So, I'm pretty useful in the garage, and have always worked on my own cars since high school. I am contemplating a JCW turbo swap onto my Clubman S, but I am concerned about the difficulty level.

How hard is it, really, to swap a turbo? Is it a difficult task, or just a little time consuming?

 

No not difficult but it is time consuming. A couple of things you want to do first though. Since your used to turning wrenches you probably already have most of the hand tools and a torque wrench but your going to want a copy of the Bentley manual for the Mini. You'll also want to pick up a new turbo oil feed and return line, new crush washers for the lines, new seal for the turbo and a gallon of Mini coolant. Since you have to drain the coolant to change the turbo now's a good time to go ahead and flush the system. A lot of people put the Mini in service mode for some extra room when replacing the turbo. I just pull the exhaust manifold and turbo out as an assembly and separate them on the bench. Another tip would be to soak the nuts that hold the down pipe to the turbo with mouse milk, WD40 or similar penetrating oil. Preferably the night before.

 

Agree with all that Tigger2011 said, esp putting it in service mode. Would add that while the turbo is out, it would be a good time to consider changing the oil cooler and oil filter housing seals. Quick and cheap.....

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the confidence boost. Looks like my next purchase will be a Bentley manual to get prepared...

 

Is this the latest Bentley manual:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bentley-...nual/bm13~bty/

 

Yes thats it ^^

 

Is this Bentley good for 2014 jcw roadster?

 

I've done the swap. Really straight forward.

For the oil feed line, I'd go with the one from Detroit Tuned. About the same price but much better quality.

http://www.detroittuned.com/detroit-...urbo-oil-line/

or the Kit

http://www.detroittuned.com/detroit-...-oil-line-kit/

or the Super Kit:

http://www.detroittuned.com/dt-turbo...ine-super-kit/

 

Just did the swap over this past weekend. I also swapped the oil lines and in total took me 5 hours with hand tools in my garage and 1 very important tool, a 90* electric ratchet. There are quite a few fasteners (lower heat shield, hidden manifold studs) that are in tight spaces that can be time consuming to remove with a standard wrench or ratchet. Spend the ~$150 on an electric 90* and you will love yourself for it!! I'd also recommend purchasing replacement studs and nuts for the turbo (4). Spent a good 40 minutes trying to get the studs out of the turbo as usually just the nut comes off.

I have a countryman which reportedly has less space to work with in front of the turbo and I was able to do it without putting the car in service mode.

 

I wrapped my new oil line in DEI wrap, hoping it would do a similar job

 

Hopefully, but I don’t know if the heat is the issue. The banjo connection where it meets the tube of the oem oil line is fragile, where as the swaged connection of the Detroit tuned line is much more robust and not prone to seal failure.

 

crap I couldn't click the link at work. I thought this was referencing the heat shield that people recommend adding to it, so that oil doesn't get caked on the inside walls of the oil line. Oh well, hopefully my brand new line doesn't have any issues, it didn't leak before

 

Whats the purpose of putting the car in service mode? and how do you do it?

 

More room to work. Not sure how to do it.

 

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...e_Position.htm