MINI - Still not fixed - Buy / Sell ? Advice appreciated!

[Dave350]

Hi Guys,

Bit of advice please. I have a 2009 mini cooper worth around £3500-3800 – IF it wasn’t broken. I have had intermittent starting issues, and so far I have had the thermostat fixed and the lambda sensor and another sensor fixed. Spent nearly £800 (through initially making the mistake of going to MINI - they couldn't fix it, then going to a specialist called Millsys auto's, they also couldn't fix it) but still the issue has not been resolved.

Not sure whether to put it in the garage again and then sell at full price when fixed, obviously I could end up spending even more money for the problem not to be fixed, or do I get rid of it for around £1250 which I have been offered? I believe the issue has now been narrowed down to wiring in the ECU system although again, this is very uncertain.

That, or do I try and get it to start which it occasionally does, and palm it off to webuyanycar?

Thanks,

[CO2000]

Have you got a local auto electrician specialist? I'd try that rather than a normal garage.

[Dave350]

So far tried Mini themselves & Millsys auto's (Recommended specialist on here).

I've tried google and can't see anywhere else recommended in the Birmingham area.

[wlondoner]

What do you mean MINI can't fix it?
If you paid them for the problem to fix they would of taken it back until they fixed it surely?

[steve-5snwi]

Is it still cutting out ? No fault codes whatsoever ?

When it cuts out what does it do ?

Is it certain speeds ? Certain air temperatures ? Is the battery ok, is it charging, does it restart instantly ? Did millsy find anything ?

It's got to be something simple.

[Dave350]

wlondoner said:

What do you mean MINI can't fix it?
If you paid them for the problem to fix they would of taken it back until they fixed it surely?

They charged £391 to fix a thermostat, then said a further £400 to fix the lambda sensor at which point they also said they couldn’t guarantee that would fix it.

We then took it to a specialist who replaced the lambda sensor and another part (memory fails me) for £280.

Mini genuinely were clueless and kept stating how all they can do is keep replacing parts and hoping.

[Dave350]

steve-5snwi said:

Is it still cutting out ? No fault codes whatsoever ?

When it cuts out what does it do ?

Is it certain speeds ? Certain air temperatures ? Is the battery ok, is it charging, does it restart instantly ? Did millsy find anything ?

It's got to be something simple.

It has cut out a few times mid driving. Mixed temperatures both mild at 7-8c and cold at 1-2c.
If it starts once, tends to start when trying soon after, however by the end of the day, it won’t start again.

Battery has been tested and is fine.

Millsy replaced lambda and another part, but it then cut out mid driving again, he towed it back
And kept it a week but it didn’t repeat. He said he tried it several times and considered loads but couldn’t fix it.

We then collected it Saturday morning and it started and go back the 25 mike journey, went to start it Sunday and it won’t start at all now.

It’s now been having these issues around 3 weeks and legit have now idea how to get it fixed when no one seems to know!

[cptsideways]

Cam angle sensor, it wont be giving a fault code but will cause starting issues.

I'd put £20 on it being at fault

[Rockster]

What cptsideways says.

Or the crankshaft position sensor. If this sensor connection is flaky, or the sensor flaky (just a Hall effect sensor not that complicated), or if the sensor is loose or not positioned just right the engine controller may not get a good crankshaft position signal and if it fails to get this it will not attempt to let the engine start, it will not trigger spark or fuel because it doesn't know when.

[steve-5snwi]

You could try the crank sensor but they would usually cause it not to start but wouldn't usually stop it running.

We had something similar with a golf, it was a mixture of the fuel pump relay and the wiring on the fuel pump itself

[CO2000]

Dave350 said:

So far tried Mini themselves & Millsys auto's (Recommended specialist on here).

I've tried google and can't see anywhere else recommended in the Birmingham area.

I had a quick look, what about Goodwins Autos (v good ratings) or P J Auto Electrics (mobile) or Harborne Garage (Bosch service centre) ?

[Dave350]

Thanks all, will give the mobile guy a call and pass on the messages in this thread

[Dave350]

Appears SE Birmingham to central Birmingham to the other is too far for a mobile guy

Still hunting a solution! I'd be happy to just get the bloody thing started and to sell it to Webuyanycar!

[Elliot2000]

Do some checks yourself- check for a spark, check the plug connections to the ecu like mentioned previously, disconnect sensor on top of thermostat- all can be done with minimum of tools or technical knowledge and may point you to the fault