by Toyota to secrete such issues compounds the matter requiring our government to perform it's sworn duty to protect it's citizens in this case.....my 2 cents.
The fact that people are actually being killed and actually sustaining high impact deceleration trauma all over the world....I would say Toyota by far has a much bigger problem than MINI....and the attempts made by Toyota to secrete such issues compounds the matter requiring our government to perform it's sworn duty to protect it's citizens in this case.....my 2 cents.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
The numbers , Mini failure, are greater than the Toyota. If you include ABS harness failures, fires, with other brands using the same module ( VW comes to mind ), the liability is far greater than Toyota.
Fire, any kind, is a much bigger problem than a sticking throttle pedal or a slight delay in the regenerative break system. It's amazing what the government chooses to investigate.........
Fire, any kind, is a much bigger problem than a sticking throttle pedal or a slight delay in the regenerative break system. It's amazing what the government chooses to investigate.........
It's all about the US worker's unions exploiting an issue to gain market share. Cut throat? Hell yes! But that's business.. I still would NEVER buy an American car nor a Toyota.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I do not think this Toyota thing has anything to do with the bad brakes. It has a lot more to do with GM and FORD unions fighting for market share. Toyota is in Nascar now - I'm sure a lot of those midwest people don't like that so much, Toyota's cars are much more popular. The trucks are becoming everso more popular than american trucks (which is the last thing American car companies have that people want to buy).
It's all about the US worker's unions exploiting an issue to gain market share. Cut throat? Hell yes! But that's business.. I still would NEVER buy an American car nor a Toyota.
It's all about the US worker's unions exploiting an issue to gain market share. Cut throat? Hell yes! But that's business.. I still would NEVER buy an American car nor a Toyota.
Chris I think you are off base. I can believe that the US auto makers are smiling because of the trouble Toyota is in. Personally I can't see how they are exploiting this. Toyota in NASCARP yes that's it.
There is nothing currently made by the American auto makers that I would want to buy, but if there was I'd buy it.
Just my .02
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
When people have lost everything and have nothing left to lose, they will do anything. But hey! You are right. These grown men can hardly run their own corporations. How would they have the wit to exploit their closest competitor's manufacturer defect? *sarcasm*.
Regardless, this is getting off track. If I were moderating, I would say this thread needs to get back on topic.
Regardless, this is getting off track. If I were moderating, I would say this thread needs to get back on topic.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
Possibility of danger ? You have the same level of danger from being struck by lighting on a golf course as you do from death or injury from an engine bay fire. Afterall, every car ever manufactured had their quirks.
The fact that people are actually being killed and actually sustaining high impact deceleration trauma all over the world....I would say Toyota by far has a much bigger problem than MINI....and the attempts made by Toyota to secrete such issues compounds the matter requiring our government to perform it's sworn duty to protect it's citizens in this case.....my 2 cents.
The fact that people are actually being killed and actually sustaining high impact deceleration trauma all over the world....I would say Toyota by far has a much bigger problem than MINI....and the attempts made by Toyota to secrete such issues compounds the matter requiring our government to perform it's sworn duty to protect it's citizens in this case.....my 2 cents.
We had this http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/28...ks-northampton - 1 of the houses lost was from a car in a garage that was set on fire.
Toasters get recalled if there's a chance of fire.
A fire of any kind gets my attention. If you think that the chances of being injured from an engine bay fire are slim to none, think again. While I was in the Army we were in a big fire - dodging bullets was easier.
Coordinator :: Eastern Iowa MINIs
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 4
From: Decorah, IA
Here's another one today in the NYT -- more scrutiny of the NHTSB for a record of being too cozy with the auto manufacturers:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/bu...l?pagewanted=1
An excerpt: "Drivers would file complaints by the dozens about mysterious accelerations and other hazards, federal regulators would open official reviews, [the car company] would promise answers, the regulators would complain about not receiving the information they needed, and in the end, almost nothing would come of any of it."
Sound familiar?
(Except in the case of the MINI fires, it seems the regulators didn't even bother to dig for corroborating information; thus, they never had to complain about not receiving it)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/bu...l?pagewanted=1
An excerpt: "Drivers would file complaints by the dozens about mysterious accelerations and other hazards, federal regulators would open official reviews, [the car company] would promise answers, the regulators would complain about not receiving the information they needed, and in the end, almost nothing would come of any of it."
Sound familiar?
(Except in the case of the MINI fires, it seems the regulators didn't even bother to dig for corroborating information; thus, they never had to complain about not receiving it)
If that fire starts in your garage, or a parking garage, after you parked your car, then what? I'll take my chances with a sticking throttle, there's no key to turn off a fire. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWax...eature=related
We had this http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/28...ks-northampton - 1 of the houses lost was from a car in a garage that was set on fire.
Toasters get recalled if there's a chance of fire.
