Hi
Similar experience here. Purchased a 57-plate Cooper in November, engine light came on within a day.
Mini garage replaced the exhaust vanos and cleared the error, but light came back on within 10 miles. They did a clean up the valves & sensors, changed the head gasket, reset the timing, and replaced the water pump, and reset the error.
Light stayed off for 250 miles then came back on.They reprogrammed it and reset the error, only for it to come on within 10 miles again.
It's going back in tomorrow :-/. Each time the light comes on, the power dips, plus there's an oil burn smell when I come to a halt and reverse into my garage. No noticeable oil usage, however I've only managed 350 miles in the thing in 2 months.
Since the reprogramme, & when the engine has warmed up, the car stalls when slowing down, with or without the start/stop activated, and struggles to fire when restarting.
I'll post an update once I've heard back from Mini.