Its a common misconception. There is really only 2 reasons to ever upgrade your BOV: (1) you are making more boost than the spring can handle allowing it to leak. (not likely in a MINI) or (2) you are running a huge turbo and the valve cant evacuate the piping to drop the pressure fast enough. (Also not likely on a MINI.)
The most important piece of advice that you got above is Savvy's suggestion to change the oil, early and often. Really early, and really often. It'll save you some big bills (I'm presenting one to a customer today for more than $6900, because they didn't--and they'll be delighted: it's about 60% of what the dealer wanted). The BOV for your car is more for fun. The idea of a cold-side pressure release valve is to prevent turbo reversion, where the closing of the throttle body shocks the turbo into suddenly spinning in reverse, damaging the spindle bearing. Your car has provisions for this already, but if you're fast, and you're furious, you can vent to atmosphere which makes a boss sound.
Well..the BMW dealer said that they felt the down shifting issue and were clueless as to what it was and it actually is doing and they sent it to a local Mini Dealer Service Tech. The strange sound coming from the front when we left off of the gas was backfire from the manifold (I actually described it as that while talking to them when I dropped it off, I felt stupid that I didn't think that before). They said everything with the transmission checked out but it didn't feel like it was shifting down properly and from a stop they said it felt like it takes to long to move. (In automatic if I put my foot on the gas it wouldn't move until I had it pressed enough to feel like it jumps!) I miss my 7 day old Mini...
Ummm...is this the nicest and most friendly message board on the entire world wide web?? Thanks! I do too! Fortunately, I won't be paying for any of this, so that's the sunny side.
Why yes, it is! Dont get me wrong, we have our moments, but for the most part we are just a big group of friends spread out around the world. Free is always a good price! See if you can get a second opinion on the trans... Who knows you might get a new one out of it...
Update: They claim to have resolved the issues and all of them were supposedly in regards to the intake and vacuum system. I Also had them change the transmission fluid and they put in a conditioner too. I'm just so happy to have my Mini back, the loaner "economy" car (2013 Civic) was horrible! I couldn't even accelerate if I tried!
Sorry you had to drive a new Honda! Things must be bad with them, all their new commercials don't even show a car, and are marketed directly at toddlers.
I have read in these forums where something as simple as a fluid change solved shifting problems. Hopefully the transmission fluid change will resolve the shifting issues. From what I've read about these beasties, the trans fluid in the automatics needs to be changed much more frequently than most brands. About every 50 K miles.
Regarding under hood temperatures, I think insulating the hot side of the turbocharger is the best thing you can do. I bought Way Motor Works turbo wrap for my MINI soon after I got it, it made a huge difference! WMW Turbo Heat Shield - Way Motor Works