JCW apparent Turbo Problem

[rogan200]

(maybe this should be in faults/fixes but it is for JCW owners)

I was accelerating onto the motorway yesterday, and at about 60mph (think about 5000rpm) there was a noticeable drop in engine power. I immediately stopped and also noticed an engine fault light! Called the dealer and was told to drive in at reduced speed (was fortunately only 10 mins away), as car was in limp home mode.

They had a look at the car and plugged in their diagnostic kit which showed there was a turbo boost fault. They thought it might be an easy to fix wastegate issue etc. Today i got a bad call to say it seems worse. They have found oil in "the breathing system." Not sure what they mean by this but i wasn't speaking to a mechanic. I'm assuming it is oil in the engine intake. They are removing the exhaust system/turbo/manifolds, etc to fully investigate, and i wont hear more until Monday I've had several small issues with the car already, and some bigger ones (as some of you may have read on mini2 in the past), and this doesn't help! Starting to wish id held on for the new Focus RS and not bought back in October. 5.5 month old car and so far its been at the dealers for about 2.5 weeks in total! In the past week ive had a nail in a rear tyre, a cut (presumably glass) in a front tyre, some idiot clipped my wingmirror (not even a narrow road), and a friend was moving the car for me and curbed an alloy (£50 repair)! now this.

When i hear more i'll keep you all posted! Hopefully its a freak issue - very likely - my luck with cars breaking is awful!!

[popey]

Ive just gone over 2k miles in mine and its fine (touch wood).

I cant see this been a comon fault as most of the turbo is the same as the cooper S.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by rogan200 (original)

5.5 month old car and so far its been at the dealers for about 2.5 weeks in total!

Thats nothing, mines 3 months old and spent almost 4 weeks in there being fixed and its still not quite right....

... I hope they sort your latest problem soon its not nice being without your own car

[MattJCW]

Quote: Originally Posted by popey (original)

Ive just gone over 2k miles in mine and its fine (touch wood).

I cant see this been a comon fault as most of the turbo is the same as the cooper S.

I've done around 5200 miles in mine and (touchwood) not had any engine problems...

Had a couple of paint problems tho (1. paint blemish - warranty, and 2. unusually bad stone chipping on front bumper - they say they can't sort that on warranty as stone chips are wear and tear, which is very annoying since they are so bad), and 3. a misted up foglight - warranty. Hopefully nothing else (fingers crossed.

Rogan... I hope they get to the bottom of your turbo issue - you've had a bit of bad luck, but I'm sure you love driving the car as much as the rest of us...? If I got a Focus RS I'd be bored by now!

[Roma]

^ Mine's covered a similar number of miles in just 3 months. No real engine issues so far either.

I have now found a dealer that I actually trust and have had the car in a couple of times to get some JCW bits installed and a few issues rectified under warranty. Each time the car has come back MUCH better than when it went in!

It's a fabulous car and never fails to entertain. Indeed, it's one of the most entertaining cars that i've ever driven. You simply cannot put a value on the smiles-per-mile factor.

[rogan200]

I.m definitely loving the car when its going well! My dealership are really really good too (DL in Bristol) and I am really really fussy - its been in a few times for rattles that many other mini owners probably live with, but as a result, even with the JCW suspension, its a rattle free car at 7000 miles. I had a go in a GP (similar mileage) and it had vibrations throughout the cabin so im happy with the outcome of its many trips to the garage!


Im sure this turbo thing is a freak as i've searched the web and heard no evidence of any other cases.

[rogan200]

Latest update! Mini want to send an engineer to look at the car, and my dealership have accused me of trying to modify the wastegate (as the factory seal markings are rubbed off). Amazing as i havent even considered engine mods on my car since i bought it. It's been only to the same dealership too. Cannot explain this but suggested that they may have disturbed the markings when changing the timing gear. They're getting back to me!

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Its amazing what a dealership will try and accuse you of when they are the ones in the wrong

Any ideas on when this tech from MINI is meant to come out?!

[rogan200]

Nope. I'm just leaving them to it!

Sorry to keep moaning but to top it all off, some fool in a van reversed into my hire car yesterday night when i was parked. Fortunately the damage is minor. A scuff that will come out with some t-cut and a small chip that looks like a stone chip. Its a hire car as the dealership were out of courtesy cars so have arranged me a megane through avis! Bad idea as it is oh so rattle free - last thing i expected from a renault!