Just in case you missed it on MotoringFile or Facebook, BMW is in the process of issuing a recall for all 2007 – 2011 R5x and R60 MINI Coopers with the turbo charged engine. The recall is for the auxiliary water pump, which is supposed to cool the turbo after the car is turned off. Problem is that pump doesn’t always work. As you can imagine, with catastrophic results.
Now, here’s the thing. I’ve actually read the entire recall notice from BMW, 3 times and it says, specifically, that dealers are not to release any MINIs on the lot without performing the recall repair. They also are not to hold customer cars or perform repairs on customer cars UNTIL a service bulletin has been drafted and released.
I say this because I know you. I know you already called your dealer and came close to having kittens because they didn’t know anything about it. Or, there wasn’t anything they could do to help you right now and couldn’t tell you why.
You will be notified about the recall and your MINI will be fixed. Just keep in mind that this recall is affecting approximately 90,000 MINIs in the US, not just you. Now, if you aren’t the original owner of your MINI, you might not find out through normal channels. Stay tuned to Motoringfile or White Roof Radio because we will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available.
In the meantime, I would avoid parking your MINI in a garage or under any cover, just in case.
If your MINI Cooper S is older than 2007 (or 2009, I think, for your Cabrio owners), this does not affect you. This only affects MINIs with the turbo charged engine built between 2007 and 2011.
“Came close to having kittens”- that’s an instant classic! Thanks for posting something sensible about this!
Thanks Vince. I was afraid of posting the recall notice of MF for fear of scaring folks. Just trying to do what I can.
So it need to go into the shop again. Meantime will my five degree temps cool it enough so I don’t need to scrape windows. I ask because not kicking in the turbo is not an option for me. Sliding on the ice is way too much fun.
Don’t go to your dealer until you are notified. They don’t have the parts yet and they haven’t received the service bulletin.
You can let your car idle for 1 – 2 minutes before turning it off to help get rid of some of the extra heat.
The recall is in UK too so presumably world wide, I suspect that might delay things a little while they organize enough of any needed spare parts
Mr. MINI Parts posted on Facebook that dealers don’t even have the parts yet. I can imagine that this will probably take a while to get sorted out.
Letting your MINI idle to allow the turbo to cool down will do very little, if anything, to mitigate the risk. The aux water pump is still going to kick on and run after the engine stops, and if you’re unlucky enough to have the pump circuit card short out, well then c’est la vie. Idling might reduce the pump run time by a minute or so but that’s about it.
The guidance to park outside is probably only needed if you have to leave your MINI unattended right away. When I pull into the garage, after a minute or so I sniff the heated air rising out of the bonnet scoop for any tell-tale signs of abnormality (e.g., melting plastic). I’ll check again a few times at two- or three-minute intervals. Once I hear the aux water pump shut off, I can conclude with confidence that the threat has passed.
Great tip Gary! Thanks!