I am two pages into this topic on head gaskets on the diesel engines and am really put off buying one of these cars, i was hoping to sell my landrover td5 2003 for arround £7000 and buy a mini with good fuel economy which means the mini ONE with the diesel engine.
My landrover has 88000 miles on it had 40,000 when i bought it, i have never had to touch coolant or oil apart from 12000 changes on oil and filters.
I am selling it for a smaller car and like the looks of the mini but the more i read this forum the more im put off, i wont be folking out for warranties as i lost my job recently and need to find something more fitting to my wallet and judging by the sort of bills i am seeing for work it shocks me.
When i got mine at 80k miles i gave it a once over. all seemed fine.
checked two weeks later and the expansion tank had coolant stains down it.
Water level was low, but it never over heated.
I bought a new BMW cap and replaced the coolant. Still ok now, but i'll be keeping an eye on it in the future.
I think if i had not noticed the stains then the car would have soon overheated and once that happens it's too late for some engines!
probably worth swapping as an annual item given the risk factor.
so just a short note from me. Had to have the gasket changed - thakfully the head was ok, but the plugs belts and tensioners were all done at same time. on a 120k 53 plate total bill was £1733 inc VAT. That said the car is good to go for another 100k
Nobody is going to write post after post saying they've had no problems! If you look on Land Rover forums (I have) you'll find all sorts of horror stories, which cost £££ to put right!
Don't buy a diesel is the simple solution - just buy a one petrol!
The Original MINI One Seven
Yorkshire MINI Register - PM for details
Had all the same as before but broke down on A road, towed off, all mayo in engine; Head gasket gone, prob new engine. 28K and 2007 build Cooper One. Guarantee not in place- part exchange only option.
I recently purchased a 2003 mini one d privately. Luckily I exchanged over the full warranty as I have now been without it for 3 weeks! I was having problems with the heating system as no hot air was being pumped into the car and with it being winter was starting to get on my wick!
After taking it to 2 standard mechanics who did not know the problem, BMW have informed me that it is the head gasket!
I have also been told that it is not a toyota engine in the car, it is a citroen 1.4!
The first 2 garages along with bmw said that the thermostat was failing but after being replaced twice they both came to the conclusion that it was the head gasket that was failing.
This model is even causing problems with Mini main dealers as soon after the mini one started to use bmw engines. Luckily I am covered under warranty but it has been a very annoying 3 weeks trying to get the warranty compamny to shell out for it!
Had my 04 D for 90,000 miles and absolutly no problems.
Why..................
Well firstly I have always serviced my car at half BMW's recommended milage, new oil and filter twice a year.
Secondly every two years I flush out the cooling system and replace the coolant.
Thirdly I took to servicing my own car for half the price, making sure the job was done properly with care.
By the way, my car is tuned for 100bhp + with lowered suspension etc etc.
The moral of the story is, dont rely on those over inflated servicing intervals, no car was designed for that.
My car is currently in the garage - same issue - head gaskett gone @92k.
My mini was maintained at the specified service intervals - all by BMW service centres.
The repair is costing £820 (inc VAT).
It's in a local BMW specialist (not BMW Dealer as these guys are rip off merchants). My local garage that I take it for MOT etc does not do head gaskett repairs and had a hell of a job trying to find someone in the area who would take a mini to repair it.
Apparently (news to me), its a pressurised system and because of this it's a bit of a pain to fix. This means that 4 local garages didn't want to touch my mini with a barge pole - and these are garages on the "goodgarage" scheme so not fly by night peeps.
Having looked around at the forums for both Mini One D and Toyota Yaris D4D there seems to be an issue with this engine around the 80 - 100k mile mark.
If I have any recommendations - it is this. If your Mini One D is approaching this sort of mileage....get it checked out!
It shouldnt be news to anyone as all water cooled cars are pressurised, so thats a load of codswallop about the garage not wanting to touch it because of that fact, they must mean they cant do any water cooled car in that case? 4 x "notmuchgoodgarage" there it seems.
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