A fire of any kind gets my attention. If you think that the chances of being injured from an engine bay fire are slim to none, think again. While I was in the Army we were in a big fire - dodging bullets was easier.
We had this http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/28...ks-northampton - 1 of the houses lost was from a car in a garage that was set on fire.
Toasters get recalled if there's a chance of fire.
A fire of any kind gets my attention. If you think that the chances of being injured from an engine bay fire are slim to none, think again. While I was in the Army we were in a big fire - dodging bullets was easier.
My point is that engine fires are not limited to MINI's yet you ask for more scruitiny than which is afforded to other auto manufacturers ? To me that just doesn't seem fair. If you google auto engine bay fires, every possible MFG name comes up. (ie) FORD Trucks:
The damage caused by Ford's fire-prone trucks is immense, as our growing collection of complaints demonstrates. Consumers have lost their lives, livelihoods, homes and, of course, their trucks.......
And as far as the You-Tube videos you posted - we lack the data to support your claim as to who/what is responsible. Was it the guy who improperly installed a set of OEM Fog lights in the grille ? Was it the guy who improperly wired his cars radio ? Or maybe we can blame the small critter having chewed some OEM wires causing a short and subsequent fire ?
I would just hazzard to jump the gun here until these concerns have been properly examined by insurance investigators and NHTSA before demanding recalls from any manufacturer.
Having read a number of posts in this thread, a number of the owners share responsibility for the events that happened. When you continute to operate a car with a known defect...a few folks said their ps was gutting in and out, or not always turning off, etc!!! Hello, can we say RED FLAG!!!
Anybody that continutes to opperate a defective item, and chooses to put their head in the sand like an ostrich, is gonna have a problem. If they don't, then it is sheer luck!!
In this situation, the events are largely forseable, preventable, and assigning the blame to the manfacture does little to help anybody.
The important thing to remember is when parts fail or begin to fail, do they telegraph the owner or operator what is happening? Sudden unexpected failures are dangerous...but failures that happen with small events and warning signs leading up to the major event are or should not be dangerous, as any reasonable driver should have taken the car off the road. Period.
Anybody that continutes to opperate a defective item, and chooses to put their head in the sand like an ostrich, is gonna have a problem. If they don't, then it is sheer luck!!
In this situation, the events are largely forseable, preventable, and assigning the blame to the manfacture does little to help anybody.
The important thing to remember is when parts fail or begin to fail, do they telegraph the owner or operator what is happening? Sudden unexpected failures are dangerous...but failures that happen with small events and warning signs leading up to the major event are or should not be dangerous, as any reasonable driver should have taken the car off the road. Period.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
To help alleviate my own fears I mounted a fire extinguisher in the MINI, and I installed a quick release on the battery so I can disconnect it without any tools. The quick release was a $10 precaution that I think everyone should have.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-of-mind.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-of-mind.html
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
And as far as the You-Tube videos you posted - we lack the data to support "your claim" as to who/what is responsible. Was it the guy who improperly installed a set of OEM Fog lights in the grille ? Was it the guy who improperly wired his cars radio ? Or maybe we can blame the small critter having chewed some OEM wires causing a short and subsequent fire ?
You say "your claim"? That's a ton of liberty. My claim = fire in a BMW product should be recognised as a problem, even the posibility of fire.
There's an electrical problem. BMW knows it. If you have an engine bay fire - see the video - Also see post 95 this thread.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
Having read a number of posts in this thread, a number of the owners share responsibility for the events that happened. When you continute to operate a car with a known defect...a few folks said their ps was gutting in and out, or not always turning off, etc!!! Hello, can we say RED FLAG!!!
Anybody that continutes to opperate a defective item, and chooses to put their head in the sand like an ostrich, is gonna have a problem. If they don't, then it is sheer luck!!
In this situation, the events are largely forseable, preventable, and assigning the blame to the manfacture does little to help anybody.
The important thing to remember is when parts fail or begin to fail, do they telegraph the owner or operator what is happening? Sudden unexpected failures are dangerous...but failures that happen with small events and warning signs leading up to the major event are or should not be dangerous, as any reasonable driver should have taken the car off the road. Period.
Anybody that continutes to opperate a defective item, and chooses to put their head in the sand like an ostrich, is gonna have a problem. If they don't, then it is sheer luck!!
In this situation, the events are largely forseable, preventable, and assigning the blame to the manfacture does little to help anybody.
The important thing to remember is when parts fail or begin to fail, do they telegraph the owner or operator what is happening? Sudden unexpected failures are dangerous...but failures that happen with small events and warning signs leading up to the major event are or should not be dangerous, as any reasonable driver should have taken the car off the road. Period.
Today people are aware & use to electric PS & throttle by wire. It doesn't make the problem any less serious. This isn't a case of running your car out of oil even though, as you state, there are some tells & they should not be ignored. In some cases people just don't have a clue.
