2007 MINI Cooper S: excessive oil consumption

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Engine · 65,000 miles · OH

There is a defect in the design of the oil line feeding the turbo charging unit. Oil now leaks directly onto the turbo charger causing large discharges of smoke at lower (city) speeds from the hood. The burned oil smoke is not visible at highway speeds, although once one slows down for a ramp the smoke pours out again. Due to the high risk of fire the car is no longer parked in our garage. It is parked towards the end of the driveway as far from our house as possible. I believe that this should be an urgent safety issue seeing that the engine could catch fire at any time.

Filed Aug 30, 2013 · Engine · 75,000 miles · OH

Upon acceleration when the turbo charger engages there is a high pitched squeal which changes tone depending upon the acceleration. Afterwards smokes starts leaking from the hood scoop and sides of the hood itself. It smells of burned oil. I noticed oil pooling at a connection point near the turbo charger unit. In mid-august the car failed it's emissions test due to a cracked valve cover. I had the mini dealership replace the valve cover which was enough to pass inspection. However, the technician informed me that I had an oil leak in a line to the turbo charger that could start a fire and to watch my oil level closely. The cost to repair this (after nearly $900 on the valve cover) is simply beyond my means presently. Since learning about the possible dangers the car is no longer parked in the garage.

Filed Aug 14, 2013 · Engine · 56,000 miles · OK

Timing chain failure caused immediate engine failure at highway speed. Damaged timing chain housing cracked causing oil to spray the hot engine. Subsequent oil started a small fire that was extinguished by driver.

Filed May 9, 2013 · Engine · 12,000 miles · TX

Car has timing chain noise on cold start-up and if left unrepaired, it will result in timing chain failure and engine destruction. This is a widespread problem on 2007 and later mini cooper s. Dealer refuses to repair out of warranty and, even if repaired, the problem will return. There are cases of multiple engine failures to same car. Car also uses 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles.

Filed May 8, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 89,900 miles · AZ

I have been experiencing a major flaw with oil supply/return lines to the turbo. A condition exists where if left unattended and uncared for creates the high risk of fire and subsequent loss of engine/vehicle. This event can happen at any time the car is being driven and/or later parked. The risk is created when oil accumulates, either through time or over a leisure drive, and collects near/on the exhaust manifold & turbo components, both of which operate at extremely high temperatures. It is becoming a daily task to look under the car hood and investigate for accumulation of oil near these parts due to the fact that the car smells of burning petroleum. Need I be more apparent of burning oil that will burn and destroy a car due to a faulty product? This has been occurring for the majority life of the car but he issue has never been professionally addressed due to disregard of the mini/bmw dealerships to accept this design flaw. If researched further, there are many standard examples of this design flaw and numerous descriptions, images, examples, forums, and complaints of this flaw occurring in many cars of various styles, mileage, and trims occurring within the same year model of 2007. I have also experience many of the major flaws already listed and complained about on the federal safety agency such as the ??death rattle?? Belt tensioner failing (luckily no catastrophic engine failure and which has been listed numerous times on the federal safety agency, numerous), valve cover replacement (also listed), etc. The federal safety agency, address this problem as it is an avid and dangerous safety issue. The common person does not check under the hood daily and its only time before someone parks their mini in a garage and the home goes down in flames. I personally don??t park the mini in the garage for fear of fire. Do not repair the mini with the same faulty oil line design. Recall design.

Filed Apr 29, 2013 · Engine · 50,000 miles · NC

Just wanted to report another case of the "death rattle". My wife has a 2007 mini cooper s we bought new in sept. 2007. She complained of a loud rattle when she started the car for about 5-10 minutes until warm. Thought it might be a loose exhaust component until it started having idle issues. We took it to a local shop and they "rebooted" the computer and the idle problems went away but the rattle persisted. Our closest mini dealer is an hour away so we don't take it to them unless we have to. Early last week the oil light came on. Checked the oil and oil level was fine... Although the dipstick did not want to go back in the engine. Oil light would come and go over the next few days. She took it to the local shop again to have the rattle checked and the oil changed since it was almost due. They found the guide for the timing chain was broken and laying in the bottom of the cover. They called our closest mini dealer, said it was a "common problem" with turbo minis, and we shouldn't drive it. Had it towed to mini and that's where it sits. They haven't worked on it yet and they will call me when they do, but an early estimate is ~$1800 to repair, as long as the engine isn't damaged (which it isn't as the car starts and runs fine). I asked mini about it being covered under some sort of warranty after reading all the horror stories since it's a known problem but they said since the oil level was low, and low oil levels exacerbate the problem, there's nothing they can do. Had no idea the oil level was low until the light came on. Pretty sad that this "common problem" still hasn't been fixed after all these years. Wife is now a full-time student and her school is over an hour away. She makes that drive twice a day, three times a week. How that broken piece didn't get tangled in the timing chain and destroy the engine I'll never know.