This damn mini
Discussion
Is a right pita.
Just before lockdown I bought the wife a mini one convertible 2010 1.6 from a small dealer.
Since then I've had to replaced the battery, both rear drop links and the boot lock is also knackered. All this I was willing and have sorted at a cost of around £200.
Due to lockdown we've hardly driven the thing, probably about 150 miles max. The engine which I always thought was noisy but apparently 'they're all like that sir' being direct injection and especially on start up, started to really rattle a few days ago.
I thought cam chain ! But it ended up being a really knackered aux belt. Big chunks were missing from it.
This was done by a mini specialist of which I paid £50 and the warranty company £97. This cured the rattle but the engine is still noisy especially on start up. This has now been diagnosed as 'piston slap'. The garage informed me that it will need sorting sooner rather than later.
The car is on 82k and we've owned it for 9 weeks with 3 weeks warranty left. The warranty will not cover the work as the pistons do not wear over just 150miles. Plus the bill to strip the engine and re bore the cylinders would be catastrophic.
So I'm left with a noisy mini which will only get worse and one I will struggle morally to sell on.
The garage that has done the work say I should reject the car. But the car drives so is sort of fit for purpose.
I have let the dealer know but he wont get back to me.
What you reckon guys?
Oh and the aircon has failed too...christ
Just before lockdown I bought the wife a mini one convertible 2010 1.6 from a small dealer.
Since then I've had to replaced the battery, both rear drop links and the boot lock is also knackered. All this I was willing and have sorted at a cost of around £200.
Due to lockdown we've hardly driven the thing, probably about 150 miles max. The engine which I always thought was noisy but apparently 'they're all like that sir' being direct injection and especially on start up, started to really rattle a few days ago.
I thought cam chain ! But it ended up being a really knackered aux belt. Big chunks were missing from it.
This was done by a mini specialist of which I paid £50 and the warranty company £97. This cured the rattle but the engine is still noisy especially on start up. This has now been diagnosed as 'piston slap'. The garage informed me that it will need sorting sooner rather than later.
The car is on 82k and we've owned it for 9 weeks with 3 weeks warranty left. The warranty will not cover the work as the pistons do not wear over just 150miles. Plus the bill to strip the engine and re bore the cylinders would be catastrophic.
So I'm left with a noisy mini which will only get worse and one I will struggle morally to sell on.
The garage that has done the work say I should reject the car. But the car drives so is sort of fit for purpose.
I have let the dealer know but he wont get back to me.
What you reckon guys?
Oh and the aircon has failed too...christ
When was the oil last changed? These petrol engines in the Mini's have a tendency to burn oil, and if not changed often get loud...my wifes previous Mini liked to drink the oil, and even when oil was changed every 8k (never follow CBS intervals), it was usually nearly empty, didn't even show low oil pressure or oil light, but was always a little rattly I remember (2009 plate it was)
Would suggest a thicker 5w40 spec oil to try aswell.
Would suggest a thicker 5w40 spec oil to try aswell.
Edited by DailyHack on Friday 29th May 23:55
DailyHack said:
When was the oil last changed? These petrol engines in the Mini's have a tendency to burn oil, and if not changed often get loud...my wife previous mini had a drink problem, and even when oil was changed every 8k (never follow CBS intervals), it was usually nearly empty, didn't even show low oil pressure or oil light, but was always a little rattly I remember (2009 plate it was)
Would suggest a thicker 5w40 spec oil to try aswell.
The oil is fine. The dealer did slightly over fill it mind..Would suggest a thicker 5w40 spec oil to try aswell.
Edited by DailyHack on Friday 29th May 23:54
But I think petty much like you say, that it's been run on a low oil level at some point. BMW quote that 1ltr per 1000 miles is within tolerance so it's no wonder this has premature engine wear.
How many owners who are not car nuts, would inspect the oil level between services? Not many I reckon.
WarnieV6GT said:
How many owners who are not car nuts, would inspect the oil level between services? Not many I reckon.
Nope your right, usually tell from the noise if it's tappety or low oil...it was only my local mechanic/friend who informed me when we got the Mini on around 40k to split the intervals (I have always done this on all my cars especially my BMW diesels, and got to mega miles with no engine wear issues).Mini has been moved on to her sister now, 135,000 on it and runs fine, apart from the knocky suspension - but I would recommend using a thicker oil if you plan to keep it.
Welcome to the world of Mini ownership, you either get a good one or a very naughty one.
The AC will most likely be the condenser, having said that mine never worked well even after a regal and it doesn’t work at all now. The battery is common and yes direct injection is noisy. A belt fitted should be less than £100 but they are a bugger to fit. FRM modules go mad, thermostats melt, they are fun though when running right.
The AC will most likely be the condenser, having said that mine never worked well even after a regal and it doesn’t work at all now. The battery is common and yes direct injection is noisy. A belt fitted should be less than £100 but they are a bugger to fit. FRM modules go mad, thermostats melt, they are fun though when running right.
stevemcs said:
Welcome to the world of Mini ownership, you either get a good one or a very naughty one.
