I've not seen a bulletin, but I have noticed that the pump will click full when the tank will hold one to two gallons more. I just keep pumping 'til it clicks again. Not the first vehicle I've had that does this.

 

Been the same with all 4 of our MINIs. My trick is to put the nozzle in upside down. Works for me.

 

My trick is to put the nozzle in upside down.

Ditto.

My theory is that the breather hose from the tank is poorly situated so the air coming out of the tank (displaced by the fuel going in) triggers the auto-off in the pump nozzle. Twisting the nozzle to anything but down fixes the problem and 180 degrees is an easy alternative. Those of us old farts who have arthritis arriving also find it less effort to hold the nozzle trigger down this way, too.

 

Thanks for the tips, as it's pretty annoying taking 15 minutes or longer to fill the tank. As mines bad enough I barely get a tenth of a gallon in at a time before it'd click off. My service advisor told me that MINI just updated this bulletin with the fix being that new fuel tank, so maybe that's why more haven't heard about it yet.

 

What build dates are these problem tanks? My June 2015 build has no such problems.

Of course, it's worth mentioning that some cars you can't simply jam the nozzle into the filler tube as far as possible, you have to be more measured, and many cars can't have the refuelling nozzle on full-blast either.

 

How do you know your tank isn't full? The lights on the instrument pod don't light up all the way to the top?

I haven't had any issues that I'm aware of.

 

I just refueled yesterday as I only had a quarter tank left, and I could only get it to half a tank in 10 minutes. So, no it's not full.

I've tried the nozzle in at different depths, and all have the same issue. I can't actually even depress the handle halfway, and it still clicks off. I have issues at even a quarter or less handle depression. I also tried the nozzle at different angles and it didn't help.

My MINI is a Dec. 2014 build for those interested.

This is just a seriously annoying problem that I hope this new fuel tank fixes.

 

Yep I've had this issue, I know what you mean about it seemingly clicking off every 5 seconds. I found it tends to click off when I fully depress the nozzle all the way, and if I press it about half way it's fine. But obviously takes longer to fill up (also not sure if doing this means that it doesn't click off when it's actually full).

Will try the nozzle upside down suggestion. Btw do you guys mean that the nozzle is completely 180 degrees upside down when filling?

 

Ah and also I noticed the other day when it clicked off I pulled the nozzle out and could see the petrol in the filler. Thought I'd over filled it but it then went down into the tank.

Could maybe be that the fuel is going into the mini too quickly and the sensors are reading that it's full when it just needs a moment to go down into the actual tank? Bit of a design flaw if that's the case.

As a side note a friend of mine bought a new Toyota recently and the same problem happened to him.

 

Some pump nozzles are too sensitive; turning them upside down usually cures this but if the tank neck is restrictive or the air vent isnt sufficient you are never going to fill it quickly which is areal pain. My cooper is absolutely fine, but sounds like the bigger tank of the s is very different!

 

Just an update, I filled up today at a Shell garage. They seem to have thinner nozzles (probably just me imagining). I clicked after a few seconds again, but I twisted it about 45 degrees towards me. Was a bit easier to hold anyway, but didn't click off at all at full squeeze until it was actually full. So must be a problem with the sensor when the fuel pump is in at certain angles.

 

Going through the same thing. Brand new 2015 MCS, check engine light @ 200 miles, dealer replaces sensor in fuel system. 600 Miles, check engine light back on, goes back to dealer. Talking to them about the car, I also asked them about fueling, because the last time (only time) I put fuel in it, it was impossible to fill it up, pump clicked off constantly without filling tank.

Long story short, the dealer is now replacing fuel tank under a service bulletin for a defective fuel tank, great first week.

 

Oh I hope that doesn't happen to me. I'd be mighty disappointed!
(2015 MCS being loaded onto car carrier at Southhampton TODAY!
Sorry bit excited )

 

Never had that issue with the JCW, and that gets filled up from reserve on a regular basis. In fact I only ever fill it once the light comes on. Agreed it does click the pump off once or twice but just wait a second or so and start again, but almost every car I've ever had has been similar.

I actually picked up a diesel nossle by mistake the other day, glad that it didn't fit in the filler or I could have been rather embarrased!

 

As I've mentioned before, had 4 MINIs now including the current F56... all the same. Cure is to have the filler nozzle upside down. Works for me.

