Hello mini folk!

My name is Elrich (El), I'm from Virginia. My brother is the one with the 07 cooper s, and basically bought the car because I needed the hand me down family car. So I feel a little guilty about what happened next...

My brother bought the car in Arlington from a used car dealership. About 65,000 miles on her for under 20 grand. He was is still paying the car off and she couldn't start even if she wanted to. It seems she is a victim of something BMW is not admitting is a problem.

He drove the car around for a few thousand miles and maybe 6 months. Had some cold start roughness and asked the mini dealership in Richmond Va about it, they told him it is normal and should not worry about it. He always had it serviced by a licensed dealer, driving 5 hours one way out of his own way to get to a dealership. Paying out the nose, but making sure it was properly taken care of.

One night, he is driving on the highway and he notices some power loss and a strange clunking noise, keeps driving, but pulls off the highway and into a parking lot where she gave her last breath and seized. The car was towed away, and a local mechanic gave a short verdict and said the motor is seized and it would probably need a new motor.

Now I spent some time myself researching this problem. Apparently the vacuum pump malfunctions, forcing the cam to sheer the starter gear, sending metal into the valves. Noticing multiple of these occasions from the lovely google machine, I was hopelessly wishing BMW would come out with a recall for this or MINI would be able to help my brother out as this has nothing to do with his care of his love. The car has been sitting for another 6 months now, he is driving a family car and still paying for a car he cannot even drive. MINI quoted him over 8,000 for a new motor, and I cannot get a straight answer out of anyone on what we can do to get this thing back on the road.



I am an avid Ducati fan, and I am myself a 2 wheeler. Now I know we aren't always the best of friends , but I'm reaching out to the MINI crowd. Whenever I run into you guys in the mountains, I can always count on a cooper to stop and say "What is wrong with your bike" or "Do you need any help". This time I can't handle it myself.

If anyone has any leads on how to further pursue this issue, or even a way to get my brother back on the road... please do not hesitate to post here, PM me or email me.

Thanks!

 

Sorry to hear of your brothers' situation. Unforunately, the car would be so far out of warranty that it's unlikely BMW would consider footing the bill. The other obstacle you may encounter is that you don't know how it was or wasn't maintained by the previous owner(s). I'm not as familiar with the issue you mentioned as I am with some of the other common MINI issues (carbon buildup, death rattle, etc...).

If the motor is truly seized, best bet would be to try to find a motor from another MCS in a salvage yard and do a swap.

 

For some reason the forum would not let me post, so I just made a test post and I am editing now...

Thanks for the reply Klayfish! I know BMW is not going to do a thing. And I was worried about the PO myself, but after pulling up the bonnet and seeing a fresh K&N upgrade CAI and filter on there... plus new plugs/wires/tires/pads/interior, I just had to believe whomever it was took care of their car.

Now here are a few links detailing catastrophic engine failure, that kind of match up to my brothers in a few ways. How many threads like this could you pull up about my bike ? (Ducati 999..)

Vacuum pump failure:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/second-ge...p-failure.html

Another vacuum pump:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-failure.html

Complaints about the Mini:
http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Compl...Cooling+System

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ent-fubar.html

Here is the cold start roughness I was referring to earlier leading to the EXACT same thing"
http://www.minicooperspeed.com/mini-...se-issue-2007/

Seized:
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums...ooper-s-works/

There are multiple reports of oil starvation, where the lights do not even come on! And the dealer would not help!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...aler-help.html

I tried to be brief with this for posterity's sake, but COME! ON! I could sit here for an hour posting links of Mini's just seizing motors for whatever reason. You don't have to tell me about a vehicle that needs an extra little care because of its prowess and precision, I daily ride a damn Ducati, but seizing motors just from daily driving and no real warnings? It is not fair to anyone paying that kind of price, and is pathetic when it is tied to a car that is so damn cool !




If anyone in the Virginia area could point me in a direction of place that could help me out on a spare motor, and some tips, I would greatly appreciate it. If anything, I will put up my own money and try and rebuild this for him. No sense in letting the poor thing be parted out, going to waste, and leaving everyone unhappy.