Monday night my car started running a little rough and sounded like it had an exhaust leak. Tuesday morning I wake up, the CEL light is on, and the car feels like it's miss firing. I call my local BMW/Mini specialist and take it in. They replace the plugs and coils. Still miss fires.

So, I call the BMW/MINI dealer and take it there. They do a compression test and cylinder one is shot. They look into it and there is a hole in piston 1. Hmmmmmm.....now I'm really not happy. I ask the dealer if there is anyway to cover it and they say, nope sorry, you're out of warranty. Try calling MINI USA. I call MINI USA and they say, nope sorry, you're out of warranty!

Luckily, I was able to get it covered through the GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. So, all in all, I'm getting a new engine from MINI with a 2 year unlimited mile warranty. I just have to pay the $250 deductible.

Still can't believe that the engine needed to be replaced at 64,000 miles. Seems like a joke to me. But, I guess, that's just another example of the quality that comes from MINI.

 

At least your covered via alternate sources.

A couple questions, did you buy this MINI new?

What did you do for oil changes and maintenance, every 3 to 5K, 7500K or intervals off the OBC?

How did you drive your MINI, any mods (tune), intake etc. ?

I am presuming you have a Cooper S?

Sorry you have to deal with a blown engine, it sucks.

Don

 

+1

 

Could mechanical, dropped valve or part of a spark-plug. Running very lean or way too much timing advance. Other causes too, but the frequency of oil changes is not a cause.

The OP is very luck to have insurance to cover this. Wonder if the MINI is a Justa or an S?

 

Yes, I bought the 2007 MINI Cooper S new from MINI. All services were done at MINI according to the MINI maintenance schedule. Only tuning was the JCW kit purchased and installed by the dealer. Some spirited driving and one auto cross track day buy nothing crazy. Always fueled with Sunoco 93 Octane.

 

Thanks for filling is in. Hope everything works out for you & you're back on the road soon.

 

what kind of geico insurance poilicy do u have

 

Is that a seperate policy for mechanical coverage?

 

Thanks for the update, sad to see it blow at 64K.

Nothing in your list should have caused a holed piston.

I agree with Chuck, something broke off and holed the piston or to lean, to much advance.

Well I will see if I make it to 70K in another 40K...

 

It is part of the Geico Insurance Policy but it is a separate line item. It is called Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. You can only purchase it on a car purchased new. You must add it within the first 12 months or 10,000 miles.

 

Why are they quoting the whole engine when they could rework that cylinder with a new piston and rings, and then do some headwork? Is it cheaper?

 

I actually prefer that they're replacing the entire engine. The total cost is around $6000 for the engine and the labor. I don't know what it would've been to rebuild just that cylinder.

 

Well since you're under that cool Geico protection I would want a whole new one too.