 

Mine has been fine since I first mentioned it on here. I tend to have the nozzle horizontal and haven't had any clicking issues for ages. As I mentioned before, when it did have the clicking issue, when I pulled the nozzle out there was always a bit of fuel near the top of the filling reservoir, as if it was going in too quick and had overflowed slightly. This may have been the case and the nozzle then clicked off as it thought the tank was full? Tended to have the problem more at Tesco pumps, but have been filling up at shell for the past few months without any problems.

 

I have experienced plenty of oversensitive fuel pumps, this was not what was going on, no matter how slow I tried to fill the car, the pump clicked off. After 15-20 clicks off, I gave up with only 3/4 of a tank full. The gas tank is being replaced as defective under this service bulletin, there is something wrong with the vent design that was causing this problem, and also causing the check engine light to come on. At least this is all what the dealer is telling me, I really have no idea what to think at this point. When I do finally get the car back, I will loose my mind if the check engine light comes back on again.

 

Well, its back at the dealer again, check engine light is back on. Apparently it looks like the same issue, have to wait until monday for the service "foreman" to look at the car, he is not there on saturdays. This is the third time it has been back for the same issue, this is their last chance to get this fixed, really aggravating.

 

It took a while for this problem to show up for me. I have a 2015 F56 MCS, built in November 2014. Tried to put gas in it yesterday, and the pump clicked off as soon as I started to fill it. Had the same problem when I tried another pump. I left it with the dealer this morning and just got a call stating that they have to replace the gas tank.

 

Here is the bulletin info from Sept 2015:
SI M16 01 15

SUBJECT
Fuel Filling Nozzle Shuts Off Repeatedly While Refueling

MODEL
F55 (Cooper) Produced from 3/2014 to 7/2014
F56 (Cooper) Produced from 3/2014 to 7/2014
F56 (JCW) Produced from 3/2014 to 7/2014
F56 (Cooper S) Produced from 3/2014 to 7/2014

SITUATION
The fuel filling nozzle turns off repeatedly while filling the fuel tank, regardless of the pump being used.

CAUSE
Defective service valve located within the fuel tank assembly.
The service valve mechanism can stick closed at times and restrict the vapor release to the carbon canister while filling with fuel.

PROCEDURE
Replace the fuel tank with P/N 16 11 7 349 679 as per repair instruction 16 11 030 “Removing and installing fuel tank (US version NVLD)”.

Here is how the system works in case anyone is curious.

 

Thanks for the info.
Looks like the problem wasn't restricted to 3/2014 - 7/2014 builds. Mine was built 11/2014.

 

Mines a Oct/Nov 2015 and does this, give up sometimes and make do with half a tank or so........

 

Mines a 7/14 build and no problems at 17K miles.

 

So to resurrect an old thread, my 05-2014 build just did this for the second time tonight. The last time it happened, the dealership said that it was my fault for over filling the tank and the evap canister was filled. I'm not a round up at the pump person, ocd is only a problem in keeping this black car shiny. Anyway they replaced the evap canister, filled the car up with fuel, and said it was good to go. Now on the 3rd fuel fill it does it again. I am kicking myself for selling my 04 really hard now.

Does anyone have more information on the TSB that bheights posted? I can't find any information about it and my service advisor told me that was not a valid TSB that he could find.

Thanks,
Spence

 

This Friday will have my 2015 mini at the dealer for a month straight!!! They said the tank had to be replaced, and finally said two weeks ago that it was on backorder. The tank has been on order for 5 weeks. Very frustrating. I have now emailed mini corporate and cited our states lemon law. I have no clue when this will be resolved and mini doesn't seem to have a clue either.

 

I hate to hear you have been without your car for a month, that is no way to treat a customer. I bought the 2014 after 10 years with a 2004 R53 thinking it was the better deal. Looks like I should have gone another direction. The dealers around Atlanta have really been terrible to work with especially with a car that is still under warranty.

Hope you get your car back soon. I'll update when they let me know whats wrong.

 

Well now I am in the same boat. They are going to try some tricks to get fuel in the car, but they have placed an order for the fuel tank. I'll cross my fingers to get the car back by January.

 

Krause168

Hi,

I have received my new mini cooper in Jan 2017 and have the same problem that the fuel gun click off within 1 or 2 litres. I tried different fuel station, different pumping station, they have the same problem. Till Yesterday I tried to turn the gun for 180 degree or at upside down position, it then work well. As soon as I turn the position back to normal, it click off right the way.

Sounds like turning 180 degree is the solution.

I have made appointmentin 2 weeks to inspect the fueling system. Wonder if I shall still do it.