2007 MINIcooper 52860 miles has been to the dealer 5 times in the last year with same problem a loud clanking noise during startup and the engine light comes on. They have changed everything but I still have th issue. I took the car to a different shop other than the dealer and he said I shouldn't be driving the car that it has serious flaw in the timing belt and the engine could malfunction at any time. I called MINIand they sadi they would try to fix the car again since its was still under warrently. This car is dangerous and I have seen thousands of posts for this same issue. When I talked ot the dealer about the thousands of posts about this issue he said they have serveral major engine problems with mins 2007,2008.2009 and 2010 so they had to change the engine. The car is currently in the shop for the sixth time this year I told MINII was scarred to drive because if the the engine stops while I am driving it I will be dangerours. The are going to replace the timing again he did suggest I get a 2011 MINIsince the engine was changed. I think there should be a recall with this issue.

- Long Beac, CA, USA

I own a 2007 MINICooper. The tail pipe is large extends beyond the edge of the bumper. I had driven my car approximately 20 miles and parked it, then opened the back to retrieve some items from the cargo area. My leg came into contact with the tail pipe and I received a severe burn which was extremely painful and became blistered. The burn was large and in the shape of a half moon. There is still a scar on my leg from this. I contacted BMW MININorth America, told them what had happened, and sent them a picture of my leg with the burn on it. They arranged for me to bring my car in to the dealership and have an engineer evaluate the car for any defects in the tailpipe. Later I was told that the tailpipe was manufactured properly and I should just be careful not to touch it. I was also told that there is a warning in the owner's manual for the car regarding the tail pipe. I looked it up and it says "do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. Otherwise there is a risk of burns". unfortunately, the tail pipe is in a position where a person's leg would normally be when retrieving items from the cargo area of the car. And since it protrudes past the bumper, it is difficult not to touch it.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

2007 MINICooper S spontaneously caught fire while turned off and parked in my garage. I had traveled less than two miles when I parked the car. Fire started under the hood and completely totaled the car by the time the fire department arrived and put it out.

- Milford, MI, USA

I own a 2007 MINICooper S hardtop. Last may, while taking some shopping packages out of the back, through the hatch of my vehicle, I was burned on the side of my left calf by the exhaust pipe. A couple of weeks after, it happened again, just not as badly as the first time thankfully. The first burn did blister and today, Sept.30,2008, I still have a mark on my leg from this painful event.

- Old Lyme, CT, USA

The tailpipes, when hot, apparently protrude enough to cause severe burns to the leg. My 7 year old daughter sustained a serious burn this way when getting something out of the hatchback.

- Houston, TX, USA

Received blistering and permanent scaring burn from exhaust pipe while removing cargo from rear of vehicle.

- Mystic, CT, USA

Received blistering and permanent scaring burn from exhaust pipe while removing cargo from rear of vehicle.

- Mystic, CT, USA

I burned my lower front leg on the chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes of out 2007 MINICooper S (turbo version).

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Lower leg sustained burn resulting in scaring as result of coming into contact with edge of rear exhaust pipe(s). Exhaust pipes extend too far beyond rear bumper creating exposure to a person accessing trunk.

- Miami, FL, USA