The AC will most likely be the condenser, having said that mine never worked well even after a regal and it doesn’t work at all now. The battery is common and yes direct injection is noisy. A belt fitted should be less than £100 but they are a bugger to fit. FRM modules go mad, thermostats melt, they are fun though when running right.
CheersThe AC will most likely be the condenser, having said that mine never worked well even after a regal and it doesn’t work at all now. The battery is common and yes direct injection is noisy. A belt fitted should be less than £100 but they are a bugger to fit. FRM modules go mad, thermostats melt, they are fun though when running right.
Your right I was surprised how much fun it could be but also just as surprised about the poor build quality.
It does seem that this one is a particular bad example though.
I can give the dealer a chance to repair it but I cant see him doing anything without a putting up a fight. Attempt to reject the bloody thing.
Or I can fix what I can and then pass it on to another poor soul to deal with like the dealer did with me. But two wrongs don't make a right and all that...
Bought from a dealer and only driven 150 miles = the dealers problem.
This is why people pay the premium and don’t buy privately.
If they don’t fix it or take the car back plus refund you then you can get a few quotes for the work pick the middle one then take the dealer to small claims to get the money back.
Keep all your written correspondence and the court is going to find in your favour.
This is why people pay the premium and don’t buy privately.
If they don’t fix it or take the car back plus refund you then you can get a few quotes for the work pick the middle one then take the dealer to small claims to get the money back.
Keep all your written correspondence and the court is going to find in your favour.
trickywoo said:
Bought from a dealer and only driven 150 miles = the dealers problem.
This is why people pay the premium and don’t buy privately.
If they don’t fix it or take the car back plus refund you then you can get a few quotes for the work pick the middle one then take the dealer to small claims to get the money back.
Keep all your written correspondence and the court is going to find in your favour.
Cheers..This is why people pay the premium and don’t buy privately.
If they don’t fix it or take the car back plus refund you then you can get a few quotes for the work pick the middle one then take the dealer to small claims to get the money back.
Keep all your written correspondence and the court is going to find in your favour.
I'll be attempting to contact him again this morning. Or just go and see him ideally but he's not there much atm.
I have got wear and tear cover on the warranty which I doubt is worth sod all when it comes to engine work that would run into the £1000's easily. They will say that the fault already existed before purchase as piston wear does not happen in 150 miles so why should they he responsible.
IJWS15 said:
"........poor build quality.........”
If I read the original post correctly you are complaining about poor build quality in a 10 year old car.
It has already lasted 10 years so the build quality must have been OK.
The engine has premature wear and now needs major work so is therefore not worth the purchase price. The dealer who is also a mechanic would have known this. If I read the original post correctly you are complaining about poor build quality in a 10 year old car.
It has already lasted 10 years so the build quality must have been OK.
My view on perceived build quality is not really important here.
My mini has never used any oil, n18 Cooper S, yet some we see at work drink it. Has it been run without the aux belt to make sure it’s nothing driven off that that’s rattling ?
Normally minis have issues with the tensioner, yes they can drink oil but but the engines can last.
Oh and the clutch is weak on minis !
Normally minis have issues with the tensioner, yes they can drink oil but but the engines can last.
Oh and the clutch is weak on minis !
stevemcs said:
My mini has never used any oil, n18 Cooper S, yet some we see at work drink it. Has it been run without the aux belt to make sure it’s nothing driven off that that’s rattling ?
Normally minis have issues with the tensioner, yes they can drink oil but but the engines can last.
Oh and the clutch is weak on minis !
I hope the garage would have sorted anything to do with the aux belt but I never asked so it's a good pointNormally minis have issues with the tensioner, yes they can drink oil but but the engines can last.
Oh and the clutch is weak on minis !
You have the better engine. The n18 was bought in a few months after this one was built. The used prices reflect this.
After running V8's and Alfa Busso's I presumed the mini engine would be no problem. I wish I had done more research beforehand now.
A500leroy said:
DON'T drive it, it will probably be the timing chain tensioner making the noise, when it fully fails it will starve the top of the engine of oil and it will cook the head, get the chain and tensioner changed quick.
If the timing chain tensioner or chain fully fails it won’t overheat because it won’t runElliot2000 said:
A500leroy said:
DON'T drive it, it will probably be the timing chain tensioner making the noise, when it fully fails it will starve the top of the engine of oil and it will cook the head, get the chain and tensioner changed quick.
If the timing chain tensioner or chain fully fails it won’t overheat because it won’t runI'm off to see the dealer on Monday after he replied to me this morning.
Got in the car at dinnertime for a quick trip to get some motorcycle chain lube and the large centre plastic cover in the roof that covers up the folding roof electrics fell on top of me as I lowered it ...
It's a car that just keeps on giving
Got in the car at dinnertime for a quick trip to get some motorcycle chain lube and the large centre plastic cover in the roof that covers up the folding roof electrics fell on top of me as I lowered it ...
It's a car that just keeps on giving
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