Mini Cooper - Help!

[Dave350]

Hi all,

Would really appreciate some help.

09 reg Mini Cooper failed to start and cut out recently, it was recovered and taken to Kwik fit, they said Mini will need to diagnose this as they couldn't find anything wrong.

Sytner Oldbury then took it in, said it could be the thermostat but may not be (the mixed communication between service desk and manager are another issue!).

They charged £390 to 'diagnose' and fix the thermostat.

Collected Monday morning, then failed to start Monday night.

It's now back, and they are asking for £400+ to fix the oxygen sensor, and are still saying this is required for further diagnosis and that it likely won't fix the issue, but is required to go further in the test process, and no faults are showing currently (although apparenlty the oxygen sensor is showing as faulty).

To ask a customer to pay £800 with no guarantee it will be fixed is frustrating to say the least.

Any advice please ? Specialists in the Midlands?

[steve-5snwi]

Neither thermostat or Oxy sensor will stop the car from starting, sometimes you do need to fix things that are not related in order to solve something, however an oxy sensor sound only be £200 fitted if using genuine parts. They are simple enough to fit yourself.

As for Mini specialist in the midlands, try millsys autos.

[Elliot2000]

Short circuited temp sensors in the thermostat have been known to cause starting issues on that age of mini, but your right- o2 sensor isn’t going to be a cause.

So is it intermittent non starting? What happens when u get it to start? Does it run lumpy to begin with?

[Dave350]

It just won’t start, with persistent attempts it will eventually start (sometimes won’t, sometimes first time although multiple occasions of being stranded recently).

It has cut out on another occasion mid driving, no juddering at all.

Once it does start, it’s not lumpy at all.

The garage said they took all the coil packs out and could see there was no spark to ignite the fuel (this was kwik fit and they suggested an ECU problem).

I’m clueless!

[steve-5snwi]

If there is no spark then surely thats a good place to start.

[Dave350]

steve-5snwi said:

If there is no spark then surely thats a good place to start.

Sytner Mini know this though, and all they are saying is their 'advanced' diagnostic machines can't do anything unless the oxygen sensor is fixed, and they can't proceed without that.

I find it baffling they think it's acceptable to let a customer pay £400 for it to break down the same day, then a further £440 to still say it won't fix the issue.

She had the cheek to say she wasn't applying the fee for a second diagnostic fee and that was 'on the house', they haven't diagnosed anything unless the car is working!

[steve-5snwi]

I would get the car back, have you got breakdown cover ? Is it just the Cooper, its not an S or anything ? timing is spot on and not jumped ? does it start with both keys ? My 02 sensor is not the best because i run a sports cat but its been like that for 4 years, whats the battery like?

http://www.millsysautos.co.uk/

[CoolHands]

It’s probably the high pressure fuel pump. Needs to be changed; quite an expensive part. For god’s sake don’t let a mini dealer do it take it to decent independent. Why you would have had it recovered to a kwik fit I’ll never know.

[Elliot2000]

Could be quite a few things tbh, they sometimes had moisture get into the engine ecu plug connections which caused issues like that and it’s easy to check if u have access to the car - in the engine bay just to the left of the engine you will see the ecu under a black cover - unplug all 3 connections and see if the connections look clean - no corrosion or moisture.

[steve-5snwi]

CoolHands said:

It’s probably the high pressure fuel pump. Needs to be changed; quite an expensive part. For god’s sake don’t let a mini dealer do it take it to decent independent. Why you would have had it recovered to a kwik fit I’ll never know.

Try Neo brother £452 for the high pressure pump, mines knackered and its replacement sits on my desk at work.

[rigga]

Also recommend Jason at Millseys in Nuneaton, top bloke who will do more than just plug a diagnostic in and say. " computer says no "

[CoolHands]

steve-5snwi said:

Try Neo brother £452 for the high pressure pump, mines knackered and its replacement sits on my desk at work.

Just check how can they do it so cheap? This link says £345 ??

http://neominiparts.co.uk/high-pressure-fuel-pump-...

I’d wager it was totally fake if I just came across that website and you didn’t have one?

[Elliot2000]

CoolHands said:

It’s probably the high pressure fuel pump. Needs to be changed; quite an expensive part. For god’s sake don’t let a mini dealer do it take it to decent independent. Why you would have had it recovered to a kwik fit I’ll never know.

If it’s a cooper and not an s then it doesn’t have a high pressure fuel pump

[C. Grimsley]

As above check the Ecu plugs, some can get oil in and some get water in, the sensors fail and allow the fluids to track up the wiring and cause issues at the end, the ecu.

Carl

[Dave350]

It was the gf who recovered it to a Kwik Fit, it was a Saturday at 4pm with nowhere open.

It’s a normal Mini Cooper.

I’m going to try and collect it from Mini tomorrow if t will start, with the hope to take it somewhere else!

Any other ideas or recommendations closer to central/south Birmingham than Nuneaton greatly appreciated! If not, I’ll give Millysautos a call!

[steve-5snwi]

Sorry, I paid £420 for mine, it's the n18 that's more expensive. I got euro car parts to match it. It's a genuine supplier, just not in a box that says mini. It's the same as air compressors for BMW x5's genuine £900 plus vat, GSF £600 including, exactly the same part too.

[rigga]

Dave350 said:

It was the gf who recovered it to a Kwik Fit, it was a Saturday at 4pm with nowhere open.

It’s a normal Mini Cooper.

I’m going to try and collect it from Mini tomorrow if t will start, with the hope to take it somewhere else!

Any other ideas or recommendations closer to central/south Birmingham than Nuneaton greatly appreciated! If not, I’ll give Millysautos a call!

I'm in south Brum and go to Millseys, its not that far, balance up convenience to getting it fixed.

[Dave350]

Thanks all.

Will try and get it to Millsys auto's tomorrow.

The incompetence of Mini is unbelievable, I can understand dealers charging through the nose but to not even be able to diagnose an issue is ridiculous.

I won't be in a rush to use Sytner again after this, it's where my current BMW 440i is from and experiences like this will definitely sway me elsewhere.