I took delivery of a 2006 MCSa on Saturday. It only had 8 miles on the odometer when I drove it off the lot.

About 20 minutes into the 60-mile drive home (highway speeds ~70 MPH, kept it under 4,000 RPM entire time), I noticed a grey-white "dirty" smoke coming out of the exhaust...because of the aerodynamics of the MINI's rearside, the smoke was clearly visible as it sort of got caught up right around the rear hatch window. This episode of smoke lasted maybe 5 or 6 seconds. Then, when I parked the car at a convenience store, even with the car off, smoke (very light) wafted out of the tailpipes. It smelled acrid, like burning metal.

MINI now has just under 100 miles on the odometer and no more smoke.

Anyone ever experience this upon delivery? I am thinking the smoke was caused by burn-off of the "new parts" in the exhaust/muffler/catalytic converter. My MA said no one ever mentioned this happening before. If I hadn't been looking out the back at that moment, I guess I woulda missed it as well.

Anything I should be concerned about?

Thanks.

-boognish

 

Nothing to be concerned about, IMHO...

I think it was your 'new' (with only 8 miles on it) exhaust system cooking and bedding together. This also happened to me when I had an Invidia catback system put on my MCS. Seems the gaskets heat up and seat to the exhaust pipes, giving off the white 'smoke'.

- - m

 

Just call it the exhaust system's "burning in" period. It will go away.

 

Do yourself a favor, though, and check the oil level. I know, it probably wasnt oil, just the same I'd check it just to be sure the mechanomonkee did what he was supposed to do and didnt under or overfill. Might wanna check the coolant too while you're in there.

 

They fill up with diesel at the dealers to save a few bucks...nothing to worry about My wife tried that with our tractor last week...just needed to drain and clean out the entire fuel system and everything's ok...

 

Burning oil would be blue smoke, not white.... Water vapor in exhaust looks white. Considering the car is brandy new, I doubt there's water in the exhaust gases.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

It hasn't occured again since day of delivery, and it wasn't like a huge plume of thick smoke! It was very light...So I'm chalking it up to just "new car burnout" meaning maybe there was some Kosmoline burning out in the exhaust pipe or maybe just some filler materials burning out in the catalytic converter or muffler...

as for the gas, I would be willing to bet the dealer does not fill up their customer's newly delivered MINIs with 91 Octane... they most likely go the cheap route and fill'em up with regular 87...

rock on,

-boognish