On 2 December 2010 I bought a diesel MINI Countryman ALL4. This is the first diesel-engined car I have ever bought. I am delighted with it as a car. It is comfortable and the performance is lively and enjoyable and, I thought, suitable for my 5,000 a year driving mileage made up short journeys of up to 30 miles each way. I am 81 years old.

I am now noticing adverse comments in your columns and on the internet about problems from the diesel particle filter. I understand this requires driving the car continuously without stopping until the engine reaches about 600 degrees Centigrade before the accumulated soot in the filter is burnt off. If this is not done, the soot eventually clogs the filter and can cause damage that could cost anything from £600 to £1,400 to repair the filter.

I do not see my style of driving achieving burn-out temperatures. I believe BMW suggests making a continuous 50-mile journey at least once a month. Where I live, because of roundabouts and traffic lights, continuous uninterrupted journeys are difficult to achieve. The dealer did not warn me about this during the purchase negotiations. Now I wonder if I should have gone for a petrol version, but I believe that is not available until next year and I cannot do without a car till then. Please can you advise me what actions are open to me?