[mini-is-4-me]

I have been trying to find a nice used mini cooper S cheap. It seems if they are running everyone wants to sell them like they are reliable Toyota's for a premium price.

I finally found one very, very far away. Too far to drive and see but it looks good with the check engine light on. The car starts and runs but it looks like it has the limp mode on the dashboard. Are there particular things that would cause this? I'm trying to understand how much maintenance I would be in for. I would think if it was something severe like bent valves, it wouldn't even start right? What potential things can trigger this at that mileage: I'm thinking, High Pressure Fuel Pump, O2 sensors, or something like that, are there other things?

Anybody have any advice as to how bad of a mistake this is. I would say it is about $3K below fair market value right now. It looks like they took it in as a trade in and just want to get rid of it.

 

[mini-is-4-me]

I would run an OBDII scan before buying. The $3k under market price can get burned up pretty quickly with a few repairs.

It is 1000 miles away. I'm asking them if they will run it but my guess is they will say no. I said just give me the codes. You don't have to fix it.

 

[mini-is-4-me]

The dealer is actually letting people test drive it even though it is in limb mode and with the check engine line on...lol Like I said this car is literally in the middle of no where. I suspect if you go there, there will be a guy in a rocking chair playing a banjo.

 

[mini-is-4-me]

He said they have
1. a Low fuel pressure code (so that's the high pressure fuel pump)
2. a Crankshaft correlation code (that doesn't sounds as good)

I figured I would end up doing a timing chain job on the car but how do you get the car back in timing? When you put the car in TDC and put the new chain back on, will that fix the timing?

I guess the crankshaft correlation code could also just be a problem with the sensors or a few other things:

Possible Causes
Like most error codes, P0016 can be triggered by a number of things. The most common include:

• Jumped teeth in the timing chain are causing the camshaft timing to be out of position
• Issues with the camshaft phaser are causing it to be out of position
• Incorrect oil viscosity is causing the flow to the phaser to be reduced
• The oil control valve has a restriction in the filter

 

[mini-is-4-me]

The codes where:
P15DF (fuel rail), P0087 (fuel rail), C342D, P002E, P2E00, and P0300 misfire.

 

[mini-is-4-me]

timing chain timing is done with special locking tools, you dont lock the engine to tdc its 90 degrees off tdc ie all 4 pistons are at half travel in the bores ie two going and two going down same height, the camshaft sprockets free wheel and so does crankshaft sprocket at point of setting the timing up, also must preload the chain tensioner guide before doing up the 3 stretch bolts that hold cam and crack in time with each other, correlation code would suspect timing chain is out or tensioner or top guide snapped off, set timing correctly then do compression test make sure not got cracked or bent valve from chain being wrong. ie oil chain loosen all 3 bolts reset the timing do bolts up 60nm then compression test it, then at least if have bigger issues and head needs to come off it half way there, rather than put new chain kit on and waiting until back together plus will save 3 new bolts that way

I can't find all these codes. Are these codes just indicative of a fuel pump problem?

 

[mini-is-4-me]

2. a Crankshaft correlation code (that doesn't sounds as good) not ever seen the fuel pump effect the timing before .
the rest of codes do sit with a a fuelling issue or even running out of fuel at some time or a flat battery would also throw us such codes,, also would ask what was used to scan it and were codes cleared then car run up the road to see what comes back again to fuel out the above, could also be a crushed or blocked fuel line or in tank filter or intake pump failing, all this dont effect the readings between the camshaft and crankshaft if like the poster says has a Crankshaft correlation code, but two different issues both faulty at same would cause that it would also effect the way the ecu tells the high pressure pump to perform, have seen many people replace the pump not cheap to then find the chain was the issue in the first place of 50/50 fault

There is only one code for that. https://www.obd-codes.com/p002e
That could just mean the oil is low from what I can tell.

 

[mini-is-4-me]

better tech than me if can tell that from behind a key board all need to do now is train some monkeys to do the grunt work lol low oil will show vanos positions out and even solenoid codes and knock sensor if no oil on big ends for long enough as well as well has believe it or not there s a code for lack of oil pressure runs off the oil pressure switch back to the mev17.4 ecu as part of the motronic workings that links all the systems together from engine to body control ecu's, also generic codes are not generic on all cars ie bmw mini have a different meaning to some of those codes etc,, if use insta bmw diagnostics it will give what the codes are ie other than a P-code and dealer only code ie internal to the brand, hence why when no P is at beginning need to look at all the other codes that have no p at the start to find the correct one,
as for cam chain timing the tensioner has a big spring down need oil pressure to keep enough force on the chain if healthy what can happen lack of oil will get jammed camshaft codes before or at same time as cams locking up due to lack of oil.. have seen all this over the years and not just with prince engine s

Everything I have read is that once you get the ECU to recognize a lack of oil pressure, you probably have trashed the timing chain.
Is there a good code reader that you would recommend I purchase?

This one?

Foxwell NT510 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader for BMW for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Foxwell NT510 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader for BMW at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[mini-is-4-me]

better tech than me if can tell that from behind a key board all need to do now is train some monkeys to do the grunt work lol low oil will show vanos positions out and even solenoid codes and knock sensor if no oil on big ends for long enough as well as well has believe it or not there s a code for lack of oil pressure runs off the oil pressure switch back to the mev17.4 ecu as part of the motronic workings that links all the systems together from engine to body control ecu's, also generic codes are not generic on all cars ie bmw mini have a different meaning to some of those codes etc,, if use insta bmw diagnostics it will give what the codes are ie other than a P-code and dealer only code ie internal to the brand, hence why when no P is at beginning need to look at all the other codes that have no p at the start to find the correct one,
as for cam chain timing the tensioner has a big spring down need oil pressure to keep enough force on the chain if healthy what can happen lack of oil will get jammed camshaft codes before or at same time as cams locking up due to lack of oil.. have seen all this over the years and not just with prince engine s

I don't know what this is: " insta bmw diagnostics".
This one says it is BMW/Mini specific?

BMW Mini Cooper OBD2 Car Diagnostic Tool Erase Fault Code Reader Scanner AD410 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW Mini Cooper OBD2 Car Diagnostic Tool Erase Fault Code Reader Scanner AD410 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[mini-is-4-me]

I finally found one very, very far away. Too far to drive and see but it looks good with the check engine light on. The car starts and runs but it looks like it has the limp mode on the dashboard. Are there particular things that would cause this? I'm trying to understand how much maintenance I would be in for. I would think if it was something severe like bent valves, it wouldn't even start right? What potential things can trigger this at that mileage: I'm thinking, High Pressure Fuel Pump, O2 sensors, or something like that, are there other things?

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