My car wouldn't start tonight. Ten minutes earlier it was fine. Then it just turned over and over and over but wouldn't fire. Occasionally it sounded like it wanted to start, like a carbed engine starving for fuel (or even flooded). Let it sit for a few, tried again--same thing. Waited for over an hour for MINI roadside assistance to get a tow truck there. It's now sitting at the dealer and I await a call tomorrow to hopefully explain the problem and give me an ETA on a repair.

Is there a collective list about these things somewhere? I know the HPFP is a known problem, and I know there are many threads spread across NAM, but if there's a centralized list somewhere, I would very much appreciate being directed to it.

It's a 2011 MCS hardtop with just over 2800 miles on it.

 

Bump.

 

It happened to mine this past week. The tow truck picks it up tomorrow. goKart says it's carbon build up on the valves but I who knows. Good luck.

 

Lots of random threads, but have not seen a centralized, coherent list of HPFP failures. I'm guessing folks are probably less motivated to systematically document this in view of MINI's acknowledgement of the issue and their announcement of the warranty extension.

At 2800 miles on the clock, I agree that the HPFP is a prime suspect.

 

Thursday: 10:15am, I call. They tell me they should have it in the shop by afternoon. They call me at 4:45pm, tell me their computer systems have been down. Tell me it will get in first thing in the morning, and I'll get a call by noon.

Friday: 1pm. I call, person in charge of my case is out to lunch. 2:15pm, call back. Diagnosis: valvetronic software is out of date resulting in the timing slipping (how does electronic timing 'slip'?). Computer update takes 6-8 hours. They can't start me until Monday.

This is why we make a big effin' deal about little 'quirks' and issues with cars under warranty. It is a big deal when my sole means of transportation is UNAVAILABLE for five days or more. Oh, and my dealer is 35 miles away.

 

Wow, you hung up in Littleton or the North MINI dealer?

Sounds like they are overloaded, if this is Schomp, they must have had some changes in the staff, not boding well.

Don

 

Schomp. I was hoping my girlfriend's sour experience was anomaly. She made an appointment for Countryman stripes weeks beforehand. Dropped off car, went about her business. They call her three hours later--"Oh, we're sorry. We sold your stripes to someone this morning." WTF!?!? Why didn't they CHECK when she DROPPED OFF HER CAR!?!?

And now this. And I perused Schomp's Facebook page, and there were some seriously disappointed people there. I'm not thrilled.

And I didn't mention--I bought this car on August 31st. Why didn't it have 'updated' software then? I'm just at a loss.

 

The woman mentioned that I could get a car from Enterprise rent-a-car as part of my warranty. She told me she worked until 5 and to call back before then to arrange something if I chose to. Called back at 4:15, the other person who answered said her line was busy, sent me to voicemail. Left a message. It's now 5:23pm, no call back. So, no car tonight.

 

I feel your pain, earliest I could get a prob. looked at is Wednesday morning and they wanted me to leave it all day.

Of course, no loaner available. We shall see.

Best of luck on getting it worked out, perhaps you will have it on Monday PM.

 

Monday, 4:39pm. Haven't heard anything back yet. Going to call shortly to check for an update.

 

Just heard back from the dealer--software update didn't do anything. As I had suspected. Now they're opening a case with MINI for the next course of action.

 

That sucks man, I'm dreading the day that I have an issue with my car. Hope it all works out for you. Maybe you can get some free stuff for the inconv.. inconvien.. troubles.

 

Well that sucks, did they provide you a rental or MINI loaner, say Enterprise drop off to you work or house?

Don

 

My girlfriend is taking her Countryman in for stripes in the morning, and while it's kind of obnoxious (we live 30+ miles apart), I told the service people that I would like to come in with her and grab a loaner. So that's the plan.

 

So what you driving today, enterprise or a MINI demo? I suspect they did not have a new Coupe for loaner purposes. :(

Don

 

Enterprise. Had I known that my 'loaner' would be a rent-a-car, I would have gone through the hassle in Boulder instead of having my girlfriend make a 50+ side trip to pick me up and take me with her--only to have both of us trucked off to the Enterprise up the street.

Rockin' the Nissan Sentra. Wish they would have offered a Coupe.

 

Did she get her stripes installed or was that an overnight job too?

What news on your MINI? Enterprise not to bad, I got stuck with one from MOL versus one of the MINI loaners, the Nissan I had got great mileage but no soul or heart. :(

Hope you get it back soon.

 

Yep, her stripes got completed today. She picked it up a short while ago and is thrilled. They look great.

No news today. Nothing. Going to call tomorrow, maybe around noon, and see what's going on and if they've got any response from MINI.

 

I emailed my MA (who used to be in service) about my issues as well as the guess that the problem if the fuel pump or the relay noted here. Hoping I hear back from him tomorrow with some ideas. I'm also hoping he might run the front line for information from service for me.

 

I was a Schomp from 9:30 to about 2pm, my issues were fixed and something they had noted from a Service Bulletin was fixed, too.

MINI loaners still not available, so I was able to hit a few places around the area and had a good Thai lunch, too.

Funny thing, after I filled up with premium at the local Conoco, the CM tossed a check engine light, I will check it with my tool in the AM while the Turkey roasts.

Did the old stop and reset gas cap, no power loss, so I guess I will read the codes and reset.

No issues until after my gas stop, weird, this is the 2nd CEL since last January, we shall see.

On a side note, don't get gum wrapper foil in the area behind/between the steering wheel and the main steering post. It will cause your horn to honk on random basis. Our bad!

Btw, Devin was off today, his normal day off.

Don

 

Devin responded to my email this morning--which I thought was fantastic, on his day off!--and told me he'd touch base with me when he gets back in on Friday.

I got the call from service about 45 minutes ago. MINI's recommends replacing the valvetronic motor/actuator which won't be in until Tuesday. She'll call me on Tuesday to give me an estimated completion time. And she did note that they tested all the fuel stuff and it checked out. So it doesn't seem to be a fuel thing.

I'm glad to have received some constant contact and information. Now if Tuesday would just get here...

 

Btw, my CEL cleared after a few starts and stops with about 5 miles after the fill-up.

I think the 2011/2012 MINIs might be sensative to 'necking' the gas up the fill pipe.

I will try it again in a week or two. Back to KingSoopers for the next fill-up in the CM.

Don

 

Call from Schomp: part came in early, car is ready. Heading down there in a few hours.

Cross your fingers.

 

Officially, the valvetronic actuator was defective. Dealer installed part #11 37 7 591 588. So it wasn't a fuel pump issue. But we can perhaps chalk this up to another explanation for the no-start issue in newer MINIs.

 

Do the HPWPs fail all of a sudden or do they die slowly? My mini was towed in last week with a very rough idle. The intake valves were walnut blasted 2000 miles ago, so that is not the problem.

Luckily I live in California, so I do not have to deal with Enterprise for a loaner. I have had a 135i for the past week.