I was on the highway in my 07 mini cooper s with 42k on the miles. It is completely stock. All of the sudden a rocker arm popped off cylinder 4 on one of the intake valves. I live in Joplin mo and was 150 miles away from the closest dealership so I had a person at a local dealer check it out before I towed it the 150 miles. He pulled the valve cover and the rocker arm was sitting in the cylinder head. So I brought it to mini this last weekend and it is out of warrenty by 8 months time wise. I have been on the phone with Mini usa and they have denied me assistance because someone other than a mini dealer looked at it. I have pics below of the rocker arm. Call me crazy but I don't think rocker arms just pop off randomly? Does this sound like mini is seriously dropping the ball on a car (07) that has a history of motor issues?

 

I was on the highway in my 07 mini cooper s with 42k on the miles. It is completely stock. All of the sudden a rocker arm popped off cylinder 4 on one of the intake valves. I live in Joplin mo and was 150 miles away from the closest dealership so I had a person at a local dealer check it out before I towed it the 150 miles. He pulled the valve cover and the rocker arm was sitting in the cylinder head. So I brought it to mini this last weekend and it is out of warrenty by 8 months time wise. I have been on the phone with Mini usa and they have denied me assistance because someone other than a mini dealer looked at it. Call me crazy but I don't think rocker arms just pop off randomly? Does this sound like mini is seriously dropping the ball on a car (07) that has a history of motor issues?

 

I don't believe they can legally say no because someone else looked at it. Though they can clearly say no just because you are outside of your warranty period.

 

I know it is technically out of warranty but do you think there is something wrong with a rocker arm blowing off with 42k

 

I don't ever recall hearing of others with that problem; stuff happens, things fail, bad luck, feel for you but...

 

+1

It is a mechanical item and they warranty it for a certain period of time or mileage which ever come first and with it being out of warranty they dont have to fix it.

And if you really take a look around here many people IN Warranty have been denied repair for some reason or another by MINI and sometimes it is correct and other times I would say it is incorrect. But in your situation they have zero responsibility to do anything under warranty. I mean if this happened at 142,000 miles would you really expect them to fix it. It sounds to me like you would as there is no difference between being OUT of warranty at 42K or 142K miles

 

I wouldn't expect anything to be done at 142000 miles obviously. If they put a 4 yr 50k miles warrentied on a vehicle I expect it to last to at least 42k though

 

how much is this repair going to cost you ?? Id see if Mini can meet ya half way or at least something ..

 

Well, I'm pulling for you on this one. Its true that things wear out, and its true that MINI does not have any legal responsibility under their terms of warranty, but I think you can make a case that this kind of failure is not wear related, and instead indicates a defect in parts or workmanship. You'll be fighting uphill, but maybe... if you can make your case to the right set of ears... Well - Good Luck.

 

I've seen some strange things before. That one is right up there.
Add me to the list of I don't think they will help, but good luck.

I am curious, did the valve stem stay seated? Could failure have been metal fatigue on the rocker arm or possibly a bent valve?
Let us know as you find out. And again, good luck.

 

They said no bent valves or any other damage. Who knows what will happen

 

I see your point though, if the warranty is for 4 years/50K and you haven't even reached the 50K they could at least meet you half way on the cost. I'll reach my 4 year point with only 25k on my car...

 

So, no bent valve, nothing looks amiss, why not reinstall it and carry on?

The only time I had something similar happen it was on a Porsche 911, the tube that carries the oil to lube the rockers got clogged on one end, the shaft started turing with the arm and worked itself out. The repairs were obvious, clean the tube, reinstall the arm and off you go...

 

my husband was replacing the head gasket and the rocker was just laying in there. We put it back together.