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I had a thought for a theory behind the coolant leaking immediately into the oil pan, because I experienced the exact same thing when I built an N18 a couple of years ago. If the head used in the build was subject to too much heat or freezing temps, then the burst plug in the middle of the heat popped out. It's designed as a last defense to save the engine from further damage.
The engine I built overheat and I failed to check if the plug was installed, so the first time I added coolant, it immediately went straight into the oil pan. My guess is the builder forgot to check this. The best part is it's a quick and easy fix, without requiring removal of the engine. Simply remove the valve cover and you'll know immediately.
A plug will be available from any local engine shop or cylinder head specific shop. Mini does not sell it.
I had a thought for a theory behind the coolant leaking immediately into the oil pan, because I experienced the exact same thing when I built an N18 a couple of years ago. If the head used in the build was subject to too much heat or freezing temps, then the burst plug in the middle of the heat popped out. It's designed as a last defense to save the engine from further damage.
The engine I built overheat and I failed to check if the plug was installed, so the first time I added coolant, it immediately went straight into the oil pan. My guess is the builder forgot to check this. The best part is it's a quick and easy fix, without requiring removal of the engine. Simply remove the valve cover and you'll know immediately.
A plug will be available from any local engine shop or cylinder head specific shop. Mini does not sell it.
Here is a picture of the plug location.
You were 100% correct! Now time to find this piece and get this engine cleaned up. So sad that it sat this long like this 😭
Outstanding!!! I'm so glad my past experience helped find the issue. No engine removal and no chasing down Sneed needed. Can't wait to see your car on the road.
I almost ordered an n14 rebuild kit for my 07 cooper s in dec from this company. I got distracted and when i came back to order website was down for maintenance. I feel like i doged a bullet here.
Where is the best place to order a kit to rebuild the n14 now. I liked how the website was layed out with everything needed in 1 kit. Any reccomendations you can pass along would be great.
Started to order parts from them about a year ago for my engine build, the first few orders went great and Chris(think that was his name) was very helpful, but my last order I did not receive several of the parts. They stopped responding to emails and never picked up the phone. I was able to dispute the charges with my credit card company to get my money back. Spread the word don't want to see anyone else get the run around.
I never had any issues with them. I do have a front splitter from them that has (or maybe I should now say "had") a lifetime replacement warranty. Looks like I'm SOL if ever it breaks. FML.
Well freeze plug installed!
Mechanic told me the timing was off, no surprise coming from this dumb "company". He fixed it up and I will be picking her up Monday!
I live in Louisville, KY. I have a '10 R55 Clubman S that I've been patiently building for the past 3 years. It's full-bolt on with a slightly bigger BorgWarner Airwerks turbo. The only non bolt-on that I have is a ClutchMasters FX-400 clutch and lightweight flywheel. I am pushing just below 20lbs of boost and floating around 285-300ish hp. Some days I think I am the only MINI enthusiast in Louisville. I've had my car for roughly 4 years and been building it for 3... I've literally never seen or talked to another person with a tricked out MINI in Louisville. That said, GermanTech Motorsports is the Euro shop in Louisville that works on my car. Customers come in from several surrounding states to have GermanTech work on their Euros. They worked with Malone Tuning to get my car where it needs to be. GermanTech is the best shop I have ever worked with. They let me buy my own parts and are very honest. Their technicians are extremely skilled and very personal. Running my car with its setup on a stock head has finally caught up with me. I'm at the point now where I absolutely need to either rebuild my head right or things will go bad. The tech at GermanTech and I are talking about how I should go about piecing together a good build. I have been looking at Sneed4Speed. After reading this forum though I'm through with them. Looks like Detroit Tuned is where I will be going. MINIs are such a niche platform to find performance parts for. Especially the R55/56. They are also a very temperamental platform. I'm not afraid to say that the N14 is a crapshow of an engine. I've had more issues with my R55 than all the cars I've owned in my life combined... I'm 43 and I've owned a lot of cars. However when my little R55 is running on all cylinders and everything is working right... It's the best handling car I've ever owned. I've made several V8 owners cry. Whats crazy is that I haven't even really scratched the service yet. Once I get the head rebuilt, work on the bottom end and throw on a performance intake manifold, the car will really begin to glow. It's gonna be expensive though. I often think about what else I could have built with the money I've spent on my MINI. That's the only drawback to the platform. For what I've spent just to get my car to 300hp I could be in a V8 pushing 600hp. But then I would be just like every other enthusiast. We are not like every enthusiast though are we? We are MINI enthusiasts. There aren't many of us, but we are loyal.
New to forum and hate that is will be my first post but I do not want others to go through what I am going through.
I purchased a engine from Sneed4speed. Spent $9,161.00 on it. They only time i was able to talk to someone was the day i purchased the engine after that they never picked up their phones. Everything was email. It took them months to ship out my engine. Kept saying it will ship out in a week but that turned into month's. I spent $5,000 to get it installed just to find out the engine is messed up. When the mechanic pours in coolant it goes into the oil pan.
It's been a week now trying to contact Sneed so they can honor thier 1 year warranty but no one is answering emails or calls. What I find interesting though is they are posting on their social media sites every day though.
Please stay away from them. I just robbed for 9k and have no idea what to do with this damn engine.
What sucks is while I was deployed overseas I saved up to get this engine and could not wait to get back and fix my 13' R60 All4....but nope I got scammed!
We have had the same issue with them. Please text me. 2155006714. Thank you.
