Howdy Folks
I have a 2003 R53 with 110,000 miles that I’ve had for about a year now, and I wanted to run two things by folks.

I had the radiator replaced a couple months ago due to a piece of road debris, and its been acting up ever since. Took it back to the mechanic two times, who replaced a valve, and the coolant reserve tank, after the car kept smelling like burning coolant and overheating. Now I’m the car is having a hard time starting in the morning, and when it does my SES light comes on. I realize its 20 degrees out there right now which might have a lot to do with it, but its worrying me to the point I want to get a new shop to look at it.

The bottom line of this is, does anyone have a shop around Columbia, Maryland that they recommend who actually knows MINIs well? I took it to a shop who my insurance company recommended, but while they did work on it I am doubting their MINI knowledge. I’d also like to get the car a 100K milage service, but I’d like a knowledgeable mechanic for that as well. My closest MINI dealership is a bit away, and I don’t really want to go there anymore after they charged $120 for an oil change.

The second question comes to Mods I’ve been debating doing. I’ve been thinking about replacing the spark plugs, to help with an erratic idle at stop and the aforementioned hard starts in the cold. Is there anything special I should know about replacing spark plus, since I’ve never done it before? I was looking at the Brisk plugs and ignition package at Alta (http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...pgrade-Package), but recall reading somewhere that the coilpack isn’t really necessary.

I know that the 15% pulley is the best mod to do, but the install still worries me. I figure I should replace the pulley and belt since the car is so old, with either the Alta package or WMW package, but I don’t think I’d feel comfortable doing that one myself. Does anyone know how many hours the average install would take at a reputable mechanic?

As an example of my skillset, I installed the Alta cold air intake myself as that was something I had experience with doing on my last car, but that’s the most complex mechanical work I’ve done other than my small mods.

Thank you all for reading the long thread!

 

Ok, so I emailed the dealer to check what they would charge and recomend, and they said the Mini doesn't really have a 100K service. I guess I would just have to bring it in to someone and just let them tell me what they think needs to be done, but I have a bad history of dealers making stuff up to price gouge.

They also quoted me $458 for install of an aftermarket pulley and belt. Guess its not bad, but maybe I do need to look into doing it myself anyway.

 

Allright, so I gave the dealer my VIN and milage, she looked it up and recomended Inspection II service, "Which includes oil change, drive belt replacement, check battery, change all filters and check over vehicle for $620."

I had an oil change in december, so don't need another one. I have a CAI so the only filters needed would be in-cabin and fuel. Everything else is just checking not actual work, except the drive belt replacement, so $620 seems a little steep.

I dunno, I guess I'm just looking for someone to give the car a once over and tell me crap that should be replaced. I know that's not specific enough for most mechanics, but I also don't think it should cost $600. I figure you give me a list of problems, I decide which I can afford at this time, then I pay you the big bucks to do the actual work...

 

$458 is very steep!

I've had the tensioner and another pulley replaced. Took the mechanic about 75 minutes, of which about 15 messing around with the tensioner in order to change something.

The supercharger pulley should be a lot easier to do, somewhere between 40 and 60 minutes total, including the belt of course

 

You could probally change the belt and pulley yourself.
You would need to buy, rent or borrow the belt tension tool & a pulley puller.
Coils do go bad. Your hard starting could be because of low voltage to plugs. The plugs could be old, poor spark means hard start.
First thing to do is get Bentley manual. It is a bible for MINI owners.

 

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking.

Do you still need the pulley puller if you're repacing the belt as well? I thought that was to hold the belt in place so you don't have to re-adjust the tension.

If I'm getting poor spark, is replacing the spark plugs all that should be required? Is there some way to know if the coils go bad, other than taking it to a mechanic? Or should I just assume that if I replace the plugs and I still can't get the juice it must be the cables and the coils.

 

You don't need the pulley puller if you are just changeing the belt.
If you are going to change the S/C pulley you would need the puller.
The best way to see about poor starting is to take out a plug and look at it.
The plug should be a beige color around the electrode. There is also the gap size. I don't remember what it is right now. If the gap is to big the spark is very weak. I recommend changeing plugs once a year. I'm old school and that is what a tune up is about. If the plugs are dirty looking, black, they should be replaced. If they are wet in any way then they are not fireing or are fouled out. See if they smell like gasoline.
I would say it's time to replace the coil, plug wires and plugs. MSD makes a very good coil. It's a higher voltage than the OEM coil. Magnacor wires are very good. You don't need to bite into the $140.00 Nology wires. I've never seen a spark plug wire that was worth $30 each because of it's color. Brisk plugs are great. Some people like NGK, Bosch etc.
When you replace the plugs, they should be torqued down to the specs.
Otherwise you could blow out a plug. BAD, you don't want that to happen.

 

Below is what a local indi shop includes with its three levels of Mini service.
All or some of that could be included in your 'do I need to do it now list'.


Inspection 1 (Minor service)
Includes services in Oil Change (above) plus: change Interior Ventilation Filter, change Transmission fluid if CVT, add Windshield Washer fluid, check Wipers and Washers, lubricate doors and locks, check Battery condition, Suspension, CV boots, Exhaust System, Manual Transmission fluid level, pressure check Cooling System, and reset Service Indicator and road test for overall performance.

 

OK, so I went to advance auto parts and did a check on the SES code, got a P0301, P0300, and P0313. This could be the plugs I believe, or my cylinder is screwed and I'm in trouble. I guess I'll start with the ignition kit.

 

At a 100k you should definetly replace the plugs. If you are going to do a pulley then I recommend going one heat range colder. We only use the NGK plugs cause they last the longest, and don't have problems coming loose.

Plug wires wouldn't be a bad thing to do just based on age, but don't spend alot of money on them, there is no power in them, no matter what you read.

Coil packs, I only recommend the screamin demon cause it fits without modifying or replacing the screws. Also it puts out more voltage than the MSD.

If you need more info or have other questions feel free to call us and discuss your issues.

WAY
317.201.8670