Two problems related to engine have been reported for the 2003 Mini Cooper S. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Mini Cooper S based on all problems reported for the 2003 Cooper S.
Vehicle hesitates (stimbles) upon acceleration resulting in a serious saftey concern. Also, the vehicle yo-yos upon deceleration.
Mini Cooper S has severe hesitation when starting from a standing start. The problem is unrelated to throttle or clutch pedal position. Car bogs for a few seconds (when making a left against traffic it feels like an eternity) when in first gear at approximately 1800 rpm then resumes accelerating. Service advisor at dealership told me it's a "characteristic" of the car. Representative at Mini USA told me they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. The is no fix at the present time and no estimate as to when there will be one. For the time being, Mini owners have to pray each time they enter an intersection.