The other problem is the ABS harness - there is no warning. This is not limited to BMW. You've seen the video..........?
I don't realy give a crap about the data. You claimed "You have the same level of danger from being struck by lighting on a golf course as you do from death or injury from an engine bay fire." The video shows what an engine bay fire can do.
You say "your claim"? That's a ton of liberty. My claim = fire in a BMW product should be recognised as a problem, even the posibility of fire.
There's an electrical problem. BMW knows it. If you have an engine bay fire - see the video - Also see post 95 this thread.
You say "your claim"? That's a ton of liberty. My claim = fire in a BMW product should be recognised as a problem, even the posibility of fire.
There's an electrical problem. BMW knows it. If you have an engine bay fire - see the video - Also see post 95 this thread.
Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; Feb 10, 2010 at 06:44 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
See post 95 this thread.There's no "what if", the car burned.
You have all the NHTSA data? Some You Tube video points out the level of danger, nothing more.
You're saying that posts here about this problem are just conjecture?
You have all the NHTSA data? Some You Tube video points out the level of danger, nothing more.
You're saying that posts here about this problem are just conjecture?
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Update from my MINI Fire
On page 16 I posted about my problems with the MINI, just wanted to give an update.
As I mentioned earlier, the dealer said someone direct from MINI had to come and inspect the car before they did any work on it. After the inspection they found it was the power steering control, that cause damage to a few other parts due to a small fire. The cost for repair would have been $3200, but luckily MINI covered all of the charges, and a rental car for 2 weeks. I feel they handled things pretty well at my local dealer.
However, not feeling safe with the car, I have since sold it and got a new 2010 Honda Fit. I love the car, but will miss my MINI greatly. We did look at another MINI to replace, but found that my 2005 was too costly to maintain and wanted something different.
I wish everyone luck with their troubles, and hopefully MINI does something (like a recall) to avoid any future problems.
As I mentioned earlier, the dealer said someone direct from MINI had to come and inspect the car before they did any work on it. After the inspection they found it was the power steering control, that cause damage to a few other parts due to a small fire. The cost for repair would have been $3200, but luckily MINI covered all of the charges, and a rental car for 2 weeks. I feel they handled things pretty well at my local dealer.
However, not feeling safe with the car, I have since sold it and got a new 2010 Honda Fit. I love the car, but will miss my MINI greatly. We did look at another MINI to replace, but found that my 2005 was too costly to maintain and wanted something different.
I wish everyone luck with their troubles, and hopefully MINI does something (like a recall) to avoid any future problems.
Neutral
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Mini fire!!
Our 2008 Mini S with barely 20k miles spontaneously ignited burning down our house and other car in the middle of the night. Luckily my wife and I escaped unharmed. We were leasing the house, so renters insurance reimbursed up to our limit. Both cars were destroyed and covered by Geico. Local fire department cited the cause & origin of the fire to be the Mini.
My question is..how do I find a lawyer to help pursue this with Mini/BMW? I have contacted several, however, since no one was injured they are not interested in the case.
My question is..how do I find a lawyer to help pursue this with Mini/BMW? I have contacted several, however, since no one was injured they are not interested in the case.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
Our 2008 Mini S with barely 20k miles spontaneously ignited burning down our house and other car in the middle of the night. Luckily my wife and I escaped unharmed. We were leasing the house, so renters insurance reimbursed up to our limit. Both cars were destroyed and covered by Geico. Local fire department cited the cause & origin of the fire to be the Mini.
Edit: Based on this latest report, I've decided to banish my MCS from the garage. Yes it might be an over-reaction but I've now heard of several Minis spontaneously combusting and zero, none, nada examples of numerous other brands I've owned self-combusting. It's just not worth the risk.
I haven't completely freaked out however -- I'm not unplugging the toaster every night like some here...
Last edited by 911Fan; Mar 17, 2010 at 09:35 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
Was it a R52 Cabrio then?
Glad you're OK
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 1
From: Northampton MA
Our 2008 Mini S with barely 20k miles spontaneously ignited burning down our house and other car in the middle of the night. Luckily my wife and I escaped unharmed. We were leasing the house, so renters insurance reimbursed up to our limit. Both cars were destroyed and covered by Geico. Local fire department cited the cause & origin of the fire to be the Mini.
My question is..how do I find a lawyer to help pursue this with Mini/BMW? I have contacted several, however, since no one was injured they are not interested in the case.
My question is..how do I find a lawyer to help pursue this with Mini/BMW? I have contacted several, however, since no one was injured they are not interested in the case.
Lawyers.... They want easy. If you can get your insurance company, Geico, involved, there might be some hope.
I'm sure, all who have posted here, would like to know what component, in the Mini, caused the fire.
Hope this gets sorted to your satisfaction.