ok. So I bought this 03 cooper s and was told it had a blown head gasket. A shop did a compression test. Motor was partially torn down so I just went ahead and continued. I just got the head off and it dont look blown to me.

Also what else should I chamge while I have it torn down this far.

 

have the head checked for flatness, my wife was dropping the kids off at daycare and left the mini running, came back out to the temp. gauge pegged. changed the oil and thermostat and had a small amount of coolant in oil so i went ahead and tore it down, machine shop said it was pretty bad and had to plane quite a bit off. mine didnt look bad either just better to check while its all apart.

i changed out head bolts (wish i had gone to studs just for the future) and gaskets (head gaskets, intake and exhaust mani, and valve cover. i had the head cleaned up and had them do a mild port and polish while they had it. check your valves, seats and springs (again its already apart, might as well) and i threw in a 15% pulley, pulley stop and new belt and new spark plugs while i was in there

 

Yeah I got the head in my truck to take it to the machine shop tomorrow. Head was surprisingly easy to get off. Took me about a hour and half. I was thinking about going head studs. Exhaust gasket look horrible.

What about cam and crank sensors? Change them now? I was also thinking about doing a 17% pulley. Im really contemplating just removing the motor and do a complete rebuild. It leaks oil from a few different spots. And just make sure everything is on par.

 

i haven't messed with any sensors, mine leaks oil in a couple spots also but im waiting to do a complete rebuild, i hope lol. thermostat and housing wouldnt be a bad idea as they are known to start randomly leaking on the r53's

 

Head went to the machine shop. It is bent a little. Only out 6 thousands. So this are gonna mill it and check the valves

 

Machine shop called today. Exhaust side failed the pressure check. do now im doing a valve job.