Had a bit of a stressful moment yesterday in the mini while driving on the highway. The car was struggling at 100kms, it just felt very sluggish and noisy. I noticed the oil light flash on and off also so pulled over asap to check oil.
There was plenty in there. Halfway between min and max. I topped up with half a litre and seamed smother but was too chicken crap to drive on highway so just plodded home thru back streets.
There is no oil leaks that I can find and anywhere and so smoke from the exhaust at all. I did a new oil change a couple weeks ago and all seemed fine.
Can anyone recommend anything to check out?

BTW car is 98 Rover Cooper

This is an interesting one.
Firstly - what oil did you put into the car, and what filter (and where'd you get it)?
Secondly - sluggish only at 100km/h or sluggish at 3400rpm in any gear?

The light:
It might have a lot in there but the wrong oil could be running too thin and holding no pressure. The UK recommend 10w40 for SPI minis, might be okay down here but I'd suggest a good old 20w50 or similar. I run 15w50 in mine and haven't had any oil pressure issues at all from freezing days to 40+ degrees.

Responsiveness:
The injection and management system pays no attention to the oil pressure whatsoever -they aren't linked at all, so the problems may be separate. Possibly a vacuum leak or MAP sensor line issue, but doubtful as I've driven a mini down a freeway without them completely and it was fine.
Throttle position sensor could cause sluggishness but that would apply through all gears.

I used Penrite HPR15w-60 which the previous owner used.
The oil didn't really didn't need a change at the time but I did it anyway as I had a spare bottle and wanted to keep up the maintenance. I couldn't get at the oil filter to replace so I didn't change it. I'll def change filter in next 1000k's when I take off grille to get to it.
However the spare filter I have is Unipart GFE280

Don't see any real issues there.
(for future reference to you: its a really good idea to disconnect the battery when you remove the grille and the oil filter - theres a sometimes uninsulated positive terminal right on the top front of the starter motor where you'll be be working).

What milage has the car clocked up do you think / know?

Do yourself a favour and do an oil pressure check first to see what you have.

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18500
I suspect 118500. Its just seems so low for a 98 however the condition of the car is immaculate, and shows what I believe to be a very low k car. I even have the Jap service report stating the k's during service at 6000 sometghing ks in 2009. However no previous service records that I can read (in Japanese) since new.

Any idea on a ruff $ figure to do this so I dont get stung?

If its any help I bought my 1997 Rover with 44,000km on the clock and i thought i was lucky.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

It's not too hard to tell the difference between a low and high milage car, though some jap examples do make it hard I know.
Things like seat, steering wheel, gearknob and carpet should be a good indcation, as are the parts in the engine compartment made of aluminium, zinc plated components, and black fasteners.

Sorry to derail this thread slightly.. I was wondering this today as my engine steady bush has broken.. Did late model rovers come with orange colored bush's from factory?

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

Nope, black rubber.

That's what i thought.. Well someone must of replaced the black rubber one to the orange one and that has broken as well.. starting to doubt that my engine is really that low on km.. but the interior is immaculate .

_________________
http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

It'll flog out pretty quick if the bottom one went and hasn't been fixed, or if the bolt on the bottom one has come loose at the engine side.

If it's orange it'll be some "sporty" polly bush
Polly bushes = fail!

Your cars PO obviously thought that not enough things were breaking on the car so decided to fit tacky uk style polly bushes

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

Drove again tonight and have the same problem. Seems its sluggish only at 3400rpm in all gears and at idle (750rpm) the oil light flickers on and off and when I bring the revs above a thousand or so revs the light goes off completely. The car just doesn't feel right. Oil level is over the max mark now. Will this be a problem? Do I need to remove any?
Can anyone recommend a reputable mini mechanic to look it over in Melbourne CBD? Any thoughts on what the problem can be?