Here's the TSB. From the reports on NAM and MINI2, it's clearly been a chronic problem. The TSB applies to builds from December 2003 to May 2006. Starting from June 2006 they hopefully began to use an improved mount for builds and replacements. If anyone has a newer mount that still failed, please post.

Edit: the link doesn't work any more. Unfortunately Alldata now requires you to purchase their service for access to TSBs. It had been a free service for several years and it was good while it lasted.

 

Well, after posting in this thread on 9/27 I finally got the chance to take the MINI to the dealership service to get the motor mount replaced (among other things) during the past week.

I am posting again because I received a call from the SA yesterday telling me that they would charge me $XXX to replace it out of warranty because of my mods .

Thanks to my readings here on NAM and the TSB posted, I calmly told the SA that he should look over the TSB (I gave him the TSB#) to see if he thought it was a reasonable decision on their part not to cover it under warranty.

I just talked to the SA a couple of minutes ago and told me that he convinced the service guys to replace it under warranty . Then he went on to tell me that they had to order it because they didn't have it in stock .

Anyways, thanks fellow NAMers, you saved me a significant headache and probably some $$$ .

 

Thanks RKW for posting the TSB. I just came back from the dealer and had my 06 MCS's motor mount replaced under warranty.

 

Having mine done this wednesday.

 

That's exactly what happened to me with my '06. Didn't notice anything until Scott @ Central Coast Coopers was installing my FSD shocks & doing an oil change - poined out the dark trail on the inside of the engine bay. I just called my dealer to get a new mount. I feel for you and would have been mightily PISSED if the stuff would have stained the outside paint.

 

This is a lousy thing to happen with relatively low mileage autos. On the bright side, it facilitates replacing the OEM mounts with polyeurothene or other materials. And they don't contain fluid.

 

The engine-mount type dampers we're talking about aren't the ones you replace with non-fluid units. I suppose you could, but there wouldn't be much damping going on... even the best tuned elastomers can only compress so much before the 'rate' becomes too progressive. Once loaded to the point of non-compression the opposing 'return' forces tend to be undesirable – rapid (spring) rate. Fluid damped for good reason. Better execution would be nice though.

 

Well, my wife's 06 MC was in the shop yesterday at Checkered Flag MINI Virginia Beach for its first service check at 10,700 miles. We took delivery St Patricks Day 2006 as a reference. We had noticed a strange vibration almost like revving the engine in neutral on initial start up in the mornings and when slowing down quickly at lights or in traffic a few months ago. Since my wife's MINI has a CVT Automatic I thought perhaps there may be an issue with that. Did a search here and found nothing that sounded like what we were experiencing in regard to the CVT.

We reported it to the SA to check out and he reported back that the engine mounts were falling apart and that was the cause of the vibration. We didn't hear any sounds like golf ***** rolling around under the bonnet. I checked under the hood quite often and never noticed any fluid leaks or anything like what has been reported here. Perhaps the failure we experienced was not as catastrophic. The sound is gone now so I guess as strange as it may seem the vibration and the engine mounts problem were related and this may be another iteration of the broken engine mounts problem. So if you hear a sound like I described you may want to check your engine mounts and get to your dealer to get them replaced before it catastrophic like some have been reported here.

 

Hello everyone:

So, the 06 design does not help with this problem? I compare pics of the older models, there seems to be a metal entrapment surrounding the rubber mount on the 06 model. In fact, I guess MINI even removed another mount, which I think they shouldn't, that's attached to the side of strut tower. Am I correct? I posted a thread about a "clunking" noise related to downshifting on my MCSa. Would it be related to this problem? I hear a slight "clicking" sound during accel/deceleration at slow speed (only when driving next to divider or wall), is this a sign of the failing mount? I don't see any fluid coming out. Is the passenger side mount only unit that fails? Is the fluid color dark brown, not light color? Sorry for all my questions.

Well, I said it before with the strut tower problem. We can provide support to each other on NAM (and I extrmemly appreciate all of your helps), but MINI will not come up with a remedy with these design problems unless it surfaces to the public. Sales figure talks. Too bad I have no connection with any media and don't know of any channel. We have to make this public, especially when it coincides with the new model launch. That's how Honda came up with a recall fix with extended warranty for their ill-fated 5-speed transmission that affected many Acura/Honda models. It took a story printed on the USA Today to the job done.

 

Just joined this club today. So i can say that the post June 06 builds still leak. The wife was pulling out to go to work this morning and I noticed a small pool of fluid that was under the front passenger side of the car near the wheel well. Had her pull back in , popped the hood and low and behold hydralic fluid on the frame and leaking out of the metal casing for the mount. Have an appointment for next Tuesday for replacement. One thing I can say is I really like our service department at MINI of Universal City. Just called up to say the motor mount leaked and they set the appointment. No issues of what have you done to the car or such, just bring it in and we'll replace it. Last week was even better when the wife took the car in for the first scheduled mantainence. She had to go with the kids and since it was going ot take a little while they offered to drop them off at Universal Studios for the morning or day while they took care of the mantainence and just said to call when she needed picked up. So the car got serviced and the kids had lots of fun at the amusement park. Overall a good day.

