Why does our Mini Clubman Cooper SD's fan continue after the engine is switched off?

Earlier this year, I replaced my wife's Mini Clubman Cooper S with the new Clubman Cooper SD. I am delighted with car, although it has a rather noisy engine, it goes well and the torque excellent. I do have a concern relating to the engine cooling fan. I have noticed on a number of occasions, even on short journeys in Jersey of say five miles, when we return back home and switch the engine off, the fan can keep going for a further 10 minutes. There is also a sort of smell of burning. I have taken the car back to the main dealer in Jersey, Jacksons, who have checked it over and confirmed that this is not unusual. I have read in the papers that the Mini Cooper S has been known to catch fire but I think these were the petrol versions, not the diesel ones. I am wondering therefore, whether you have heard of other Mini diesel owners who have experienced the engine fan staying on after the car has been switched off.

Asked on 2 April 2012 by MF, St. Clement, Jersey

Answered by Honest John
This is the diesel particulate filter attempting to burn off the unburned hydrocarbon soot it collected after the car was started and only driven a short distance. It uses fuel to do this. The car is basically unsuited to short runs from cold and to use on an island just nine miles by five, but its systems are doing the best they can to cope. The Mini Cooper S petrol engine fires are another issue.
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