Are turbos from older cars interchangeable? I found from a 2008 Cooper S that has very low mileage and would like to put in my 2012 All4.

 

I’m no mechanic but I was on ECS tuning and put in a 2008 s coup and a 2012 Mini Countryman s all4 and found both to be available with the same oem turbo by borg Warner.

2008
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-borgwarn...space-0146~bw/

2012
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-borgwarn...space-0146~bw/

something that makes you go “hmmmmn”

 

Great, Thanks for checking. Can't really go wrong for $100 for the used one.

 

Yes, all 2nd gen turbochargers are interchangeable. There are some slight performance differences between N14 and N18 turbos. I would look for a used JCW turbo as a replacement.

 

Thanks Nik, I would love to find a JCW turbo, but Mini Parts are in short supply here in Nova Scotia and I am on a pretty tight budget.

 

Well, I found out why my car isn't building any boost pressure. I pulled the O2 sensor and used a borescope to check the wastegate. Turns out the wastegate is totally gone. I suspect that it is somewhere down in the cat. I will have to find it when I pull the turbo.

Where did the wastegate go?

 

Wow!

If that is the actuator rod on the left side in the picture, it looks pretty beat up. Curious what took place in there!

 

Yikes! Also.

 

That is the actuator rod. It almost looked melted but I am not sure. The wastegate actuator does move the rod with 15" vacuum but it was binding. That is why I used the borescope. There is no play at all in the wastegate mechanism.

Has anyone experienced the wastegate breaking off?

 

As suspected, the rest of the wastegate is sitting on top of the cat honeycomb.

 

I just picked up the used turbo. Looks like it will work just fine. The wastegate closes and opens smoothly with very little play. I have attached a pic of the part number lable.

 

If one were to hunt for a used JCW turbo (for a 2012 countryman S) what sort of part number/name am I looking for and where? As simple as "JCW Turbo" and looking at ebay?

As for brand new, I assume this is the one?

 

For turbo identification, you want to look at the last 4 digits on the turbo nameplate. I would steer clear of turbos on Ebay, too. Most "new" units come from China, and quality control is a gamble.

Nameplate identification:
Cooper S = 0118 or 0181 or 0163
JCW = 0146 or 0298



Here is a handy reference if you're not sure where the turbo came from:
https://www.borgwarner.com/aftermark...product-search

 

0163 on mine. Thanks

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/11657647003/ Thats a stock one. Cooper S. BTW we can price match (also lifetime replacement) on the borg warner if its the same turbo. Watch out as some places have the part numbers wrong.

 

Appreciate that, trying to decide what to do today-as always, did not plan on dropping this coin during holidays haha.
Thanks!