Oops. Good call. Looks like July 2012 onward (2013 model year) the JCW got the N18.

 

I have to say that even though the dealer is making good on this carbon blasting. I'm not overly thrilled at the prospect of this being something I will need again in the future. I've had more than my fair share of this car being at the dealer for repairs. Although I really enjoy driving the car I see this lasting another year or so before I move on to something else.

 

If you are willing to do it yourself it's actually pretty easy and cheap.

 

I had bad carbon on my MCS 2005 and ran a tank with a toluene / fuel mix.
Worked very well. I did inspect piston tops before and after. Amazing difference.
Do this at your own risk.

I also found this, but have not tried it.

 

I would be curious how doing this could affect the carbon build up on the valve stems as these are direct injected engines and fuel does not touch the valve stems.
I know some manufactures have develop an injection system that does provide for additional fuel being injected on the intake side where they would wash the valve stems and these type setups seem to work.

 

JUST CALLED MY TECH ADVISOR at Mini of Plano to get a walnut blast. Got 40k on the 11 JCW. I also redline occasionally and drive between 3-4500 RPM. Keep it in the high range, passing at 5K+. Use Chevron gas.

 

 

MY DEALER WANTS $650 clams for doing this. Where did you see it for $300?

 

With this issue over so many others, it must be quite a challenge to buy a used Mini for anybody aware of all the problems they may encounter without buying a warranty. I feel sorry for these guys.

Usually, I keep my new cars about 30K before I trade every 3-4 years.

Bottom line, the Mini seems more a toy for the DIY with some tools in the backyard. Otherwise maintenance and repair are very expensive.

I will enjoy mine for the next two years but when the maintenance program will be over, It will go to somebody else and I will go back to serious Japanese iron.

 

YEAH GOT THE 100K aftermarket warranty because I did my homework before buying a low mileage used JCW. Had Mini replace the timing chain free and did a ton of free warranty work. Made sure the service guy at the dealer could work with the extended warranty. It is a car that takes work to keep it working.

What makes it worth it for me is the fact I think the styling is phenomenal and so is the handling and acceleration. Nowadays when every car except the 911 has been homogenized in style evolution - I like the fact this car looks awesome and has really interesting interior features. Plus it handles way better than a 911. Fact I think the 15 Mini models are sadly growing out of shape with lengthening the wheelbase and the interior features are not as clever as my 11 model. I hate paddle shifting. May trade up to a N18 engine 13 JCW. But you get vested with the work you put in it. Yeah it's a car for car guys. These cars are only $36g new. hahaha

 

My dealer charges $450 but also wanted to do an induction service and something else to the tune of $699 total. My car is still under factory warranty so I told them anything less than them doing the service for free was unacceptable. I'm on my 3rd MINI and this JCW is really a blast to drive. However I'm leaning towards something else sometime next year. I just can't fathom how much more expense will come as the car gets older.

 

It's hard to tell where the point of equilibrium is for these cars because some guys mod the crap out of them and some guys road track their daily driver and take my neighbor who just drives conservatively in a small town and racks up 100K with no problems. Clearly a lot of issues comes from pushing the engine and ignoring turbo care.

I just stayed over night in Tucson in Oro Valley. The weather was great. Cooler than LA hahaha. I was concerned about driving my JCW through AZ's heat to Dallas but it was fine. I rely a lot on the local car club in Dallas for tech support and a good Mini dealer relationship. If the car was really crap like a Ford Mustang I wouldn't put up with it. I had a blast driving out to LA and back this week.

 

I thought when I purchased this vehicle in Feb 2014 I did well. It has a lifetime powertrain warranty through the dealer. But I cannot mod the engine unless it's MINI parts. I also am required to have all the manufacturers recommended maintenance performed to keep the warranty in effect. Once you add all that up....it's nowhere near a "free" lifetime powertrain warranty.

At 30K miles I've had too many repairs in my opinion even though it's all been at no to me. The DMTL pump went out. Carbon blasting and all the coil packs replaced. Spark plugs and clutch lasted only 22K miles. The clutch was something the dealer told me they felt needed to be done under warranty. It worked fine to me but hey if you want to throw me a new clutch...go for it.

 

OH WOW new clutch so soon? That does sound lemon-ish. But it was under warranty. The oil changes are the lifeline. Don't the new cars come with the 36k maintenance plan? Guess not. Dealer here charges 75 bucks for oil. It's a deal. It is your backup for any warranty work. Not sure how you're driving to need carbon blasting, new plugs and clutch so soon. Short drives, long idles, riding the clutch. No offense. Not saying you're doing anything wrong. If I knew what I know about the N14 engine and my model I would have bought a 13 JCW with the N18 engine.

I did all of the CSI work on the VIN before purchasing. Previous owner only put 3K miles on my JCW in 1 YEAR! I put that much in the first month I bought it!!! hahaha And that much in the last week going out to LA from Dallas. JCW ran great. Of course the timing chain was just replaced and I had 12 grand in body work done due to a collision on PCH in Malibu.

Just can't think of another car that is so much fun to own and drive. But you're smart to sell or trade before the warranty expires.

 

My 36K free maintenance expires on the 25th of this month. I actually paid for oil changes in between what the vehicle called for. So usually around 7,500 miles as I can't do 15,000 intervals. As for the clutch....I think the dealer wanted to make some money from MINI and said I needed a new one. The original owner only drove the car 8,000 miles in 20 months of ownership. I drive it 40 miles a day round trip to work at mostly 55-60 mph speeds so I don't get it. I always use Chevron Premium gas so I'm doing what the car requires and then some.

 

yeah you sound like the perfect owner to me. I do frequent oil changes too. Like 5-6k. highway drive. Premo petrol. Chev-it gas. hahaha what else can we do??? Nada. I think the dealer was juicing Mini. My dealer pushed the warranty card too but it was stuff on the verge of going. just drive and enjoy and get out before the warranty. that is troubling that you have such a new Mini with issues. not a BMW engine? yet.

 

UNTIL 2013?

CURIOUS.

2013 JCW will be my next car. Racking too many miles on this one to think about trading it in. Besides the dealer already replaced the timing chain free for me. You eat it on a trade-in. Especially when you got the bugs worked out on your car. Nobody will appreciate that work and compensate for it. Just drive and enjoy.

 

I don't think the N18 is any better than the N14. You have been clever to buy a warranty but it seems they are also very expensive.

 

Oil changes are at 10K or one year. It is what the dealer recommends in the maintenance plan. I believe it is a waste of money to change oil more often considering the new technologies in lubricants.

 

Well I believe that frequent oil changes are the cheapest insurance you can buy to extend the life of your engine. It's not like I'm doing the old school way of 3 months or 3K miles. Also on my 2012 the oil change interval is 15K. My lifetime powertrain warranty states that I can go no longer than 10K to keep my warranty valid. 7,500 seems about right to me with my driving habits.

 

WASTE OF MONEY? Change the oil every 6K? I don't think so. My Mini tech in LA pushes for frequent oil changes. And he's not just churning the business. Oil does so much work in these engines.

 

Yep N14 JCW were up to 2012. 2013+ JCW have the N18.

 

SO LATE on the JCW when the S was switched the year before?

 

Think it was for the new GP2 coming out in 2013 with the N18 ? , or like many things with MINI, the FJCW engine did not come out till 2009 , so maybe it had to have a life cycle run which made it continue on longer with the JCW models ?

 

on my 11 JCW and I have to fight that. Clearly a GP is a different car with far more HP.