Hi everyone! Joining this great board since I've just bought a new project car - Cooper S, 130 K miles, MfD 09/2006 (one of the last ones), navigation, steptronic (I know, but it is better than manual, since I want to give this car to my daughter; for myself I have E46 with 6spd manual). So, previously I was a BMW guy (E46 330ci 6 spd manual (my own swap) and E39 2000 540i auto), I am a member of e46fanatics, bimmerforums and bimmerfest boards.

Reportedly, it has a blown engine (how the previous owner described: "it was idling in the garage and then laud bang sound and the engine has stopped. Not tried to crank it since, no visible holes in the block, but the oil pan looks weird, some kind of small cracks all over it, but it might be just casting issues and unrelated to the issue.

My first steps will be:
1) Remove the spark plugs, inspect
2) Remove the oil pan, inspect
3) Remove the valve cover, inspect

After these steps I would have more or less good understanding what is wrong with the engine. In order to figure out if the engine is salvageable or not:
1) Remove the head, inspect the head, valves, valve train
2) Remove the pistons with rods, inspect cylinder walls, crankshaft, bearings








Oh, yeah, I paid effectively 1400, with free delivery into my garage (60 miles drive! Previous owner is a super friendly great guy!), i.e. the effective price can go even down to 1100 - 1200 (200-300 bucks for 60 miles towing is normal in our area).

 

Found the original invoice with listed options on the car


Not a bad set of options, I'd say!

 

Question: what is that device on the dashboard? Doesn't seem like it is stock (at least Owner Manual doesn't know about it).

 

Looks like it’s nice and clean! Hopefully it’s something trivial to get it back on the road.

That light pod on top of the dash looks like the early JCW shift light. It lights up with green-yellow-red LEDs as you approach redline. That is a very rare accessory if it’s original.
https://new.minimania.com/part/NMI76...2-53-Cooper--S

 

I like it! Congrats and good luck on the rebuild. Like njaremka said, it looks like a shift light.

 

Ah, I see! Thanks! Kinda pointless to install such thing on a steptronic car, IMO, but good to know.

 

Yea thats NLA, used to be the shift light. If you don't want it i will take it

 

Yeah that shift light isn’t worth much, close to what you paid for the car lol