Took delivery of my miniCoupe back around the middle of August. I kept tabs on the whole process ... ordering, build, shipping, delivery. It's black with a silver roof and contrasting stripes. I have the Recaro seats, Mini Connected with the Nav, JCW aero kit and the R112 wheels. I even have a set of snow tires waiting for the winter on R112 wheels that I had powder coated gunmetal gray. I garaged it most of the summer while waiting for the Xpel clear bra to be put on.

So, finally we put it on the road. With 450 miles on the odometer it developed a whine from the front end. It was consistent with speed and gone at a stop. I called the dealership (Classic in Willoughby) yesterday and let them know about the issue. By the time I got home last night there was grinding metal thrashing sounds coming out of the front end. This morning it's at the dealer and the last I heard they were thinking it had something to do with the axle ... ?? I am disappointed. The little I did drive this car it was exactly what we thought it was going to be when we ordered it.

 

That is a disappointment when something on a new car fails. It doesn't help much to hear others attempt to console you with talk of cars being made of 100's of components, sub-assemblies, complex stuff that can fail immediately due to mfg. defects, etc. even after it passed visual inspection. So...I won't try that stuff.

I would say...I've been a pretty voracious forum reader since Nov. '11 or so, and hadn't heard of this particular malady. I wouldn't think the axle/shaft/bearing/hub would be a new part (unique to the Coupe / Roadster), it might be.

Staying tuned for more news once clearly diagnosed.

 

That stinks , sorry =(

 

Spoke with the service department late yesterday. They have decided it is the transmission and waiting to here from Mini on whether or not to run more tests????? They indicated a new transmission may be in order.

 

That is why the OEM provides a warranty. Components, (even with all the quality processes of manufacturing) can and will fail. I know, I'm a component manufacturer for Heavy Construction Equipment components. Did they provide you with a loaner? I'm sorry to hear about your Coupe just be patient with the dealer, they're just the messenger.

 

At two thousand miles I had a whine in my JCW Coupe. It was a transmission also. Had to wait three weeks to get a new one from Germany. No problems since.

 

To the op

It's a manual right? JCW only comes manual correct?

 

I have the JCW package (aero kit, wheels, steering wheel, etc ... not a JCW model.) It's an auto, but the 2013 JCW does come in an automatic.

I went to the dealership yesterday to swap out a loaner and the latest news is that Mini approved the new transmission. It will be 7-10 days to arrive from Germany.

 

Went and visited the miniCoupe yesterday. They're almost done with replacing the transmission. It came in a few days early, but has taken longer than expected to swap. I asked if the transmission was new and was told it was remanufactured and that all Mini replacement transmissions are that way. At first that bothered me ... but, the transmission that went bad after 450 miles was new. Either way it's all under warranty I guess. I have put more miles on their loaner than I have on my own car. 600 on mine and 900 on their's so far. Should be ready no later than Tuesday.

 

I wonder what went wrong with tranny??? So sorry this happened to you, I read some of these posts and now worry endless if I will have the same problems!

 

It's been back for a little while now. I've tacked on about 150 miles on the "new" tranny. The dealership did a good job of putting things back together. Except for a grease smudge on the door panel (easily removed) you would never know they were in there. It runs fine and it was a blast being back on the road again. I spent some time locking up the new iPhone 5 with bluetooth and even did the iPad bluetooth hookup, as well. The leased 2010 hatchback goes back in about a week so the miniCoupe will be on duty full time.