rainer_meyer80

Mini One Diesel Cold Start Issue

Alright, so my 2011 Mini One diesel is throwing a fit. Getting poor engine running during cold starts, and the error memory is showing something related to the PTC heater. I've also noticed the fuel consumption creeping up, and heat not working. I'm thinking the electric auxiliary heater is toast. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is it a difficult job to tackle myself, or am I better off taking it to a shop? Seems like it will be an expensive heater repair and I'm getting cold air. I don’t want to mess anything up, as it's like my baby and don't want it to go into the mechanic for no reason.

4 comment(s)

I had something similar happen with my Mini One, though I can't remember the exact error code. Cold air blowing when it should be warm, and the engine felt sluggish at first. Have you checked the blower motor resistor? Sometimes that can cause weird heater issues, but it sounds like the PTC heater is more likely if you're getting an error for it.

The blower motor seems to be working fine; it's just blowing cold air. When you had the PTC heater problem, was the heater completely dead, or was it intermittent? And did you also notice a drop in fuel economy?

Mine was completely dead, like a switch flipped. And yes, I did see a dip in fuel economy because the engine was working harder to compensate. Honestly, unless you're comfortable with electrical work, I'd recommend taking it to a mechanic. It's not a super complicated job, but you'll need to diagnose it properly and replace the heater. Better safe than sorry, you know?

Thanks for the insight. I took it to a mechanic, and you were spot on – the PTC heater was the culprit. New one installed, and the Mini is running like a champ again. Cost me around 350€, but worth it to get rid of that cold air and the rough starts.

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