My Mini Cooper was sputtering once every 3 weeks or so. I've been taking very good care of it. It had 42,000 miles when it started, now reached 43,000 miles. I took it for an oil change and a small check up but the reason was not found. It happened again and I took it to the Mini Cooper dealer in San Francisco for a check up and tune up if necessary. and diagnose. They charged me $225 for the checking with no results. $224 for renewing the brake fluid, $9.70 for the brake fluid, total $459.55 but no tune-up and a list of 8 different things that could be the reason of the sputtering. One of them being the transmission for $13,211.64. The total of all these possible reasons would add up to $18,063.55

This is a 2006 Mini Cooper with 42,000 miles, hardly time to change the transmission. Basically they wanted me to buy a new Mini.

I went to another mechanic and it was also inconclusive, leading more towards the transmission. The sputtering keeps happening every 3 weeks or so, the engine light comes on and by the time I bring it to another "highly recommended mechanic" for another check up, the light disappear and they can't diagnose it. I am only driving locally and very shot distances but have to sell it now, needing a car I can trust. Also I would like to find a number to call at Mini Cooper or an address to write to.

Thank you