[rec]

hmm, i might have to. i rarely run the car without aircon on anyway, I might give it a try sometime.

any news from BMW relating to this ? i might run mine in on Sat and see what they say.

[FergusM]

Quote: Originally Posted by rec (original)

hmm, i might have to. i rarely run the car without aircon on anyway, I might give it a try sometime.

Meant to add...I found it with air con off...will try to look for it with air con on and see if it is the same... I suspect it will be.

[caesar]

If you turn on the A/C and direct the cold air flow to the foot well area, then the plastic plate cools down.......does on my July 07 MCS.

[Arnbut]

I picked up the new car yesterday.
Engine bay and bonnet temps are lower by 60 degrees F ---- due largely to the open venturi design of the new hood scoop and longer run-time of the cooling system after shut down.
The footwell pillar is actually warmer -- 130 degrees -- but my feet feel cooler; I got the AT on the new car and my foot isn't pressed up against the pillar any longer.
It's the pilot that gets roasted in the left-drive cars, not the passenger...

[Purple Dave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Arnbut (original)

I picked up the new car yesterday.
Engine bay and bonnet temps are lower by 60 degrees F ---- due largely to the open venturi design of the new hood scoop and longer run-time of the cooling system after shut down.
The footwell pillar is actually warmer -- 130 degrees -- but my feet feel cooler; I got the AT on the new car and my foot isn't pressed up against the pillar any longer.
It's the pilot that gets roasted in the left-drive cars, not the passenger...

Oh.... that's ok then. Nothing to worry about - case closed

[Purple Dave]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

If you turn on the A/C and direct the cold air flow to the foot well area, then the plastic plate cools down.......does on my July 07 MCS.

Doesn't help the original poster much .... didn't spec air con

[Mamoura]

Just talked to service manager at dealership [HF Glasgow] and he is pushing BMW to come up with a solution to this. All the cars they checked with a/c and no a/c, have this pipe that heats the panel to between 50 and 55C within 20 minutes of running. So running the a/c into the footwell covers the problem but a 'cure' needs to be found by the factory.

He said that they will probably come up with a 'quality enhancement' that will sort it but this could take some time.

Up to us then again, as the customers that paid the dollars/pounds/euros? Time to kick some b*ts and get them onto it quicker....

PS I quoted the number of 'hits' on the web site about this - he was impressed!

[Arnbut]

I emailed my dealer today and told him that I can live with the hot pillar for now but they should remain alert for a solution.
I think that everybody should bring their car into the shop at least once to document the issue.

[Fanis]

Mine gets hot as well, but nothing close to 55oC....you can feel it is hot, but still you can touch it with your hand and leave your nad there...I would say it is around 30+oC....and mind you I have been driving around with ambient temp between 32-45oC!!

[caesar]

BMW must already be aware of the hot water feeder pipe, hence the thick plastic shield.

Right Hand Drive car owners would not notice the heat it too much, but the front seat passenger would be affected. LHD drivers would notice it !!!!

As my car is RHD and I have A/C then I'm not too concerned. No doubt it's a design problem that BMW will rectify in due course.

[Mamoura]

Had a call from Service Manager this morning.
BMW/MINI have told him NOT to touch the car in any way - the factory are investigating the issue and will refer back to him in due course.

May I suggest that every owner that has recognised this issue contact their dealer as a number of us have already? It may be that a certain number of complaints have to be recorded before the factory take this as a priority. I've come across that with petitions to authorities before - the computers 'flag up' when a specific number is reached.

Thanks!

[rec]

do they have some kind of reference number or case number we can use so the dealers know what we're on about ?

[adam_Randell]

By the way, it is not just the R56 MCS that this happens too, both mine and my sisters R56 MC have this problem, but my mums R56 MCS does not?!

[caesar]

There is a small consolation to this problem: -

Mini did not supply an engine temp' gauge, instead you touch the plate. If it's hot then you know the engine has warmed up !!!!!!!

[io1901]

Quote: Originally Posted by adam_Randell (original)

By the way, it is not just the R56 MCS that this happens too, both mine and my sisters R56 MC have this problem, but my mums R56 MCS does not?!

I felt the panel in my R56 MC - it was warm - but not hot as described in this thread.

[ru81]

The panel in my March '07 MCS gets warm but not scolding hot as people are describing (even on long journeys). I have never known it get so hot that you can't touch it or that it warms up the inside of the car. Thankfully it doesn't seem an issue for me at the moment. It is very strange how temperatures are varying for car to car.

[Deanliv]

I have exactly the same problem, I called BMW emergency services out to it yesterday, he could not find anything but has told me to run it back into the dealer which i will do tom morning and voice my concern!

[Purple Dave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deanliv (original)

I have exactly the same problem, I called BMW emergency services out to it yesterday, he could not find anything but has told me to run it back into the dealer which i will do tom morning and voice my concern!

What was the emergency ???

Did your passengers leg get welded to the plastic panel?

[Mamoura]

Just back from a trip and found a letter [extract of below] from MINI UK;

"...the vehicle was performing to its intended specification at the date of inspection. Your feedback has been noted by the Technical Manager of MINI UK, and a report has been passed onto the MINI Production Plant detailing the findings with respect of the heater radiator cover."

Just a couple of wee things wrong with this 'stance' I would think.
Why did nobody know the panel runs hot, until it was pointed out to them?
Can we expect all MINIs from now on to have this 'intended specification'?

[caesar]

Interesting reply from MINI !

I think it's double talk meaning they were not aware that it got so hot, and it will be investigated.