Mini Clubman rough cold start issue

A rough idle and poor cold starts on a Mini Clubman, especially with that mileage, does point towards fuel delivery issues. When you say "poor engine running", could you describe the symptoms in more detail? For example, are you experiencing any engine misfire? Have you tried any injector cleaning additives? Also, has the fuel rail pressure been checked? Sometimes a faulty fuel pressure regulator can mimic injector issues. An injector test is definitely a good starting point, but it's important to rule out other potential causes first.

A rough idle and poor cold starts on a Mini Clubman, especially with that mileage, does point towards fuel delivery issues. When you say "poor engine running", could you describe the symptoms in more detail? For example, are you experiencing any engine misfire? Have you tried any injector cleaning additives? Also, has the fuel rail pressure been checked? Sometimes a faulty fuel pressure regulator can mimic injector issues. An injector test is definitely a good starting point, but it's important to rule out other potential causes first.

Thanks for the quick reply! When I say "poor running", I mean the engine shakes quite a bit, and it feels like it's struggling to keep running for the first minute or so. It almost stalls a few times. I haven't tried any injector cleaning additives yet. As for the fuel rail pressure, I haven't checked that either. I'm not really sure how to do that myself. Is that something a novice can do, or is it best left to a professional?

Thanks for the quick reply! When I say "poor running", I mean the engine shakes quite a bit, and it feels like it's struggling to keep running for the first minute or so. It almost stalls a few times. I haven't tried any injector cleaning additives yet. As for the fuel rail pressure, I haven't checked that either. I'm not really sure how to do that myself. Is that something a novice can do, or is it best left to a professional?

Based on your description, it does indeed sound like a faulty injector is the most probable cause. The shaking and near-stalling are classic symptoms of an engine misfire caused by insufficient fuel delivery during the cold start phase. While injector cleaning additives might help in some cases, they are unlikely to resolve a truly defective injector. Checking fuel rail pressure requires specialized tools and knowledge, so it's best left to a professional. I recommend taking it to a reputable workshop for an injector test and potential replacement of the faulty injector.

Based on your description, it does indeed sound like a faulty injector is the most probable cause. The shaking and near-stalling are classic symptoms of an engine misfire caused by insufficient fuel delivery during the cold start phase. While injector cleaning additives might help in some cases, they are unlikely to resolve a truly defective injector. Checking fuel rail pressure requires specialized tools and knowledge, so it's best left to a professional. I recommend taking it to a reputable workshop for an injector test and potential replacement of the faulty injector.

Just wanted to give a quick update. You were spot on! Took it to the workshop, and after an injector test, they confirmed it was the cold start injector that was faulty. They replaced it, and now the engine starts perfectly, even when cold. The final bill came to around 515€, which is what I was expecting. Thanks again for your help!

Just wanted to give a quick update. You were spot on! Took it to the workshop, and after an injector test, they confirmed it was the cold start injector that was faulty. They replaced it, and now the engine starts perfectly, even when cold. The final bill came to around 515€, which is what I was expecting. Thanks again for your help!