I have a 2009 Clubman that has given me no trouble at all. First oil change was done at 15,000 miles (made an appointment to dealer 200 miles away for 15,000, then after making appointment, oil change instructions said to wait until 20,000). Dealer changed oil anyway at 15,000 miles and said that it would mess up some of my notifications from the computer. Have 28,800 miles now, and was planning on changing oil again at 30,000, and it went crazy late this afternoon. Drove all day in 89 degree temps with not problem. After dinner, drove a block to see a sick friend and the red engine warning lite came on. Pulled in, opened hood, and saw that the coolant resevoir was almost empty ..... went to auto parts, bought anti-freeze and added some. LIGHT STILL COMES ON TELLING ME TO SERVICE CAR AND NOT TO RUN MOTOR!

Murphy's law ...... all this happens after 5pm and I was going out of town in the morning. Nearest Mini dealership is 200 miles away. Guess that I will call them, have them pick up the Clubman and I hope they will pay for car rental until they get the Clubman back to me. I have never had this happen. Is this the way things are supposed to work? I cannot leave town in the morning as planned, so everything is really, really messed up.

Could use some advice from ANYONE who has had something like this happen and would appreciate any advice that you have.

 

Take a look at this forum: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ms-issues-188/ and see if anyone has posted about losing coolant like this. If they haven't, then post your problem there where not just Clubmen owners will see it.

I feel badly for you. First thought that came to my mind while reading was - could the mechanics have possibly done something to cause this?

I'm guessing that the towing bit might come under the MINI's Roadside Assistance policy. Please let us know what happens and I hope it is take care of quickly. Good luck!

 

This person had the same problem!!!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ferrerid=43861

 

Great find Benibiker! I'm that I didn't search this forum first.

Good luck buckbs and please let us know what you think on that other thread, too.

 

Big difference between these two though called mileage. OP has put 12,000 plus mile on the car since it was serviced last. If it was the same thing with the coolant cap missing the problem would have shown up much much sooner.

The coolant tank should not be empty but even if there is a little in the tank then there is enough to cool the engine properly.

With a "RED" engine light it sounds like much more than low coolant as the car would have gone yellow first, and then to red at some later point if the problem was not rectified.