[Mamoura]

Just had a very unsatisfactory 2 weeks with the Dealer and BMW... The trim/cover of the pipe feeding the heater matrix heats up to 55C within 10 minutes of starting the engine, making the inside of the car roasting hot! BMW say that this is the same with ALL new minis and basically, tough - you should have bought air-con! They have referred it to the Factory to investigate but can't/won't tell me how long this will take.

Anyone else noticed this fault? Anyone else complained? BMW say I'm the first to notice this and complain, which I find hard to believe....

Ta!

[thrud]

Sounds like dealer spin to me. I certainly haven't noticed the car getting excessively hot inside. Which panel is it that you have noticed heating up?

Paul

[Mamoura]

Thanks,
It's the panel down at the passenger side of what I would call the 'transmission tunnel'. Both sides get warm but the passenger side gets so hot you can't put your hand against it! BMW's fancy heat sensor recorded 55 degrees C after 10 minutes idling and they say that's acceptable... My wife has melted a lipstick in her handbag when it was laid against it as she was driving!

[Arnbut]

I've brought my car in twice for excessive bonnet temps as well as interior heat.
They're working with Mother Mini to determine the nominal operating temperatures ---- they and I have recorded bonnet tempertures ranging from 235 to 240 degrees F. That's the exterior of the bonnet, mind you. Hot enough to fry dinner.

Not sure how this will play out. I have an S, by the way.

[Mamoura]

So overheating is an issue with the new minis?!!! According to the BMW head of customer service for Scotland, I'm the first in the WHOLE of BMW mini to flag this up as an issue! I think another visit to the Dealer might prove worthwhile... maybe try and get them on my side with this, especialy the head of servicing that burnt his hand!

[GTT 280]

BMW are complete dumwits !!!

I had a problem with the heater matrix, as many other people have. They told me it was my fault and charged me a nice £750 for the privilege.

Cheers,
K.

[GTT 280]

proof that BMW fob you off.... in black and white i have it here....

"Your heater matrix is your own fault because the intercooler and supercharger will cause the engine to operate at too high a temperature"

How can an intercooler increase engine temp, and how can a supercharger like mine be causing the coolant system to exceed pressure, when in the US they use 19% pulleys and also there is a pressure release valve on the system.

Basically they think we are stupid and try to fob us off. It is (or was) a faulty unit and they wouldn't admit it. THey looked at the mods to argue otherwise. But none if their arguments made sense...

Total crap i say !!! through and through !!!

now i have that off my chest, i am off for a cup of tea.

Cheers,
K.

[Arnbut]

Well, the car I'm referring to is the slick new turbo. IMO it is designed to run too hot.
The key word is designed. They knew it was hot prior to release.
It's an amazing car to drive, mind you. But use caution; you will burn your hand on the bonnet. And if you run her for a while your feet will get fairly warm, even with the a/c running...

[Mamoura]

It seems that BMW are saying that it's the pipe that heads to the matrix - this heats up the trim beside it. When I asked what sort of discussion we would be having if a young child had burned their hand rather than the dealer's service manager, the BMW rep. said that cars have many surfaces, internal and external that could scald and burn, such as " Brake calipers". What the h*ll would a kid be doing touching a hot brake caliper but they sure as well would go searching for a dropped toy etc in a footwell! More later after I tackle the dealer. I hope the showroom is full!!!!

[DerekH]

MCS may 07 no air con as live in north east of scotland, and had no problem with heat inside the car, what dealer do you have, as can avoid hopefully not my dealer.

[Mamoura]

DerekH,
It's a new S, just 8 weeks old from Fairbairns. They, Fairbairns, were told by BMW to check other similar new Ss and Coopers with a fancy infrared guage and they also ran at 55 C on the panel.The latest from BMW Customer Services (sic) is that this is 'within normal parameters'...

So basically, we've to just run around in a car that has the heater on permanently. Shut up,and accept it!

Well, I don't!

[Arnbut]

Take a look here as well:
AtlantaMINIS - Login

Not sure if the link will work if you're not part of the AtlantaMinis forum...

[caesar]

Not noticed any excessive heat inside my 2-week old MCS so far (touch wood !).

Only part that does get hot is around the bonnet air scoop, which is not surprising considering the turbocharger underneath is powered by the exhaust gases.

[DerekH]

Mamuora i was about to buy from Harry FB Glasgow giffnock as bought the last two BMW,s from them Paul at BMW is great. I tried to buy my Mini from them went down to Glasgow for the weekend in Dec 06 to pick up our new BMW as was not impressed with the help we got and they have the Biggest Mini Dealers in scotland. The service manager had just left and a new guy did not return three calls i made and i called to say i would not buy from them again and he called straight back to appoligise, then was very sarcastic about the deal i had been offered from another dealer i was not long in ordering from another dealer. I must say though that Harry FB Giffnock have been very Good

[KenL]

Could you take a picture of the bit that is getting warm and post it on here? Perhaps put an arrow on the pic. If you post it and other owners say it is not the same as their's you can show it to the dealer.

One other thing to consider is that you can take your car to ANY dealer for warranty work.

[iain cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by DerekH (original)

Mamuora i was about to buy from Harry FB Glasgow giffnock as bought the last two BMW,s from them Paul at BMW is great. I tried to buy my Mini from them went down to Glasgow for the weekend in Dec 06 to pick up our new BMW as was not impressed with the help we got and they have the Biggest Mini Dealers in scotland. The service manager had just left and a new guy did not return three calls i made and i called to say i would not buy from them again and he called straight back to appoligise, then was very sarcastic about the deal i had been offered from another dealer i was not long in ordering from another dealer. I must say though that Harry FB Giffnock have been very Good

DerekH, Harry FB is now actually owned by Arnold Clark hence the change in customer service.

Arnold has to display the Harry FB display for nine months as part of the transfer agreement.

[Mamoura]

I've attached a photo of the panel on the passenger side that getting too hot, home made arrow at the centre of the hot spot. Today a short [20minute] trip on A roads, no quicker than 60mph, made the panel too hot to touch within 10 minutes.

Anyone else noticed this?

Thanks!

[DerekH]

Hi Iain i was told that when we ordered our BM last year and at that time that staff was happy enough and things as was before , but not long till costs and bad attitude can ruin a quality dealer let's hope at least the BM side stays ok.

[laura f]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mamoura (original)

I've attached a photo of the panel on the passenger side that getting too hot, home made arrow at the centre of the hot spot. Today a short [20minute] trip on A roads, no quicker than 60mph, made the panel too hot to touch within 10 minutes.

Anyone else noticed this?

Thanks!

Our panel got hot there too, hot enough to make me yelp as I put my bare foot against it. Not sure if it has happened since, will keep an eye out!

[caesar]

Just returned from an 80 mile drive and checked the panel shown by Mamoura while I was driving. It does get hot !

I then turned the heater vent direction to blow into the foot-well and switched on the fan, but without the air con on. That cooled it down OK.

Problem then occurred..........once I got above 80 mph there was a loud whistling noise which was caused by too much air flow into the foot-well. Re-directed the air flow and the noise stopped.

It would appear that Mini have a minor design problem!