please help...

(2012 countryman with 97k)

a couple weeks ago, i brought my car in for a misfire. mini replaced all the coils and spark plugs (fixed the issue for a day). a day later the reduced engine power light came on, so i had it towed back to the dealer.

after two days of diagnosing the problem, they said after a smoke test they found smoke coming up through cylinder 1 and assume it is a bad piston ring. they dont see any visible damage to the walls.

now they dont know the exact issue but still request a new engine at the price of $13k.

i am out of warranty but still called corporate to hopefully get some help.

ive searched this forum and found others have had the same issue but no one has posted what the outcome was

 

My friend, NEVER go to the dealer, EVER...if this is the only reason for replacing an engine, then I should have replaced my engine 20 times by now!!!

Take the car to another local shop. have then do compression test, check for carbon accumulation, check fuel pressure "HPFP", and check for other codes.

where're you located?

 

i am in rhode island

 

is is turbo or non? auto or manu? All4 or FWD?

 

all4 S auto, so yes it is turbo

 

did they provide with a diagnosis report? if not, you cannot go off he said or he thinks. other than a smoke test, and replacing coils and plugs, what else did they do?

 

i forgot to add they did a compression test (came back normal)

they also did a leak down test and that is where they found cylinder 1 to be 15-25% while cylinders 2,3,4 being only 5-6%

the car is still at the dealer since they do not want me to drive it to create more issues and mini corporate is still looking into it

 

Some one can chip in, but to my understanding if compression is normal, then the chamber is healthy. those results dont make sense to me, at least.

does the car burn oil/smoke?

I think you should tow the car to another local shop and have them rerun the diagnosis.

 

after warmed up the car runs normal,

but thanks for your input and i will definitely get another shops opinion

 

note on the side...although this happened on my 08 clubman S, a vacuum leak caused multiple misfires. i cleared the codes, and never came back (well, kinda. I had a Chinese valve cover that kept my rpm around 900. i put the stock one back and so far so good)

please keep us posted.

 

Update on the issue...

Just talked to mini and they are willing to pay 60%

​​​​​​So I am going with the engine change

 

5200 is still alot of money...let me know if you want to sell the bad engine and how much?

 

Your money, obviously your choice. I'd personally go for a second opinion before sinking $5K into something that probably doesn't need to be done. MINI corporate rolled over pretty easily on 60%, something stinks.