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Mini Cooper S - N14 Real Reliability 10 Years On

5K views 5 replies 2 participants last post by  mike1967 
#1 ·
Hi,

I am looking for a Mini Cooper S. I have found many 2009~ Mini Cooper Ss in my area which are priced well.

We have all heard of the issues, however I am wondering how significant are the issues? Ford had issues with something like 0.5% of Focus RSs having head gasket issues which tainted every Focus RS for months.

What sort of percentage of N14 engines are actually problematic? Is it all of them? Also, 10 years on are they still problematic or are most of them fixed by now?

Thanks,
Corey
 
#2 ·
could say all that about all cars, ford st engines same as mazda mps engines had a fair few fail timing chains even the vag fsi tsi engines in fact all timing chains wear out no matter what engine, a lot of makers put a 100-150k on them in a perfect world.. but in real world where people are lazy dont check oil. people cant afford service charges so skimp. people race them from cold etc,, a lot of wrongly diagnosed storys go online, start with death rattle titles and ho my god i have changed everything and still have problems,, hmmm reality was always taking to to someone who knows what they are doing in the first place,, most of the issues are chain related and bi product of this and always the first check point
 
#5 ·
both my sons have cooper s on 2008 both over 120k both on second chains and have 9-10k good oil changes and use seafoam inlet spray to keep carbon controlled ho yes both running just over 200bhp maps dont give to much problems , i read so many people who had very expensive fuel high pressure pumps changed to then put not fixed it and timing chain had,, most blame their own stupidity on the car, ie like said was rattling for a 3 months before or i keep beating it with EML light on and now its melted the piston or done head gasket, out of time petrol engine causes heat build up, so owner keeps driving and has not worked out their car will no long rev like it did,, hmm reason is timing chain is worn out.. and then everyone who had a timing chain fail become over night mechanics by reading someone else failure to realises the car is not well,, and starts another facebook page.. its a high performance engine as complicated as anything out there vvt vanos direct injection turbo with divertor and wide band 02 sensors and very low emissions for what they are while putting out 175bhp,
How much did they pay for a new timing chain? Seems as though it's a common item which will need changing in my ownership.
 
#6 ·
How much did they pay for a new timing chain? Seems as though it's a common item which will need changing in my ownership.
depends they have me so labour is free parts wise the first kit was just guides and tensioner and always bottom sprocket worth doing air chain one as well always wear badly, and 3 new bolts,, FAI do a fairly good kit for around £100,, when the get over 120k ie the second time round full kit with vanos sprockets ,, links below.

below full cooper s kit,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TCK118VV...8:g:TS0AAOSwzrNa0oeQ:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true
non turbo vanos kit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAI-TIMI...3:g:tIkAAOSwT0pbwcP4:rk:5:pf:1&frcectupt=true
bottom sprocket and one top sproket kit, on kit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAI-AUTO...h=item5452d86942:g:upkAAOSwlyJaF1fy:rk:6:pf:0
locking tool,, locking tool is one of these things the cheap ones are Russian roulette, could buy one use sell it again
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/281180270181
garages charge in realms of £800 to do the job
 
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