Two problems related to engine burning oil have been reported for the 2009 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Passenger seat air bag sensor mat has been tripping the fault to light up the dashboard and over head lamps telling the driver the airbag is disengaged, with or without a passenger in the seat. Previous year Mini's as well as same year Mini's have been affected causing Mini to extend a warranty or even a recall in the instance of BMW. However for my make model and year no such warranty has been issued or extended. This is a mandatory safety feature under federal and state law, consumers should not have to pay 100's if not 1000's of dollars time and again for a part that was designed to last only a few years when all vehicles must posses a safe working airbag for the life of the car. Have contacted Mini USA as well as various dealers, USA and uk based. They will not provide any information with regards to the part and if it is used in previous years vehicle's with the known issues. They claim that the computer says "your" VIN number has no known issues. Mini tells me I should only change my oil once every 2 years or 15 thousand miles. They also tell me not to worry about the car unless a warning lamp comes on. They also tell me that my vehicle burns about a litre of oil for every 5000 miles driven. As far as I know running an engine on 2 litres oil will cause it to seize. How can this practice by the company prevent or provide for safe usage to consumers who don't know anything about cars except how to drive one.
Engine warning light taken for Mini dealership for service on 8 Aug 2012, 3 Dec 2012, and now in June 2013. Vehicle now has about 36,800 miles and is no loner under warranty by about seven months. Engine temperature light now comes on and vehicle had no oil showing on dip stick. Cannot tell if oil is burning off and no evidence of leak. Repairman now states that the timing chain is the issue and will cost upwards of $2800 to fix.