I was driving my 2009 JCW with 70,XXX miles on it and it developed a loud turbo "compressed air" sound under any rising load. I looked under the hood and the filterd air hose that goes from the MAF at the air cleaner to the turbo inlet was loose at the turbo. The hose clamp had cracked.

I went to the dealer and bought a new clamp but when I tried to tighten it down, there was no way, The plastic tube was too large. As tight as the clamp would go and the tube still rattled on the turbo housing.

I looked at an exploded view and did not see that there was any oring or boot that went here so I assumed the plastic pipe had beat itself larger.

I bought a short piece of high temp silicone hose that fit the OD of the turbo inlet and the ID of the inlet pipe and used it to fill the gap and the hose tightened up great.

But when I started the car again, no change, still getting a compressed air sound when you have any load on it whatsoever.

So I took the car to the dealer and they say the turbo is bad. They said it appears that the oring that went at the turbo inlet got loose and went through the turbo.

They want $4,000.00 to replace the turbo.

Have any of you guys had the tube between the MAF and the turbo inlet off? Was there an oring?

Have any of you guys replaced your turbos before? I have a full shop at home and most normal shop tools (nothing Mini specific) so I told them to button it up I would swap the turbo myself.

Opinions?
Suggestions?
Good source for a stock replacement JCW turbo?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

4k for turbo? youre better off getting a turbo from alta and getting chipped. just a thought



http://www.altaperformance.com/p/241

 

it's actually $2k for the turbo and $2K for installation, etc.
Both are beyond absurd.

I mean that is approaching 25% of the value of the car! WTF? At some point in the future a $4k turbo job might total the friggen car!!

Has anyone ever bought a turbo from turbochargerpros.com?

 

So I bought a turbo through Mini Mania and wow is it tight under the hood of these things or what! My hands barely fit anywhere.
Does anyone have any tips that could make this simpler? I am also going to have to pull the intercooler to check/clean it. Do I need to pull the front bumber?
Thanks in advance for your tips and suggestions.
Dennis

 

Yes - the front bumper must come off - you should be able to R&R the FMIC in 2 hours

Look on the Helix site for directions on the R&R

 

Had a similar issue on a diesel engined cooper. Between the MAF and the turbo inlet, the crankcase vents into the piping. Inevitably engine oil gets into the piping and contaminates the inlet of the turbo. Yes, there is an o-ring. On the diesel engine it's orange in colour and sits on the turbo. The air piping fits over the orange rubber seal. However, it will start to slip off if there is any engine oil either on the turbo inlet or the orange seal. If it slips off, you will first notice power loss. However if the piping slips off completely, it is very possible that it will suck bits of debris and/or o-ring into the turbo inlet. This will destroy a turbo in no-time given that it's spinning in there at 100,000+ rpms.

When my pipe started to continually work itself off. I disassembled the piping between the MAF and the turbo inlet and cleaned everything with brake cleaner and then reinstalled it. I replaced the stupid self-adjusting clamp with a jubilee clamp. I'm good to go now, but I think it's a horrible idea to vent engine oil mist into the turbo inlet like that.

 

Will need some other parts besides the $1,800 Turbo for that replacement......and putting your MINI into service mode is necessary.....

However, 20hrs for this repair seems bit "steep" IMO.




4,6,7,8 and 20 if you don't already have the shield, an "updated" part/install.




9,10.



3.

 

Check out Gpop:

www.gpopshop.com

You can send in your turbo for a rebuild for around $550, and even upgrade it from a K03 to K04 in the process.

EDIT: Saw you already purchased a turbo. Leaving the post as a reference.

 

Fyi, also for reference for those who've come to this page. This is the o-ring insert. Mine kept slipping off. Tightened it down and realized that the actual tube's rubber had started deteriorating, and with the extra clamp pressure... it cracked, thus not sealing anymore. Replaced with another OEM tube and its been OK since.

 

Do you happen to have the part number? Mine is about ready for replacing and I can never seem to find it on RealOEM.

 

Gray, what is service mode? Is this sliding forward of the radiator support?
Do i have to pull the entire exhaust manifold to do this? What a cluster-F of a repair this turning out to be. I may even have to buy a manual which is really going to **** me off.
Dennis