My dealer told me that my oxygen sensor problem is really wide spread yet there is no fix for it. i started off getting a p0130 code (oxygen sensor circuit malfunction code) this summer, the dealer reset the sensor and problem fixed for a few months. then it started again in November, my SES light would come on once every two weeks or so, and has progressively gotten worse, now my SES light is pretty much always on. I have taken it into the dealer and they keep telling me there is no fix for it, and that putting a new o2 sensor in wouldn't do anything. But i don't think they have tried putting a new o2 sensor in a car yet, they are just doing what mini USA is telling them?

SO, anyone else having this problem, any fixes that my dealer isn't telling me about?

 

bumpy

 

My SES light turns on within two days of picking the car up from the dealer, every time I bring it in. Every time it is some reading related to the oxygen sensor. I am seriously considering a lemon-law return, as my SES light is meaningless now.

 

i know, i have to whip out my OBII reader everyday to make sure that there is nothing else going wrong!

 

Mine went on and off for a month. First the SA said to check the gas cap and oil filler cap for tightness. Not the problem. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the O2 sensor under warranty. Problem gone for last 3 months.

 

this is an ongoing problem with this paticular fault, P0130. i have heard of reprograming the DME, replacing both pre and post cat O2 sensors, even simply unplugging the sensor plugging it back in and clearing the fault. of all these repairs they have all had cars rturn for the smae problem. and none seem to fix it better than the other. P0130 is actually a fault for short to open for the pre car O2 sensor, i think it may be some sort of software glitch with the DME's. i have no idea what but thats just my two cents.

 

Recently my Service Engine Soon light has been staying on. I received a letter from Mini saying they have become aware of this problem and is because of the Oxygen Sensors. They are going to extend the emissions warranty for the oxygen sensors.

 

I just received the warranty extension letter from MINI USA yesterday. The letter states that it is model years '04-'06 that are susceptible, though they state that they estimate "...only a small percentage of vehicles will actually develop the problem."

So MINI USA has extended the emissions warranty for the oxygen sensor to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Fully transferable.

 

Trying to get mine scheduled to see what the "fix" is.

 

I don't think they'll do anything unless you're getting a continuous SES light and they trace it to this sensor. It's just extended warranty...not a recall.

 

Yeah, I got that letter too. It positively reeked of PR spin control.

Still, nice to know it's covered.

 

Our Mini show the CEL once or month or so for about 3 days. I checked the code last time with a OBDII scanner and it showed the P0130 Front O2 sensor malfunction. I cleared the code, but I'm not sure if the ECU remembers the last several faults regardless of what's displayed in the instrument panel.

 

I received the letter about the extended warranty last week, and lo and behold on Sunday, my 2006 MCS's SES light came on. I had Autozone read the code, and it's P0130, an oxygen sensor code. I plan to call MINI of Pittsburgh tomorrow to make an appointment.

(As an additional coincidence, our Subaru Outback also threw an oxygen sensor code last week. Are these things contagious?)

 

There are extended warranties provided by the federal and state governments that cover emissions parts. I think the O2 sensors might all ready be covered. It varies from state to stat but I think the Fed might cover it up to 8 yrs or 80k miles.

(Mini of Pittsburgh ?? LOL!!!! )

 

There is no fix. They just replace your oxygen sensors over and over again until you can't take it anymore and threaten to lemon your car. I can get my car to throw the SES on a certain hill by my house any time I like. Since BMW/MINI and I came to an agreement, I changed my driving style on that hill now to avoid certain rpm/engine-braking conditions which cause the SES, which invariably reads as an oxygen sensor issue. In my best estimation, it isn't a small percentage of vehicles that are affected, it is a small percentage of vehicles that drive in the very specific set of conditions every day and throw the code. The SES light goes off after several start cycles, so unless you repeat the condition which caused it, the dealer just clears the code in most cases.

 

Can I assume from your above quote that you believe your specific issue is related to "rpm/engine-braking"? This past weekend I went on a local Mini run that involved a fair amount of steep hills where I downshifted a lot (high rpms) to slow down instead of riding my brake. The following morning my SES light came on and has remained on up to now. My Mini is a 2004 and my local Mini repair shop checked the code for me and informed me it is the post CAT O2 sensor that is causing the SES. Having it replaced this evening.

So why would the rpm/engine-braking routine cause this SES condition?

 

Like many of us I live over 100 miles from my dealer.

I first had this issue about a year and a half ago. I drive an average of 500 miles a week and now have almost 94K on my 05 MCS (stock, no mods yet). Here in Alabama you can't buy gas that doesn't have ethanol in it (pumps say up to 10%).

SES light first came on with this fault code at around 68K. I used a AutoXray OBDII diagnostic reader to read the code. It said it was the rear O2 sensor.

I was way over my "total coverage" warranty period at 68K so I bought a new Bosch OEM sensor from NAPA (can't remember the number now) for about half what Mini charges and replaced it myself.

SES was reset by the scan tool but shortly came back on with the same code. So the O2 sensor wasn't really the problem at all.

I lived with the light for about another week or so and then just for the hell of it I decided to throw a bottle of Techron in the tank with the fillup as well as doing the same on my spouse's truck.

After about 3/4 way through the tank of gas I noticed the light had gone out.

I didn't add any Techron (or anything else for that matter) to my fillup the next two times and the light stayed off. After the third fillup the SES light came back on. I put another bottle of Techron in (the size for 12 gallons) and after that tank was almost gone the light went back out.

So now I put in a bottle of Techron at least every other tank of gas (or a bottle of the Prestone 0-60 Octane booster which supposedly has the maximum amount of mmt and it can be used in every tank of fuel). I have noticed that the car does run a bit smoother when I add the Prestone stuff.

Anyway, bottom line. I don't have this problem anymore when I use either the Techron or the Prestone roughly every other fillup of the tank. The light hasn't been on for over a year now.

This may or may not work for you but it certainly works for me.

I got my warranty extension letter concerning the O2 sensor a couple of weeks ago. I'm considering writing Mini back and telling them I think they need to consider adjusting the ECU mapping for those of us forced to use the 10% Ethanol fuel. Like I said, in my state you can't get fuel that doesn't have Ethanol in it and I think it's a major contributing factor to the O2 sensor issue.

Hope this helps somebody else.

S.

 

Sadly, you're not alone. I think pretty much every state in the US has this corn subsidy, err, sorry, i mean energy-independent-encouraging addition.

Thanks for the Techron tip!

 

August 08 I had both my pre and post cat O2 sensors replaced and the dealer said nothing about my warranty being extended - I also never got that letter. This was the second time they did it and the second time they pinged me for the cash too! Really wish I rec'd that letter

 

UPDATE, I had my front O2 sensor replaced out of warranty by mention of the letter at no charge from the dealer. So far so good...I'll update it the CEL fires.

 

Please let us know what Mini of Pittsburgh did and if it solved your problem.

 

As has been mentioned before, check your warranty book. Many emissions parts have a very long warranty, and some states extend the emissions warranty to a longer list of parts. It's all in the warranty booklet.

If you were charged for a part covered under either the emissions warranty or the new MINI extended waranty program, you should be entitled to a refund for both parts and labor from your dealer. Contact MINI USA if your dealer balks.

 

Dealer should be able to get you a refund for the work. Mine is coming.