Hi All,

I'm anticipating a head rebuild on my '08 NA Clubman, since it appears the timing chain snapped. I haven't pulled the valve cover yet to assess the damage, but wanted to check into the availability of the valves in case I need to replace them.

Anyone familiar with these?

Pretty darn cheap for a full set, whereas Pelican Parts has them at over $20 each on the low end. Thoughts on whether these are worth considering?

Thanks,
Nick

 

Just removing the cam cover, isn't gonna tell you much.
An easy check before you go digging too deep into the unknown, is a compression and or leak-down test. The compression test will give you a "general" description if any valves are bent. The leak-down will tell you exactly which one and how bad ...if...any valves are damaged.

Or, you can just tear the head off and do a visual, and or liquid check. Pour a little regular automatic trans. fluid into each port, to see if there's any leakage. Then go about fixing the damaged.

Mike

 

if the timing chain is broken don't do a compression test since turning the engine over is going to possibly bend more stuff.

 

Yeah...somewhat obviously figured a new timing chain would have be required in ANY...case, in the VERY near future !
Sorry, I guess I figured wrong that, that (a new chain) would be pretty obvious.

Mike

 

Not talking bout the chain, talking about the rest of the engine.

If the engine is out of time, since the chain is broken, you will damagae other parts if you turn it over.

In reality you probably have some bent valves and possibly damaged pistons if the chain broke while the engine was running. You'll probably be better off buying a used engine unless you want to do a full rebuild to do it. I'd certainly take the pistons out and inspect them for cracks. And at that point, rings, a hone, some new valves and potentially seats along with the machine shop time is going to be expensive.

 

+1 something else might be bent on the head, i would inspect that or take it to a shop to inspect if you cannot do it. On the valves I would go with known brands, dont go cheap. Intervalves, supertech..etc. I don't know the quality of those other brands

Most valves are made in germany/switzleand/italy for MINI for the aftermarket and OEM. Bet those amazon ones for the price are china.

 

Got the chance to pull the valve cover yesterday, and the chain is completely off the sprockets. Also looks like there's some damage on the metal guard behind the sprockets.

Before I knew what was happening, I tried starting the car a couple times after it initially stalled, and the engine cranks with no resistance, which leads me to believe that the chain is piled up somewhere inside, not interfering with the crank. But there have definitely been numerous revolutions of the crank with the camshafts not moving.

For now I just put the valve cover back on until I decide whether I want to start going through the process of repair or just let the whole thing go. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

You've surely got some bent valves, depending on how hard the engine was working you might have some cracked pistons. You also might have some scored valve seats in the head.

decisions are:

• rebuild the engine (I would do it if you think you're going to keep it for a long time)
• source a good used engine (I'd do that if I was going to keep it for a while, changing the timing chain on the way by)
• sell it as is