2007 MINI Cooper engine and engine cooling problems

“OIL FEED LINE GOING INTO TURBO IS LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY ONTO TURBO. MINI USES A RUBBER O RING THAT IS CONNECTED TO A VERY HOT TURBO AND O RING WILL FAIL ON ALL MINI COOPERS WITH A TURBO. WHEN THIS RUBBER O RING FAILS IT WILL LEAK OIL DIRECTLY ONTO HOT TURBO AND CAUSE A FIRE. I THINK IT'S IN THE SAFETY OF ALL THAT THIS BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED. I BELIEVE MINI COOPER IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS COVERING UP THE ISSUE BY INSTALLING A CHEAP HEAT SHIELD ON OIL LINE BUT THIS IS A BANDAID FIX AT BEST. *TR”

“THE MINI MADE A BEEPING NOISE / WARNING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH TO START SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE MINI DEALER IN MY TOWN WHICH HAS A HORRIBLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.) THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILING TIMING CHAIN AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN TENSIONER, ADJUSTER UNIT CAM, GUIDE RAIL, SLIDE RAIL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, GASKET RING, VALVE COVER GASKET, DRIVE BELT, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS ... EVERYTHING. THIS FAILURE COULD GAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITHOUT MY IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS A $3,000 + FIX. *TR”

“THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO 65MPH . THERE WAS A LACK OF ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP TO CRUISING SPEED. THE CAR HAD A WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR INSTALLED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY TROUBLE. MINI TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKE .I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW TIMING BELT INSTALLED BECAUSE IT HAD STRETCHED .IT WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO KEEP THE TIMING CORRECT .I ASKED WHY WHEN THEY CHANGED TO WATER PUMP THEY DIDN'T SEE THE BROKEN TENSIONER. THEY HAD NO ANSWER . *TR”

“SO, I HAVE ONE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF BAD THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS PART #11537534521( COOLING SYSTEM) . NONE OF THE PARTS HOUSES HAVE THEM IN STOCK. MINI SAID THAT THERE ARE 17,000+ OF THEM ON BACKORDER. 17,000! THIS APPEARS TO AFFECT MINIS FROM 2007 THROUGH 2010. SO, MINE SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN INDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. NOBODY ACTUALLY KNOWS WHEN (IF) THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR A LONG TIME.THERE ARE GUESSES FROM SEPTEMBER 12TH TO OCTOBER 10TH. MOSTLY JUST SHOTS IN THE DARK, SO THEY CAN AT LEAST TELL YOU SOMETHING! THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN FAILING PREMATURELY FOR 6 YEARS, AND NOW LOOK AT THE MESS. MINI IS NOT EXACTLY PRO-ACTIVE. CERTAINLY OUR FIRST AND LAST MINI. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI AND BMW TO ASK WHAT THEIR SOLUTION WILL BE FOR ALL THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. ALL THEY DO IS TAKE MY NAME AND NUMBER AND TELL ME THAT THEY WILL CALL BACK . THEY NEVER DO . I AM HOPELESS WITH OUT A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER ( MINI) NO HAVING REPLACING PARTS AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE . PLEASE HOLD MINI AND BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. *TR”

“I'VE BEEN A LOYAL MINI COOPER FOR YEARS NOW BUT RECENTLY MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I GOT IT TOWED, AND THEY SAID MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CAME OFF AND LITERALLY SLICED SOME PART OF THE ENGINE. THERE HAS BEEN TALKS ABOUT THE "RECALL," BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT OFFICIAL BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS TO DO SO. MINI COOPER DID CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE DEFECTED TIMING CHAINS AND I KNOW SOME DEALERSHIPS CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN FOR FREE BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. MINI COOPER DID NOT INFORM ME ANYTHING AND NOW I HAVE TO EITHER PAY 5000 DOLLARS TO GET A USED ENGINE OR SELL MY CAR. I WORK FULL-TIME AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A CAR. *TR”

“I'VE BEEN A LOYAL MINI COOPER CUSTOMER FOR YEARS NOW BUT RECENTLY MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I GOT IT TOWED, AND THEY SAID MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CAME OFF AND LITERALLY SLICED SOME PART OF THE ENGINE. THERE HAS BEEN TALKS ABOUT A "RECALL," BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT OFFICIAL BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS TO DO SO. MINI COOPER DID CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE DEFECTED TIMING CHAINS AND I KNOW SOME DEALERSHIPS CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN FOR FREE BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. MINI COOPER DID NOT INFORM ME ANYTHING AND NOW I HAVE TO EITHER PAY 5000 DOLLARS TO GET A USED ENGINE OR SELL MY CAR. I WORK FULL-TIME AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK. *TR”