Hello Motorheads! I have a 2013 MC SALL4 with 83K miles on it, offlate during cold starts I hear the infamous whistling sound (minimal oil leak around the cover/camshaft sensors) which dies out eventually after driving for a bit, dealership took a look and advised to replace the complete engine valve cover with a quote of $890. I did some digging up on the procedure and got a cheap valve cover from Amazon seller -'Ensun' which didn't fit right, the valve in the picture is where it gets obstructed, i attempted to maneuver the cover beneath it but it just doesnt want to go in, the original cover goes in fine. I then bought another cover from '1Aauto' which has the exact issue (both sellers guaranteed a fit for 2013 MC SALL4). At this point I am contemplating if the encircled valve in the pic needs to be unbolted and slid out of the way, anyone know what that valve is for and a way around this ? Thank you!!



? please advise.

 

That is one of the the high pressure fuel lines. Is the valve cover you received for an N18 engine, or an N14? I haven't seen many (if at all) aftermarket covers for an N18 engine, yet.

Can you post a picture of the cover you received?

 

Here you go, the other one is on Amazon - 'Ensun 11127646552 Engine Valve Cover w/Bolts Gasket for Mini Cooper Countryman S JCW R57 R58 R59 R60 1.6T'

 

Interesting... Have you compared the old with the new in the corner? If the old goes on and off without issue, there has to be something different over there.

 

Yup, they look identical to my naked eye, but I suspect the 'new' ones may be a tad bit wider. As a next step I am thinking of getting the part directly from Mini around $450 w/o gaskets. Any advises ?

 

Have you tried ECS tuning? They are pretty knowledgeable about this stuff, and sell both oem mini and aftermarket.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2013-...h/Valve_cover/

Dan

 

Yep we have them and no issues that i have seen yet: https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/11127646552/


Might be that those other lower cost ones made a cast of a cast ? Its a bit wider?Make sure you are not catching the bolts when you wedge it under.

 

The last one I tried seemed to be made of a sturdy material, but yeah unsure of the width, is the ECS Tuning a guaranteed fit for R60 N18 ? Thanks!

 

Measure the width and dimensions and i can pull the one we have and see how far your is off. I want to make sure that something was not overlooked. The lowest point of that back corner angle cut in the plastic.

Thanks
Mike

 

Update - Hi guys, to close the loop on this topic, I ordered an OEM valve cover (from ECS tuning) and was a perfect fit, no more oil leaks or pressure leak whistling sounds!

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I'm considering a 2015 countryman S all4 as a daily driver, 89k mi, but it had that whistling sound at idle just before a test drive. The dealer (small, indie, mini/euro focus) just read the engine and it disappeared for the rest of the idle and for our test drive. It otherwise drove and sounded fine. Would you all buy?

 

How handy are you?

worst case is a new valve cover which ECS can provide, if you are crafty some people just replace the PCV membrane.

Either way, if the rest of the car is great I wouldn't let that stop you.
....of course that assumes it is the PCV. It could just be something else loose.

Dan

 

Pretty handy. I do most of my own work on my 2003 Jetta 1.8t. Done pcv and egr replacements before on Jetta, honda, and ford. Looks like this plumbing is totally different, tho. Is the whistling from the pcv or the valve cover gasket leaking? And yes, the countryman looks great, drives great, sounds great otherwise.

 

In my case, the whistling sound was definitely from the PCV (another check is the vacuum suction sounds when your remove the dipstick when the engine is running) , I had replaced it which fixed the sounds but to address the oil leaks from the valve cover I ended replacing the whole thing.

 

Just wanted to chime in, as I had the same issue. Mine is a late year 2014 Clubman S. The URO cover works.

Have come to learn that the updated fuel pump from 2012 on causes this issue.