Its not uncommon for R53 Mini Coopers to have the spark plugs blow out of the cylinder head. This can be a scary event for Mini lovers, but fear not! With the proper tools you can fix your threading and have a new spark plug installed in no time. Okay, so the first thing you will need to do is get your hands on something called an extended reach Time-Sert. With this tool, you can re-tap your spark plug cylinder, cut a new seat, and then install a new insert that you can screw your new spark plug into. Note that an extended reach option is necessary, since the sparkplugs on these mini coopers sit far below the top of the motor. Buying one of these tools may set you back around $200, but this option is much better than a hefty garage bill. If you do some looking around, you may find that you can loan a tool from a Mini Mania forum member and save some money! Or contact TIMCERT for a list of distributors. (Click on the following link for the complete article.) http://new.minimania.com/MINI_Cooper..._Thread_Repair