So long story short I had a timing job lined up I been waiting about a month to get done. I ordered everything needed too already and got the upgraded sneed4speed timing set too. But anyways time has come and I've been ghosted..
I NEED my timing done even more urgently now since I went to replace my valvecover only to find THIS !
if your willing to come out to my garage and fix it I will obviously pay you what you feel is fit ( if I can afford it ) OR I can drive the car to you.. BUT I NEED my timing done asap before it catastrophically goes BOOM. I'm located at 53221 but I am willing to drive like 4hr if I have to if we could knock ot out then in an afternoon.. I'm just too nervous and don't trust my self setting the timing so I'd rather just be safe than sorry and ask for help..
btw , it is a 2013 n18 r58...
so here's my plea..... help !

 

Oh, that's no bueno my friend.

I'd help if I weren't 1200 miles away.

 

Ouch. With all the other work you've done to your cars over the years, this one shouldn't be too much of a task. There are plenty of how-to's to follow. Be meticulous, take your time, and all should go well. Make sure you have all new crank and cam bolts.

 

However, my guess is that at this moment, he's just feeling overwhelmed by life.

 

yes , unfortunately I have ALOT going on this month.. 11hr drive yesterday moving my daughter back home from college and now driving 4hr today going to a wedding..
haha sure is different driving a big lifted truck.

 

thx you..
I've helped a buddy do his timing on his n14 a few years back and a buddy offered to help me if i gotta tackle it my self but he's only ever done r53's but he's done engine assembly before so it would give me a better piece of mind..

 

I borrowed a F150 from my office when my FRM was down. Stock FX4 on AT tires.
Definitely a big difference, but we also have an Expedition Max [wife's] so I still get truck time pretty regularly.

Biggest is getting out of the Mini & straight over to the Exped. Brakes are one of the biggest large differences in regular driving.

 

I'm sure you're loving the fuel bill too

 

Looks like you have the N18 motor.

Heads up if you're doing the job yourself, TORQUE the bolts on the crank/exhaust cam/intake cam...but DON'T do the 'final' rotation (they're all TTY fasteners.) Then do your engine rotation, double check the timing, and if it's still good THEN do the final rotations.

Otherwise you may have to scrap the TTY fasteners.

 

Having done (for the first time) the timing chain (along with both VANOS gears and crank sprocket) on my N16 just this spring, I sure feel for you.

FWIW:
Setting the timing in itself is easy and there's not much one can do wrong. Yes, it is a bit fiddly getting the crank into the correct position in order to insert the crank pin but once it went in (and stayed in until the end), everything else was just "follow the instructions". A good (precise) torque wrench is mandatory for correctly fastening the one time only bolts (VANOS gears, crank), as is a new crank shaft PTFE seal. If you are careful, have the equipment and the time, you can do it.

I'd recommend an oil pan gasket rather than sealant if you're unexperienced with applying the latter.

 

yes I am totally against rtv gaskets on pans.. as much as i tinker with my cars its always best to have it be easily serviceable..
I will probably be tacking this job soon because I got everything else dialed in on the car finally and 0 issues.. imagine that ? An n18 FULLY SORTED , almost.. lol

 

I HATE RTV. Just did the timing chain on my wife's R56S, and read all the threads I could find. Even though MINI/BMW seem to have moved to that super sticky RTV as the recommended product for the oil pan seal, I just used a gasket. Have no issues with it.