 

Why bother reporting it to the media? MINI is repairing them as quickly as they come and typically it is under warranty. Typically us folks with mods are the only ones that have to put up a fight.

The ones that you are seeing are the 05/06 designs. There is only one mount/dampner on this engine, the others are hard point mounts with no dampner. The fluid will be a dark color and you will be able to see it when it leaks.

 

tried accessing the TSB via the link. it appeared to leave me at the home page for alldata (deeper link to document didn't take me there). wondering if it was cockpit failure on my part or if you could repost the tsb. thanks.

{I don't have an alldata account, most likely reason for the bonk, yes?}

btw - 35k, mcc, cvt, no mods, just had the engine mount failure on the passenger side. (98% highway miles)

 

I can't access the TSB from the link either. My motor mount just went out this weekend.

 

Unfortunately I discovered a couple of months ago that Alldata now requires you to purchase their service for access to TSBs. It had been a free service for several years and it was good while it lasted.

 

Agree/disagree. It's true that's easy to get the dealer to replace the mount, assuming your local MINI dealer is customer oriented, not a pain in the exhaust pipe to deal with. Just like you said, typically it is under warranty. However, our warranty is not 10yrs/100K miles. What good does it do me if I have to pay an arm and a leg to get it replaced again if this is not a permament fix? I am not sure about you, but I am planning to keep this car for quite sometime after the warranty expires.

This is what I was trying to say about exposing this kind of problems to the public, hoping they would come up with a better solution. As a responsible auto mfr, they should get their R&D to work on a better solution than keep repairing a problem with the very same problem. If there's no action taken that will impact their balance sheet, they won't fudge. Ultimately, the consumer is on the losing side. Well, it's a big sea, they will always be more than enough fish to take the bait.

 

Just happened on my 04MCS too: fluid started to leak out from the little opening on the side of the mount, spraying onto the plastic fender...
Nasty stuff to remove, by the way.
Called Brecht Mini here in SD, the SA told me she has seen "quite a few" leaking mounts, and said it'll be replaced under warranty in about 1hr.

UPDATE: motor mount has been replaced under warranty, supposedly with an improved type.

 

Add me to the list...
My '05 MC has a leaky engine mount. Hasn't spewed all over the under body yet, but there is some fluid on the rail that its bolted to.
Appointment set for this Thursday for a replacement. (Hopefully get a nice engine bay wash while it's there!)

 

Well, I just wanted to say THANKS N.A.M.! I was reading this string last night and as I was pulling into the garage today, my wife told me to stop. She said there was a small pool of fluid on the floor. Sure enough, it was from the passenger side of the car. I opened the hood and knew exactly what to look for thanks to the kind folks who contributed to this thread.

One broken motor mount coming up. I have an appointment at Mini of Mt. View and will relay my experience. I had my 10k service there and it went fine. They said that the motor mount repair didn't qualify for a loaner, so I'll just sit there and wait for it to be repaired. They offered a ride, but I live in San Jose and work in San Francisco. I doubt they'd enjoy that shuttle assignment...

I guess it happens to post May 06 built cars as well. My S was a November 06 build!

Thanks to all for the info...greatly appreciated!

 

My motor mount failed last week. Replaced by the dealer...Spent 2 hours getting that crap off of the wheel (Passenger side).

I have 2006 JCW build in Nov. 2005. with about 20,000 miles.

Does the new mount last??? Should I be watching for this to break???

Rick

 

My business partner has replaced his 3 times now. We keep several instock, and change them on customer MINIs on a regular basis.

Brad
Custom mini Shop

 

I had the "golf ball rolling on the floor" sound for a few days recently. It seemed to come from behind the glovebox when sitting in the driver's seat, and happened whenever the engine was under a slight bit of load (at idle but standing still with "SD" selected in my MCSa). I checked on the frame rail, and I think I can see a small area just underneath the mount that feels somewhat rough, seems darker than the surrounding area and looks a bit like dried up gunk. The sound is gone now though.

I think I've got a half busted motor mount. Can anyone confirm? It's on an Oct' 05 build, 14K miles.

 

Ok so the engine mount is all fixed, but the dealership couldn't get the caked on fluid off the rail!
What did you guys use to get this stuff off? Goo-Gone? Engine degreaser?

 

Dont believe that the mounts were a "bad batch"....More of a POOR design. Ive gone thru 3 on my 05. And maybe #4 is coming soon

 

 

correction.......3 motor mounts and im on my 2nd TSW damper. And thats after i rebuilt the first damper 3 times.