2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Rough idle, engine light...opinions??

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by LoriK, Dec 24, 2014.

  1. LoriK

    LoriK New Member

    Dec 24, 2014
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    Having rough idle/engine light issues with my '09 Mini S (47k miles).

    For the past week or so, Mini has a rough idle at cold start up (after sitting overnight). It's not hard to start, but the idle is pretty rough for a minute, until it warms up. Seems to be running fine otherwise. Yesterday morning, the check engine light came on about a minute after starting.

    My local Mini specialist is in the process of moving and can't see me for 2 weeks. I don't trust the dealer (bad past experience and can't stand the constant upsell)
    So, I took Mini to a local European Automobile Specialist. Diagnosis:

    2D52 DME SUPER KNOCKING/2DCD FUEL SHUT OFF/2783 MISFIRE SEVERAL CYLINDERS/277B MISFIRE CYLINDER 4/2773 MISFIRE CYLINDER 1/277F MISFIRE CYLINDER 2

    TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BAD GASOLINE. TEECHNICIAN RECOMMENDS TO REMOVED ALL FUEL FROM GAS TANK/ADD NEW FUEL AND PERFORM FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING SERVICE $500.00+tax

    This smells suspiciously like B.S. to me. Any Mini aficionados out there care to chime in before I proceed?
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Welcome to M\A the FUN MINI site.

    Have you ever changed your plugs or had your valves cleaned yet. Most people have the valves cleaned by having a service done that uses a walnuts in a sandblaster Type of machine.

    What type of fuel (octane rating) do you buy?
     
  3. LoriK

    LoriK New Member

    Dec 24, 2014
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    Thanks for the reply. I only use 93 octane. I have not changed the plugs or had the walnut blasting. I inquired about tune-up/plugs, but was advised (by the European Specialist) to wait until 75k miles.
     
  4. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    As Dave says, it sounds like carbon build up on the valves, a bi product of the direct injected engine. It's walnut blasting time.
     
  5. LoriK

    LoriK New Member

    Dec 24, 2014
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    Thanks. Assuming it's carbon build-up, do you think it's okay to drive for a couple of weeks with the engine light on, until my Mini specialist is up and running in their new location?
     
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    93 that good but IMO 75K is way too long if you do short drives.

    If you drive only on the Highway it is still pushing it.

    How often do you have your oil changed? 5k, 8, or 12-15K
     
  7. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    What Dave said and

    MINI recomends 60k for the spark plug replacement or 30k for JCW models. It likely needs the carbon blast, and since the plugs will be out for easier rotation of the engine thats the time to drop in new ones. Clean oil goes a long way to making these engines happy as well so if it is more than 4k on the oil, that's another item to check off the list.

    And I agree the technician recomendation about bad fuel is bs.
     
  8. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Yeah I change my oil every 2,500 to 3K because oil is cheap insurance for my high dollar performance head/ CAM. I also run Methanol so my oil gets dirty a lot quicker since it is always removing carbon. :ihih::devil:
     
  9. AnsonIvan

    AnsonIvan Local Shop Owner

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    There's an outside chance that the high pressure fuel pump is failing. Start with the Plugs and carbon blast, if the issue continues it's likely the pump.
     
  10. rjdcoop

    rjdcoop New Member

    Jan 3, 2015
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    I just experienced what sounds like same thing. 2009 Cooper hardtop, about 75k. Car has been running fine. Started today and running very very rough, engine light came on.

    What does this carbon cleaning and plug change usually run? I am in the Northeast.

    I read a few other things that mentioned timing chain issue?
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Welcome to M/A

    I'll let someone more knowledgeable on the Prince engine chime in here to help. I have an R53 & it's quite different.
     
  12. nkfry

    nkfry New Member
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    If you haven't had the updated cold weather intake from MINI installed yet, ice in the throttle body could be an issue, it's quite common in the colder months with these engines unless you've had the updated intake manifold installed.

    My gut tells me that your issue is ice in the intake though, it doesn't take much and you'll get the symptoms you're describing.

    Carbon issues are a possibility, but usually carbon buildup is accompanied by hard/no starts, misfires, and low power.


    Plugs are recommended to be changed every 60K miles.

    If you can find a reputable shop in the area I would have them do a compression check (quick way of determining if carbon blasting is required, short of removing the intake manifold), check cold start up fuel pressure (determine if the HPFP is failing).
     
  13. rjdcoop

    rjdcoop New Member

    Jan 3, 2015
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    Update: Turns out it was a bad ignition coil.
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #14 Dave.0, Jan 9, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 9, 2015
    What ignition coil did you have? OEM or something else.....:confused5:

    Second Gen car Dave...
     
  15. rjdcoop

    rjdcoop New Member

    Jan 3, 2015
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    Stock.
     

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