Engine Exhaust System Problems of Mini Cooper S

Just wanted to report another case of the "death rattle". My wife has a 2007 Mini Cooper S we bought new in sept. 2007. She complained of a loud rattle when she started the car for about 5-10 minutes until warm. Thought it might be a loose exhaust component until it started having idle issues. We took it to a local shop and they "rebooted" the computer and the idle problems went away but the rattle persisted. Our closest Mini dealer is an hour away so we don't take it to them unless we have to. Early last week the oil light came on. Checked the oil and oil level was fine. . . Although the dipstick did not want to go back in the engine. Oil light would come and go over the next few days. She took it to the local shop again to have the rattle checked and the oil changed since it was almost due. They found the guide for the timing chain was broken and laying in the bottom of the cover. They called our closest Mini dealer, said it was a "common problem" with turbo Minis, and we shouldn't drive it. Had it towed to Mini and that's where it sits. They haven't worked on it yet and they will call me when they do, but an early estimate is ~$1800 to repair, as long as the engine isn't damaged (which it isn't as the car starts and runs fine). I asked Mini about it being covered under some sort of warranty after reading all the horror stories since it's a known problem but they said since the oil level was low, and low oil levels exacerbate the problem, there's nothing they can do. Had no idea the oil level was low until the light came on. Pretty sad that this "common problem" still hasn't been fixed after all these years. Wife is now a full-time student and her school is over an hour away. She makes that drive twice a day, three times a week. How that broken piece didn't get tangled in the timing chain and destroy the engine I'll never know.

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While driving the vehicle the abruptly halted causing me to vere off to the side of the road so that it could be stopped somewhere safe. Vehicle would not restart, no warning lights of any sort were present prior to this incident. Vehicle needed to be pushed to a location to allow it to be towed. Details of service provided from knauz Mini as as follows: found car not starting, during fault inspection found fault for exhaust cam sensor not reading. Found exhaust cam not moving through oil cap on valve cover. Removed valve cover for cylinder, found timing chain to be broken causing exhaust cam timing chain sproket to break off exhaust cam. Found the timing chain breaking causing damage to complete engine due to timing chain breaking in two pieces. Found lower crank damaged from timing chain wedging in between block and timing chain cover area. Removed complete engine and replaced, note during removal of sub-frame bolts on rail found treds to be damaged from factory (subframe never removed before) while being installed. Re-tapped treds and replaced both bolts. Test drove car with new motor overnight no further problems found.

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Oil return line exiting turbocharger leaks engine oil, which drips directly onto hot engine exhaust downpipe, this leads to smoke from the engine bay and will eventually cause a fire if not remedied promptly. BMW should quickly recall and repair this design defect before a lot of private property goes up in flames.

Engine oil spraying from camshaft chain tension-er seal. Oil was spraying out under pressure. I would consider this to be a fire hazard, as hot exhaust components are nearby.

2008 Mini Cooper S - engine failure due to faulty vacuum pump. While driving my well maintained 2008 Mini Cooper S under normal driving conditions, the engine issued a loud, brief metallic noise and stopped running. The engine was still turning, but was not running. Had the car towed home. Upon inspection of the valve train, by removal of valve cover, the exhaust cam gear was sheared off and several valves had been bent. The exhaust cam would not turn. Further research into the matter indicates a failed vacuum pump caused the exhaust cam to lock-up and shear off the cam sprocket bolt. The pistons then impacted the valves causing severe internal engine damage. This car also fell victim to the "cold start" issue and had the valve train replaced at 60,000 miles. Mini has indicated that since the warranty period has expired, they will not assist in the repair. I suggest this issue should result in a product recall of all r56 equipped Mini vehicles for replacement of the vacuum pump. This issue is well documented on the internet, and BMW is aware of the problem. This is evidenced by the procedure executed to repair the "cold start" issue includes a step to remove and inspect the vacuum pump for binding.

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2007 Mini cooper 52860 miles has been to the dealer 5 times in the last year with same problem a loud clanking noise during startup and the engine light comes on. They have changed everything but I still have th issue. I took the car to a different shop other than the dealer and he said I shouldn't be driving the car that it has serious flaw in the timing belt and the engine could malfunction at any time. I called Mini and they sadi they would try to fix the car again since its was still under warrently. This car is dangerous and I have seen thousands of posts for this same issue. When I talked ot the dealer about the thousands of posts about this issue he said they have serveral major engine problems with mins 2007,2008. 2009 and 2010 so they had to change the engine. The car is currently in the shop for the sixth time this year I told Mini I was scarred to drive because if the the engine stops while I am driving it I will be dangerours. The are going to replace the timing again he did suggest I get a 2011 Mini since the engine was changed. I think there should be a recall with this issue.

Timing chain 2008 Mini Cooper S failure. Loud knocking noise from engine. Under warranty parts replaced.

2007 Mini Cooper S spontaneously caught fire while turned off and parked in my garage. I had traveled less than two miles when I parked the car. Fire started under the hood and completely totaled the car by the time the fire department arrived and put it out.

I borrowed my friend's Mini Cooper S for the week to test drive it. As I was unloading cargo from the trunk, my leg was burned when it touched the exhaust tip. Yesterday, I read about an investigation into the same problem on edmunds. Com.

I burned my lower front leg on the chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes of out 2007 Mini Cooper S (turbo version).

I own a 2007 Mini Cooper S hardtop. Last may, while taking some shopping packages out of the back ,through the hatch of my vehicle , I was burned on the side of my left calf by the exhaust pipe. A couple of weeks after, it happened again, just not as badly as the first time thankfully. The first burn did blister and today,sept. 30,2008, I still have a mark on my leg from this painful event.

Received blistering and permanent scaring burn from exhaust pipe while removing cargo from rear of vehicle.

Received blistering and permanent scaring burn from exhaust pipe while removing cargo from rear of vehicle.

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.

The tailpipes, when hot, apparently protrude enough to cause severe burns to the leg. My 7 year old daughter sustained a serious burn this way when getting something out of the hatchback.

After a ride in my 2006 Mini cooper, I reached into the back (hatchback) to get out my bag and burned my leg on the exhaust pipe. BMW/Mini said that everything is to spec, but I think it is a bad design that it sticks out just a little further than the bumper and should be corrected. I will have a scar on the outside of my leg due to this design.

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