Mini Roadster AC Issues

Whoa, that sounds rough! I had something similar happen with my Mini (petrol, thankfully). The AC just quit, and I got some weird warning lights too. Did you check for a refrigerant leak? Sometimes that can cause the compressor to fail. It basically means the system loses its coolant, and the compressor seizes up. Is the compressor making any strange noises?

Thanks for the quick reply! I didn't check for a refrigerant leak myself, but the workshop guys mentioned something about the error memory pointing towards the air conditioning control unit being defective. I'm not super familiar with auto AC repair – is that a common cause for the system to just stop working? Or is it more likely to be the compressor itself?

Yeah, a defective control unit could definitely do it. It basically tells the compressor when to kick in and regulates everything. If it's faulty, it might not even be sending power to the compressor. My issue was also diagnosed as a control unit problem after they checked the refrigerant levels and compressor itself. Honestly, automotive cooling systems can be a pain. I'd trust the workshop's diagnosis, especially if they've seen this before on Minis. Probably best to get it sorted professionally; car air conditioning systems can be tricky to work on without the right tools and knowledge.

Just wanted to close the loop on this one. Took my Roadster in, and it turned out to be a defective air conditioning control unit, just like you suspected. Pretty expensive fix, almost 1000€! At least it's sorted now, and I'll be cool again. Thanks for the help!