I was enjoying my drive to work this morning in my beautiful 2010 Rally Clubman S, making a sweet pass on the freeway, when suddenly a giant cast iron electrical motor appears in my lane. I hit it at 80 mph and launched the car into flight. Cracked the nose, ripped off half the air dam, smashed the intercooler, broke the transmission housing, shattered the oil pan, ripped the exhaust from the engine, smashed the spare tire well up, and potentially cracked the engine block.......at which point the dealer says they will total the car. Even though it looks perfect otherwise.

I don't plan on letting them total the car, so I have a lot of engine and transmission work to do. I figure I have two options:
1) Buy a low mileage engine/trans at a premium and swap the whole thing.
2) Start cheap. Buy just the broken parts. Replace housings. Disasemble the engine. Build the dream.

So if you knew you were taking the engine/trans/exhaust/intercooler apart.......what would you put back in it?

 

Oh no! Love the Rally Edition so glad you won't let them total it.

I'd love to put a low mileage or new N18 engine in it. If that's not possible then a low mileage N14 would probably be good too.

But I'd ultimately probably end up just having to fix the engine as it was.

I guess it'd all really depend on the size of the insurance check.

Either way, do everything you can to keep that beauty on the road!

 

Bored, stroked, head, cams, pistons, rods, turbo, aftermarket ecu. Basically just put the engine components (driveline included) from a WRC mini in there.

 

You really need to check if you had any body frame damage. If there is any at all, total the car out.

For the amount of stuff destroyed I would not want to replace it all. You're probably hovering around $20,000 and up for all the parts and labor to fix everything to like new condition. That is a totaled car in my opinion.

I think it's time to move on. If you want to stay with the MINI platform and build the ultimate street machine, buy a cheap used R53 and go gonzo on that. The R56 aftermarket platform is still young compared to the maturing and proven R53 when it comes to modding.

 

Sounds like an exciting morning, Glad your OK!
Steve

 

Find a fJCW motor/trans. It will be an upgrade and you won't have to take an engine apart

 

Yes I agree with all of you. The car looks fine parked, but I couldn't get underneath to really inspect the chassis. Something didn't quite seem right after it landed. I Should have an answer today.

An N18 or JCW would be a great fast fix alternative.

But lets pretend I build one. Any recomendations on leader in Mini engine building? I haven't been able to find much for this generation engine from an aftermarket perspective.

 

The leader in true high horsepower MINI engine builds is ABF Motoring in California. They pioneered the first 1000hp R53 and I've heard they've got the R56 up to 600whp. They are a very small operation but have the knowledge to do it.

I hope you have a mid-life crisis sized bank account to fund it. That much horsepower in a FWD car is just nonsense in my opinion. I can think of so many RWD cars that would blow the doors of the MINI with respect to handling prowess and power/torque for less than the amount of money you'll spend to repair everything to new condition and build a proper race motor.

OK enough bench racing

 

total it.. start a new project

 

Jan at Revolution Motor Works near LA

 

I know totalling it is the SMART decision. And I'm generally a smart guy, except when it comes to my toys. It would definately be the best looking "total" in the junk yard. But they only made 70. Gotta keep it. We have the technology.

 

If money was no issue, I'd somehow put a S14 engine and supercharge it. I can dream you know :D

 

+1.....1.8 stroker

 

If I were to bore and stroke the engine, who makes parts for that?

 

Its all custom, but the only person I know of who has ever stroked one is Jan. He will be able to do it all for you.

 

S14? That'd be interesting! I'd say do a SR20DET and make it RWD.

 

If we are just being dreamers, I would somehow put a VR38DETT twin-turbo (GT-R motor) in there with AWD.

 

So here's my broken transmission, engine, exhaust, and intercooler.

 

Dang.

 

If no frame damage, restore it to better than new it's a limited edition. That alone should help you justify the expense . Sorry it's happened , now make the best of it. ( life's to short to drink stale beer ).

 

Yes.......I agree. I would total it if it's wasn't a limited edition. Both body and frame are fine, only lost one piece of plastic. Already found a low mileage 6 speed with limited slip. Next will be a JCW short block direct from Mini to build up over the winter. Maybe I'll paint the engine green to match my mirrors.

 

Nice choice as well Chris.

 

Its a pretty neat looking car, do it the way that you want it. If you have time, see if you can find someone to port and polish the head while the car is down for a bit. The pictures look better than the initial description, I would have fixed it as well.

Mike

 

No way that's a total. Just let the insurance handle it.

 

I have always wondered how the engine, trans, and four wheel drive set up from a subaru wrx sti would be in a mini. Talk about rally edition! Probably a huge project. Way out of my reach. Just throwing it out there....