R56 Oil pressure issue

[Alex35Hathern]

We have recently purchased an 09 Mini Cooper S, 60k miles. Problems started with black smoke from exhaust. Local garage checked and reported 'significant play in turbo shaft' and advised us to take it back, while there car was topped up with oil. Car went back to dealer who run an emissions test, which passed and gave it a clean bill of health and returned it to us.
Car has now has red oil pressure warning light, car was again booked into different local garage, who reported oil leak to sump and oil leak to turbo and that the oil level was at minimum, had only done 233 miles from purchase at this point, and we have black deposits on the rear bumper. Garage said the oil leaks alone are not significant enough to lose that amount over only 233 miles and suggests internal engine issues. Sounds expensive!
At this point we are looking to reject the car as still in 30 days purchase period, dealer still insists it only has minor issues such as needing oil pressure switch replacement.

Any advice or experience with this would be very much appreciated.

[kevs]

Do a search for N14 oil consumption, it sounds like you have a problem

[paultownsend]

Reject it. They either have oil consumption issues or significant consumption issues. Even our N18 used half a litre every 1k or so. However we still used 0w Castrol. Had to check every week.

[Alex35Hathern]

Thank you, the dealer is making out I am being neurotic but I absolutely know there is something wrong with this car. Does anyone know if a car can pass an emissions test if it is burning oil? The car has apparently passed the emissions and being a cream car you can quite easily see the black deposits on the rear and on the exhaust.

[paultownsend]

Have a Google search and print the results off. It’s a significant issue. Half the problem I believe is that these cars don’t have water/oil temp gauges nor oil pressure or level gauges. The dipstick is too hard to read. When it beeps it’s too late. Combine that with a thirst like Hemingway and it’s bad news. I changed ours to 5w40 and it got better, but still consumed too much for my liking. Remember it’s not a BMW engine!