jonathan_ghost47

Mini Countryman rough cold start and high fuel consumption

My 2011 Mini Countryman diesel is giving me grief. The engine runs rough when it's cold, especially on startup. I scanned for error codes, and it's pointing towards the PTC heater. I've also noticed higher fuel consumption. Could a defective electric auxiliary heater really cause all these problems?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I had a similar issue with my old Vauxhall. Cold air on startup, stinky fuel consumption, and the ECU was throwing codes. Turned out to be the heating element in the auxiliary heater. Does your Countryman take a while to warm up?

So, the heating element was the issue? Did you replace it yourself, or did you need special tools?

Yep, the heating element. I didn't have the tools or the know-how, so I let a workshop handle it. If the error code points directly to the PTC heater, and you're getting cold air plus increased fuel consumption, it's highly likely that's the issue. I'd advise getting it checked professionally to be sure.

Workshop confirmed the PTC heater. Replaced it, and now everything's working. Cost me around 350€, as expected. Thanks for your help.

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