Mini burst into flames and nearly killed me

[alexandra potter]

On Wednesday night I nearly died in my mini as it literally burst into flames as I was driving and I had to run for my life - I want to know if anyone has had a similiar experience as it was the most terrifying thing that ever happened to me. I am still badly shaken up by the experience, not just because of what happened - I got in my car, drove around the block and was in traffic when smoke began pouring out from underneath the bonnet - I looked at my dashboard, everything was normal - but then it would be - my car had done less than 7,000 miles and was still under warranty - i turned off my engine expecting the smoke to subside - I had never seen anything like this and didn't have a clue what was happening - when suddenly a man on the pavement started shouting 'get out of your car, it's on fire' . Terrified I went to get out of the car - which was difficult as I'd central-locked the car and couldn't at first get out. At this point thick black noxious smoke was billowing into my car - finally I got out and ran across across the road - I dialled the fire brigade but within seconds my car was engulfed in a ball of flames - I had to stand and watch my car burn - as if someone had poured petrol on it. It then started exploding - headlights, tyres, gas tank - and the emergency services team arrived. The police say they have never in all their experience seen anything like this and I was very lucky to be alive.
So what's happened now? Well mini emergency came and took the car away but are not admitting any liability until they have had their people look at the car - they are of course trying to get me to claim on my insurance which I am strongly contesting as the car is still under warranty and it is obviously a manufacturer's fault. No-one at mini seems to care that their car nearly killed me - instead they are being less than helpful. I am still traumatised by what happened and I see hundreds of mini drivers around london every day and I think they should know what happened to me, and how they are driving around in, what is literally, a death-trap. I read with interest another posting on this website describing the same thing - which makes me very angry. Mini should not be able to get away with endangering people's lives like this - and then trying to pass the buck. So for all of you out there with a mini - get it checked out immediately - I nearly died - the next person might not be so lucky!

[ScottyB]

Jesus man!

Glad youre alright - thats pretty freaky... Interesting to know what they tell you was the cause

[Bianchiboy]

Glad you're ok, but now you've got work to do. Firstly, get as much evidence as possible, write a full account of what happened, and the details of the car. Get photos of it if you can. The next thing to do is don't fight alone, of course BMW want you to claim on your insurance, they don't want bad publicity. Get in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau and a good solicitor, there are probably loads and loads of things BMW could get nailed on, but you'd need a legal eagle to tell you exactly what. You've obviously suffered a traumatic experience. Don't lose your no claims bonus due to someone else's negligence. I'm afraid in this day and age of sueing, BMW will probably blank you till the cows come home, after all in the USA a few years ago Honda were sued by lots of people over a quad bike they were selling there and eventually took it off sale before they went under (Anybody Stateside want to add / correct anything, feel free since I can't remember the exact details). Good move publishing it on the internet though, keep us all posted! Take care.

[Red Dwarf]

What a horrible thing to have happen to you. I hope you fully recover from it very soon.

My bosses wife had a similar experience in her Vauxhall Zafira. That was put down to the oil filler cap not being replaced after a service and it gradually spat oil out until it and all the components it covered caught fire. Fortunately they had just arrived at a rugby ground car park so it was put out fairly quickly by everybody there

I'm sure that this is an isolated incident, (it's certainly the first I've read about on here in the couple of months that I've been registered.) That said, they are a good crowd on here and will soon let you know if it's more frequent than we think.

Best wishes

[LMB]

Glad you're ok.

Did you have an aftermarket stereo fitted?

[Pobsey]

I saw a red cooper s on a transporter on the m62 the other day with the front end all burnt, looked like an engine fire of some sorts, could get anymore detail as i was on a flier in my mcs!!

[Restyle]

Errr... Welcome to MINI2

Thats got to be an Award Winning First Post by anyone on Here.

Glad to hear your Ok, I suppose one worrying aspect about such an incident is what if the Computer controlling the Doors had decided not to let you out. Does anyone know if it Fails - Safe.??

[Goonery]

No never happened to me, but that is terrible

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle

Errr... Welcome to MINI2

Thats got to be an Award Winning First Post by anyone on Here.

Glad to hear your Ok, I suppose one worrying aspect about such an incident is what if the Computer controlling the Doors had decided not to let you out. Does anyone know if it Fails - Safe.??

The computer decides , any problem the doors unlock, but interior door lock handle is manual anyway

[SFJAMES]

wow, glad you got out of there. I've seen a number of cars burn up like that ranging from cheap to expensive ones. Thought about the possibility of that happening to Brutus too. I pretty much know how everything is laid out (crammed) under the bonnett and cannot imagine what would burn like that. Anytime I know I ran a bag or something that could possibly get caught and burn under my car, I stop and get it out from under there. Oil cap being left off sounds very interesting to me, would'nt surprise me at all if that was the culprit. Are you getting another mini? It was not realy trying to kill you. round here, you get killed walking your doggy.

[wazowski]

Glad you're OK !
But unfortunately there is no such thing as 100% safety.
You can never be sure there will be no short circuit or overheating...
These things can happen to any car
Proof : link shows a Ford Galaxy on fire on a Belgian motorway..

http://www.vtm.be/autowereld/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4925

[bryfliesme]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bianchiboy

Glad you're ok, but now you've got work to do. Firstly, get as much evidence as possible, write a full account of what happened, and the details of the car. Get photos of it if you can. The next thing to do is don't fight alone, of course BMW want you to claim on your insurance, they don't want bad publicity. Get in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau and a good solicitor, there are probably loads and loads of things BMW could get nailed on, but you'd need a legal eagle to tell you exactly what. You've obviously suffered a traumatic experience. Don't lose your no claims bonus due to someone else's negligence. I'm afraid in this day and age of sueing, BMW will probably blank you till the cows come home, after all in the USA a few years ago Honda were sued by lots of people over a quad bike they were selling there and eventually took it off sale before they went under (Anybody Stateside want to add / correct anything, feel free since I can't remember the exact details). Good move publishing it on the internet though, keep us all posted! Take care.

Good Gracious, So happy you are OK. I have to agree with the prior post, now is the time to do your leg work, and not get railroaded.........

[geist]

Hmmm sounds familiar !!!!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/20234-not-happy-teddy-repaired-mini-bursts-into-flames.html

After going through a similar incident, my advice would be too not let MINI/BMW anywhere near the car and let your insurance company deal with it. The reason for this is my MINI went up after a new engine was put in I had done 70 miles after collecting it from the dealer.

In the end MINI refused to accept any responsibility, after inspecting it. I spoke to someone who had a similar incident and he told me the same. essentially MINI will not accept any liability, they will come up with all the excuses in the world. The warranty probably won't be worth the paper it is printed on. In the end my insurance paid out

Glad your ok though.

[andyupnorth]

Well to be fair MINI are bound not to admit any liability until they have had a chance to look at the car, they'd be wrong to - just as if we have a road accident and even if it's plainly our fault we are told not to admit any liabilty at the time. I'd wait and see what they come back with before getting an independent assessor involved if necessary. Also, until it's been looked at you can't 100% say "it's obviously a manufacturer's fault" as at this moment you just don't know.

Glad you're ok though and hope you get it sorted soon.

[alexandra potter]

Thanks so much for all your replies - and for the advice - I'll certainly take it and get in touch with the citizen's advice bureau. As for getting another mini - no, never again - which is really very sad as I was mini's biggest fan - I really loved that little car but it really has frightened the life out of me. And no, the car had never been modified, and it hadn't even had an oil service so the cap can't have been loose, so I have no idea what went on underneath the bonnet last night!