2008 MINI COOPER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE OIL SUPPLY LINE TO THE TURBO ON THIS CAR LEAKS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN. THE PART(S) USED BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION AND FAIL, CAUSING NOT ONLY AN OIL LEAK, BUT A POTENTIAL TURBO FAILURE, AND WORSE, THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE FIRE, AS THE OIL LEAKS ONTO A HOT TURBO CHARGER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD/DOWNPIPE. THE OIL LINE USES A COMPRESSION FITTING WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TURBO BODY. THIS FITTING USES AN INTERNAL RUBBER O-RING/SEAL THAT IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH HEAT, AND HEAT CYCLES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RUN. RUBBER SEALS FAIL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS! THE MANUFACTURER (MINI/BMW) IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. (IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR) INSTEAD, THE MANUFACTURER IS PROVIDING A "BAND-AID FIX" BY SUPPLYING A "HEAT SHIELD" THAT ATTACHES TO THE FITTING. THIS WILL DO LITTLE-TO-NOTHING TO PREVENT THE RUBBER O-RING FROM FAILING, NOR DOES IT FIX A LINE THAT IS ALREADY LEAKING. THIS FAILURE OCCURS, TYPICALLY, AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE IT CREATES. *TR

"DEATH RATTLE" NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS ON ONLINE FORUMS. NOW ENGINE IS THROWING CODES INDICATING CRANKSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. OBVIOUS RELATED ISSUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT OR TENSIONER. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP NOT A COVERED REPAIR, ALTHOUGH I'VE READ THAT SIMILAR REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER FOR OTHERS AND FOR OTHER MODELS. AS THIS VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BY MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, OUT OF STATE, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILST SHE IS ON THE HIGHWAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE SHE LIVES, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, AS A FAILURE AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS COULD CERTAINLY ENDANGER NOT ONLY MY DAUGHTER, BUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU.

THE BANGO FITTING ON TOP OF THE TURBO STARTED RANDOMLY AND EXCESSIVELY LEAKING OIL WHILE IDLING IN MY DRIVEWAY. COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL INTAKE LINE, OIL, AND DO A ENGINE CLEANING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE EASILY STARTED A FIRE WITH OIL POURING OVER A HOT TURBO. *TR

LOW MILEAGE 2008 VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DIAGNOSED AS TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAILURE. APPEARS TO A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OVER $2000. MECHANICS SAY NOT "IF" BUT "WHEN" THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ALL 2008 MCS. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED ON A RECALL. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY UNTIL REPAIRED; DELAY WILL RESULT IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

I WAS HEARING A LOUD RATTLE AND BROUGHT MY MINI IN TO GET SERVICED RIGHT AWAY. IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND NOW I FEAR IT HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ISSUE. THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER OUT OF NOWHERE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WHEN YOU LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND ARE TRYING TO GO THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING A BLIZZARD AND THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER AND YOU ALMOST GET T-BONED BY A TRUCK I WOULD TEND TO DISAGREE. *TR

AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT REMAIN ON IN THE VEHICLE. I WILL NOT PAY THE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY THE DEALERSHIP WANTS THE FIX OR REPLACE WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH IT. MAYBE ILL BE THE FIRST PERSON INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT THAT A RECALL ACTUALLY IS ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

DRIVING WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS OFF" LIGHT TURNED ON. AFTER SHIFTING IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG MAT AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MINIS. HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER. READING ONLINE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. KEEP WAITING FOR A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON SECONDARY ROAD, A LOUD ENGINE NOISE STARTED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BLINKING. I PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO MY GARAGE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRD. THIS WAS DONE FOR A COST OF $567.97. IN RESEARCHING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, IT APPEARS MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT BMW REIMBURSES THIS EXPENSE FOR AN ISSUE THEY SEEM TO BE AWARE OF BUT ARE NOT TAKING RECALL ACTION WITH. *TR

THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY OIL FEED LINES TO THE TURBO WERE LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH FOUND THE COUPLINGS THAT ATTACHES THESE LINES TO THE TURBO ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND WILL COST APPROX: $1200.00. THE DEALER INSTALLED A TURBO SHIELD TO HELP WITH THE HEAT THAT IS CAUSING THE LINE TO PREMATURELY FAIL. WITH SO MANY AFFECTED SHOULDN'T MINI BE FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR