Two problems related to coolant leaking have been reported for the 2009 Mini Cooper. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I noted that at idle the engine of my 2009 Mini Cooper was not running smooth and instead beginning to pulsate/vibrate. Within in 3 days I had my Mini at the service center. On the way to the appointment the engine cut off at idle at a stop light but was able to restart. No sensor light. I was informed that there was a timing chain failure. As a result there was extensive damage to the engine. The damage also caused an oil leak so that the engine was running without oil, though I'd recently received an oil change. Additionally, the vacuum pump was also leaking. At no time did any sensor lights come on as a warning, including a check engine, low oil, or low coolant . I was informed that repairs would be upwards of $3500. 00, over half of the value of the vehicle. Despite the class action lawsuit settlement that I inquired about, Mini failed to acknowledge knowledge of the problem. It was my understanding that the settlement of the lawsuit resulted in extending the warranty on these vehicles for the timing chain issue to 7 years/100,000mi. My Mini only had 64,000miles and was within the 7 year mark. Additionally, I learned that Mini had previously issued a recall for the vacuum pump. However, I was repeatedly told that for both of these issues "[my] vehicle was not one of the affected vehicles. ".
The thermostat failed, the temperature elevated, the freeze plug fell out/broke out of place causing the head gasket to blow out. The coolant leaked into the oil and caused it to become "milky" therefore blowing out my engine. I was driving on the freeway at the time of the incident and the car failed to accelerate. Luckily people were kind enough to let me pass from the far left lane to the nearest exit and I did not crash.