Hi,

I would greatly appreciate some advice.

I purchased a 2007 MCS from Mini Stratstone in Derby, UK on 31/05/2012 under the Cherished Scheme. Since then almost every morning without fail the car engine either badly rattles/knocks or stalls at start-up. Some days it will even do it in the afternoon after sitting while I've been at work.
Needless to say I'm not very impressed that the car was sold like this from a Mini Dealer, any one that would have started it first thing in the morning at the dealership would have been aware of the problem.
The car is going straight back to them on Monday evening but I'd appreciate any previous experience of this problem and any suggestions as to what I should do.
I've tried to upload a video that hopefully demonstrates the issue.

Many thanks,

Colin

2007 Cooper S Engine Troubles - YouTube (http://youtu.be/7XOSdf5NSm8)

sounds like the fuel pump. Mine was running rough at cold start up and might die or run rough until I turned off the key and re-started. After cleaning the carbon, new spark plugs and new fuel injectors it still did it. Finally they replaced the high pressure fuel pump and that solved the problem. I have an 08 MCS.

Thanks for the reply, hopefully that's the case and it's easily fixed. Have you had any recurrence of the problem?
My concern is I have the 1-year Chershed warranty and don't want a quick fix which I'll then fail again outside the warranty :s

Cheers!

No problems after the fuel pump was replaced!

Well that didn't last long :mad:

Went into Stratstone Derby on Monday evening, they called at lunch time on Tuesday to say the problem had been fixed and I could collect the car, come Saturday morning the cold starting problems have recurred and are even worse than before! Not a happy chap at all!

Seriously unimpressed with the car they have sold me, this problem was undoubtedly present before I purchased the car on 31/05/2012.

It is going straight back to them on Tuesday morning and I'm very tempted to reject the car outright - does anyone have any experience of this? Certainly not the quality I had expected from a Cherished Mini, let alone one from a '5-Star' dealer!

They reportedly replaced the cam-belt tensioner and were very cagey when I requested a written report and said they would have to post it out, surprise surprise nothing has arrived as of yet.

The link below demonstrates what a 'fixed mini' from Stratstone Derby sounds like.
New Project - YouTube (http://youtu.be/snIO0ZYoBrc)


Any help is much appreciated!

Colin

Cant hear that video very well even with full volume but get the idea, it obviously should not be doing that.

Send them the video and take the car back reject it.

Remember the law and quote it to them- ive forgot what it is exactly but if its not up to standard within 6months you have rights.

Dont let them mess you around further.

It's the cold start rattle - chances are, at 33k, it's coked up too hence the dodgy starting. They are both well documented problems; do some searches, print the results and request, in writing, that they investigate fully. Copy as an email to Mini Customer Services.

Thanks for the replies, dealer has been in touch and has given me two options;
1 - Take it back in for a 2nd attempt at repair
2 - Full Refund

I'm thinking Option 2 is the most appealing, the car on the way home from work today displayed the engine management light the whole way with restricted performance :(
Will be a lot of hassle but longterm I don't think I'd be happy with this car.
My question now is do I risk another 2007 Cooper S? Was I just unlucky first time round?
From when did the Engine change to BMW? 2010? Is it much better and worth paying the extra for a 2010 car?

Apologies for all the questions but all your advice is greatly appreciated!

Colin

From when did the Engine change to BMW? 2010? Is it much better and worth paying the extra for a 2010 car?

The revised MCS engine was introduced with March 2010 builds for the European market (September for the US):
MotoringFile - MINI’s Revised 2011 Engines In Depth (http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/05/24/minis-revised-2011-engines-in-depth/)
Although this engine doesn't suffer from the "death rattle", I'm not sure about the coking issues.

Thanks for that.

From looking at some examples it looks like the new engine arrived in 2010 and then in 2011 was there a slight facelift with new brake air vents and interior trim changes?
Do you know if there were any significant changes to the car itself aside from aesthetics after the new engine?

Thanks