Mini Paceman won't start check engine light on

Sounds like you might have a similar issue to one I had a while back with my Mini Paceman. The check engine light came on, and it wouldn't start. Have you checked your battery connections? A loose connection can cause all sorts of weird engine fault issues and throw up an ECU issue.

Battery connections, huh? Is that something I can easily check myself, or am I better off taking it to someone who knows what they're doing? And how would bad connections cause the engine to just not start?

Yeah, you can check them yourself. Just make sure the car is off and pop the hood. Look at the terminals where the cables connect to the battery. Are they clean and tight? If they're corroded or loose, that could be the issue. Think of it like a loose wire on a lamp – no connection, no light. But honestly, if you aren't comfortable, it's worth getting it checked by a professional. It could be something else entirely, and you don't want to mess with the ECU.

Thanks so much for the help. Turns out you were spot on! I took it to a workshop, and it was indeed the cable connections to the battery. They cleaned them up, and it's starting fine now. Cost me 155€, but at least it's sorted.