Can I ask some other MCS owners out there to take a look at this part. I'm wondering if my enigne mount is cracked or is this from the casting process. I'm seeing large cracks down by the bolt, but then there is a sort of funcky texture on the right arm area that looks indicative of the casting process.

I don't want to hit a bump and have my engine fall out. yikes...

 

Rich,

They are all like that. It looks like a crack, but if you feel it its a ridge (not a depression like a crack) left over from the casting process.

Mine's like that too, so is every MCS that I have seen with the bonnet up.

 

Thanks Dave,

Just the answer I was looking for... I had a feeling it was normal. When you have a change, would you please snap a pic of yours?

 

Just looked at my MCS engine mount and it has no "cracks"

 

Mine has those "cracks" also.

_________________
Chili Red/white Cooper S

 

I work in the steel business, and those marks are not cracks, you can say they are scars from the Cast Iron process, but they represent no danger or problem.
This mark appear because of they way that the liquid steel goes down to fabrication mold.

 

>>I work in the steel business, and those marks are not cracks, you can say they are scars from the Cast Iron process, but they represent no danger or problem.
>>This mark appear because of they way that the liquid steel goes down to fabrication mold.
>>

Thanks! I appreciate your expertise.

 

That is not "S" specific. The day after I picked up my Cooper a mechanic friend of mine spotted them and insisted I go to the dealer to have them check it out... I was just driving stick for a few days and the drive down to Fort Lauderdale MINI (20 minutes) was an experience! Made it obviously... and they told em they were just mold lines, not to worry!
They do look a little strange if you don't know what they are though!!

 

Get a little polisher/ grinder and buff them out--- do the whole brace and see how trick they look.

 

So maybe the mold itself was cracked causing those raised lines in the final product?

 

Cracked or Not?.
To eliminate the doubt I would perform a dye penetrant test on the suspected cracked metal. It is a test performed in three steps .
1. clean the area to test using spray cleaner.
2. spray red dye to the area let soak for 5-7 minutes.
3. spray white chemical over it and see the result in minutes.
You can get these materials from your local welding supply shop. Have a peace of mind, no doubts.
jceviche.

 

The crack would shows as a heavy red lines over the white powdery surface. The more red dye absorved by the white powder the deeper the crack.
jceviche.

 

Hi Rich,
I sure understand your concern! Shortly after buying my new Mini I too noticed this questionable area and was frankly a bit freaked out. I contacted MiniUSA and my nearest dealership. At first, neither had an answer. Finally, after over a month of back and forth phone calls, correspondence and a 300 mile round trip to the dealership, they assured me that these were indeed mold marks, could be found on all Minis, and were nothing to worry about. In support of their position, during this whole process I did look at quite a few other Minis that indeed had identical marks on the motor mounts.

I have since traded in the Mini for an S that was produced 08/02. Lo and behold the motor mount on this car is perfect with no marks of any kind!! Though I do believe that there was no serious problem with the mount in the earlier car, I guess Mini had gotten enough flack that they did something to correct the problem with the original mold. In any event, I do not understand why Mini has not issued some sort of statement about this matter to assure owners of earlier produced cars that there is not a problem or safety hazard.