Three problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 2008 Mini Cooper. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Tailpipe burned leg while getting items out of trunk of 2008 Mini Cooper 2 door sedan.
Ltr from congressman maurice d. Hinchey on behalf of constituent, who suffered a leg burn from the tailpipe of her 2008 Mini Cooper.
On 9/3/08 I leaned into the rear of my 2008 Mini Cooper to retrieve grocery bags and my bare leg (right leg) came into contact with the tail pipe of the vehicle. The tail pipe was hot as in "like a red-hot poker" and I received an extremely painful crescent shaped burn on my lower leg from the tail pipe. The tail pipe protrudes beyond the bumper by at least an inch. I measured it and on the right side it measures 2 and one-half inches beyond the bumper and on the left side it sticks out one and one-half inches beyond the bumper. On my Mini Cooper, I have one tail pipe which is on the right side of the rear of the vehicle. I required treatment at an emergency room less than 36 hours later when I became concerned that the wound may become infected. The attending doctor told me that wound was healing well and that it was not infected. I was prescribed 1% silver sulfadiazine cream (topical) to tend the wound. Updated 09/26/08.