2003 MCS (bought Feb 03/built 10/02) mechanical problems-

Rear boot hatch- did not close and did not open once closed
Replaced under warranty once- fixed

Right Xenon light- failed to turn on each morning but once on it worked-
required 4 visits to dealer, ignitor replaced but didn't solve problem, this happens to xenons in some MINIs, eventually replaced entire right light and housing but not wiring.-fixed

PCV valve and hose- hose soft with oil on inside- replace hose and valve- fixed

Rubber gasket rubbing under bonnet on right and left front-wears out the paint to bare metal- dealer applied two plastic shields fastened with screws to the inner bonnet to protect the metal

Coolant bottle leaked from seam- replaced under warranty once- fixed

Also tighten your screws for the bonnet scoop and the intercooler cover.
These tend to get loose and drop off

Rusted under carriage bolts- in as little as 2 months about 15 of my bolts under the car in the engine area were covered with rust. I removed the rust and painted the bolts.

 

2004 MCS, BUILT 09/03 – 3500 MILES, SEVERAL PROBLEMS:


1_ A few hours after picking up the MINI, whilst on my way home (at night) lost all power for a split second, then it all came back on. Dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong, & hasn't happened since.

2_Also noticing that the rear boot hatch will not close properly, needs to be slammed with quite some force.

3_ My steering column is also making "creaking" sounds when parking & turning wheel whilst still. Seems to me that the whole steering column has loosened as if the height adjustment function does not lock the column in position tight enough.

4_ One night driving home, lost all gears and tension in the transmission. Had to limp home in what seemed like 5th gear! Had it towed to MINI Service & apparently the gearstick cable has snapped. Over a week later & still waiting for the parts from overseas…

 

Ours still stalls ALL THE TIME. The window regulator just went out - again. I also just had it towed to the dealership because of overheating. I'm guessing its a thermostat...

I'm having so many problems with this car. BMW lost a 5 series sale to Acura when I bought my car a while ago. If they can't get a Mini right, I don't expect they can get anything right...

 

joecoool....your answer to your problems is in the color.......trade it in for a nice white job....should do the trick....export the BRG back to England or Germany (NOT to France)

 

It's probably the power steering fan. If that gets stuck it blows the fuse which also controls the engine cooling fan.

 

After 8 weeks and 2500miles, I have no real problems and just love my MINI. However there is a strange issue with the passenger seat.
When I have someone in the rear seat and they depress the "Press" button to release the seat, the seat leans forward but does not shift forward. The driver seats works fine, and returns to its "memorized" location when pushed back. I looked under the passenger seat to see if anything appeared broken, a rock in the mechanism, etc... but could not see anything obvious.

Has anyone else had a problem like this? Any hints on what to look for?

It's hard to justify a trip to the dealer for something this small, but my son ends up "trapped" until someone slides the seat forward.

 

something blocking the seat tracks?

 

I thought something like that at first, but the seat positions just fine front/back, height, and recline position. The "press" button just only leans the seat forward, but does not release it on the track to also slide forward letting my son out. It's like that level is only releasing one of two catches. Something out of kilter???
Anyways, I guess I'll have to get the dealer to look at it after the new year...

 

My dinger and seatbelt light wouldn't stop one day about a week ago after I buckled up. I brought the car in and they found fault codes. The sensors were replaced today.

I had asked if they could just disconnect that stuff so the light and dinger wouldn't work and they said no.

Zip

 

My 2006 mini has stalled twice, once in stop and go traffic, i had my ac on and it was a hot day and figured it was overheating. But it happened again this morning, stalled at a traffic light. It wasn't hot at all this morning and the ac was off. It turned on again the minute i restarted it, i'm worried that this could progress into a serious problem.

 

Geesh... started this thread 11+ years ago and its still getting hits as recent as 2 years back.

I hope everyone in the NAM community are doing well.

Sfiveten