2008 MINI Cooper S: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 12, 2020 · Body, Electrical · 144,000 miles · CA · fire

My car caught fire while driving. I had been driving for about an hour on the highway. There was no warning. No cel or errors on the dash display. Car was running normally. I noticed some smoke. After pulling to the side of the road flames started coming from under the hood. The car was still running normally. I shut off the motor and got out. Bystanders emptied an extinguisher through the front grille but within minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed. Car was almost completely destroyed. Fire burned through the firewall and consumed the interior.

Filed Mar 30, 2016 · Engine · 85,777 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 mini cooper s. While driving approximately 70 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard and the contact noticed thick, grey smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The oil warning light illuminated. The contact opened the hood and noticed flames in the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v008000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,777.

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Engine · 89,633 miles · OK

After mini/bmw repaired the timing chain tensioner and the timing chain, my turbo oil supply line developed a significant leak (within a week/ within 200 miles of mini service) causing smoke to escape from the bonnet, oil to cover the front engine/turbo/exhaust. Oil now puddles beneath the car when parked. The car has 89,xxx miles. I first noticed the smell of burning oil when driving across town at a speed of 40mph. When parking the vehicle, upon idle the smoke billowed from the bonnet of the car. According to mini forums, this problem of a failed o-ring in the turbo oil supply line is a known problem resulting in numerous failures that can lead to catastrohic damage to the turbo, catalytic converter, and engine.

Filed Jul 8, 2013 · Engine · 52,522 miles · TX

Had to take my mini cooper s with jcw package in to correct a service light issue. Was carbon build up on the valves. Cleaned it for 1500.00. Drove it about a month and the turbo bypass solenoid valve failed. Back to the mini cooper dealer in clear lake. They replaced the solenoid and did a oil change for 550.00 got it home and noticed it had a faint smell of something burning. Thought it could be they got some oil on some parts that get hot. One week after the turbo solenoid was replaced I noticed a oil spot on my garage floor. Raised the hood and the turbo had a oil film on it and the air intake supply on the turbo was loose and practically off the turbo. Took it to dealer. They said look like oil drain bolt leaking. Replaced it but the also cleaned the oil off the turbo? Not sure why. I didn't tell them it looked like it was leaking. Maybe they knew? Drove it home and it still smelled like something burning. Looked under the hood and the turbo was covered with oil. Back to the dealer. They can fix it for 1200.00 it is the turbo oil feed supply and return line. Also the oil deteriorated the air intake line and caused it to deform so that it no longer will stay on the turbo intake. After further investigation looks like the turbo oil feed line is a major issue. Multiple reports of this failure. I also saw a service bulletin for the heat shield on the oil feed line. But they failed to do the install on mine. Even though I have had it in for several services since the bulletin. There is definitely a issue with the oil feed line to the turbo. Won't be purchasing another bmw product. Will not be using this dealers service if I decide to keep the mini.

Filed Apr 5, 2013 · Engine · 96,400 miles · DE

A significant engine oil leak was detected by oil spots under parked car. The dip stick registered 1 quart low. A quart was added and the car driven about 100 miles the next day. Upon return, the oil was a quart low again. During the preceding two weeks there had been several instances of a burning oil smell and on two occasions smoke coming from under the hood. This was during a rainy period and the smoke was initially thought to be steam from getting water in the engine compartment from puddles on the roads. When I took the car in for service, the dealer found that the oil line to the turbo was leaking as well as the oil filter housing seal. Both of these complaints have been noted in the database previously. The cost to repair was approximately $1000 usd.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Engine · 70,000 miles · SC

Driving in the mountains when I began to smell burnt oil. As soon as I was able to I pulled over, immediately there was a cloud of smoke coming from under the front hood. I opened the hood and though there was no fire it appeared that the smoke was coming from oil leaking onto the turbo from the oil feed line. After letting the car cool I proceeded home. Now whenever the car is sitting idle I can smell burnt oil and after getting home I can see oil pooling on the top of the turbo. I have been told there is an issue with the connection on the turbo oil feed line due to the design of the line and heat from the turbo and I will have to replace this at my own cost.

Filed Nov 26, 2011 · Engine · 44,000 miles · IN

I drove less than a mile and smoke started coming out of the engine. The turbocharger was leaking oil onto the engine, which almost caused the car to catch on fire.

Filed Oct 27, 2011 · Engine · 37,136 miles · IN · fire

The vehicle was driven approximately 1 mile, then stopped at a gas station to add air to a low tire. While the car was idling, white smoke came from the engine, followed by dark smoke. When the hood was opened, we saw a small flame coming from inside the front of the engine. We ran to get a fire extinguisher from the gas station attendant; by the time we returned, flames were visibly shooting up out of the engine. We were able to extinguish the fire with a hand-held fire extinguisher. There were no injuries and the fire department was not called. The vehicle was towed to the nearest mini dealer. The service attendant declared that he had no experience with any engine fires in his tenure with mini. After an investigation (pictures taken by service and emailed to mini corporate), the auxiliary water pump was found to be the source. It was replaced, along with a number of connectors and hoses, and the engine was cleaned of fire extinguisher powder. When I asked several times about this problem, the only answer I received was that this staffer had never heard of a car fire like this in his time (3 years) at mini.

Filed Oct 19, 2011 · Engine · 28,000 miles · NJ · fire

I bought car new in nov 2007. Car was used as transportation every day to and from work (~100 mi total). Car was well cared for, service was performed as required, etc. In sept 2008 after sitting undriven for 10 days while I was away on vacation, I drove 50 mi to work and there were no signs of trouble except that an indicator for a blown headlamp came on when I initially started up. When I arrived at work and pulled into a parking space I noticed wisps of smoke coming from the grill and intake and suspected overheating. I peered into the intake and saw glowing orange, and smelled the smoke and realized this was a fire not an overheating. I had a colleague call 911 and grabbed a fire extinguisher. When I got back to the car smoke was pouring out of the hood. Not wanting to open the hood I aimed the fire extinguisher into the grill, intake, and gaps but it didn't do much. At that point I grabbed valuables from car and walked away. Flames began coming out of the hood over the windshield. Car was completely engulfed within 10 minutes. There were no injuries or property damage except for the car itself. Insurance declared it a total loss. Mini was notified. I have photos of in-progress and aftermath. Having seen the recent publicity about the investigation into the engine fires I thought I should log my very relevant experience.

Filed Jul 10, 2010 · Engine · 28,268 miles · VA · fire

Leaving from work around 5:00 pm (car had been in the parking lot since 7:20 am), I drove for a mile or less when at a red light the car by my side told me about smoke coming from the under the hood. I drove to the closet parking lot, opened the hood (there was a lot of smoke) and I could see 2 wires red hot. I went to try to get a fire extinguisher and luckily and ambulance on duty (could not help me because he had a patient) gave me a small bottle of water. When I returned to the car with the water there were flames about 10" tall on a small area, already touching the pipes the come out of the turbo (pipes that bring air into turbo and out to the intercooler) and with the 500ml bottle of water I was able to put it off. Daler (mini of sterling) repaired the vehicle for free (car is under warranty). Dealer found that the auxiliary water pump shorted, and this must have cause the wires to overheat. Dealer replaced auxiliary water pump and wires and parts that burned. I spoke with the dealer and then with mini USA, both refused to change engineering to prevent a future fire in case auxiliary water pump has a short-circuit again. *tr updated 1/27/2012 *ln