2007 MINI COOPER S Complaints

RECEIVED BLISTERING AND PERMANENT SCARING BURN FROM EXHAUST PIPE WHILE REMOVING CARGO FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR

HOOD SCOOP ON 2007 MINI COOPER "S" IS MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM TURBO. *TR

AFTER A 30 MINUTE DRIVE, I PARKED AND THEN PULLED SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK. WHILE REACHING IN, I BURNED MY LEFT SHIN ON THE TAILPIPE. I SHOWED IT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO OUR BURN UNIT DIRECTOR AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FUNCTIONAL FULL THICKNESS BURN IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LOCATION (BECAUSE OF THE POOR BLOOD PERFUSION TO THE SHIN, HEALING IS IMPAIRED AND INFECTION RISK IS HIGH). HE SENT ME HOME FROM WORK ON ANTIBIOTICS AND I HAD TO BE ON BED REST WITH MY LEG ELEVATED. I SPOKE TO MINI AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I BE CAREFUL - AS THE TAILPIPE CAN GET HOT. I THANKED THEM FOR THE ADVICE AND MADE THE FOLLOWING POINT: SURE, IT GETS HOT... IT'S AN EXHAUST TAILPIPE. HOWEVER, IT'S THE FIRST THING MY LEG COMES IN CONTACT TO AND IT'S IN THE CENTER OF A CAR THAT REQUIRES YOU TO GET CLOSE IN ORDER TO PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK. I SUGGESTED THAT BMW ISSUE A RECALL AND ADJUST THE TAILPIPE SO THAT THE FIRST THING THE LEG HITS IS THE BUMPER (LIKE MOST CARS). I WAS TOLD THAT NO CHANGE WAS PLANNED AT THIS TIME. MY POINTS: IT'S A BAD DESIGN. IT'S AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OR NORTHAMERICANMOTORING SEARCH WILL SHOW THIS). BMW NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT ITS CUSTOMERS AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, ITS CUSTOMERS' CHILDREN. *TR ADD PICTURE *121108 CW UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH ALWAYS EMITTED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE ENGINE GRADUALLY REVVED WITHIN A 48 HOUR PERIOD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3,300. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.

I BURNED MY LOWER FRONT LEG ON THE CHROME TIPPED DUAL EXHAUST PIPES OF OUT 2007 MINI COOPER S (TURBO VERSION). *TR

LOWER LEG SUSTAINED BURN RESULTING IN SCARING AS RESULT OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH EDGE OF REAR EXHAUST PIPE(S). EXHAUST PIPES EXTEND TOO FAR BEYOND REAR BUMPER CREATING EXPOSURE TO A PERSON ACCESSING TRUNK. *TR

COMPLAINT FOR DUNLOP RADIAL TUBELESS TIRES, 205145 R17 (84V) SP SPORT 01, RUN FLAT TIRES. I WAS WASHING MY 2007 MINI COOPER S (WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES) AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SEVERE BUBBLING OF THE SIDE WALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED, EXPLAINING THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY UNUSUAL IMPACT ON THE TIRE AND THAT IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE TIRE, SAYING THAT I HAD TO GO DIRECTLY TO DUNLOP. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED ON MARCH 13TH, 2008 BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE DRIVING IS A NECESSITY AND WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IF I DID NOT REPLACE IT. IT WAS REPLACED AT ASSAEL BMW/MINI OF MONROVIA, CA. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED YET ANOTHER BUBBLE ON THE NEWLY REPLACED TIRE! AGAIN, THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL IMPACT UPON THE TIRE WALL, NO RUB MARKS, AND NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES, I AM FORCED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED, BUT AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FOR EACH TIRE, COSTING APPROXIMATELY $387.00. IN ADDITION, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD THREE ADDITIONAL DUNLOP BRAND RUN FLAT TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDE WALL BALLOONING AT MY EXPENSE. I WOULD ADVISE THAT ALL OWNERS OF THE TIRES DESCRIBED ABOVE CAREFULLY CHECK THEIR TIRES FOR POSSIBLE BALLOONING, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT DUNLOP AND/OR THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

DURING START UP, LOUD VALVE TAPPING NOISE IS HEARD. NOISE PERSISTED DURING MULTIPLE SEGMENT OF THE TRIP WHERE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF FOR UP TO 30 MIN AND RESTARTED. SUBSEQUENT NOISE WAS NOT AS PROMINENT AS THE INITIAL START UP ON THE SAME DAY. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATES ITSELF WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS RIDING IN CAR. THE CAR DOES THIS AT RANDOM. DEALERSHIP HAS CHECKED THE CAR AND SAYS THAT IT IS WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

DANGEROUS LEVEL OF HEAT IN THE DRIVER'S FOOTWELL AFTER CAR IS DRIVER FOR A WHILE. *TR