I didn't know the first gen Minis have a Chrysler engine until now. Why would BMW do that? I wonder if that was already in the works at Rover when BMW bought them.

 

Yeah but it doesnt run like a Chrysler engine. I found out about it when I ordered my 06 and made me a little nervous at first but I figured with the 06 the bugs had been worked out for the most part....never looked back.

 

It was a co-developement project. It's called a Tritec, although I don't know the origins of the name. But it was for the same reason the new Prince engine was a cooperative arrangment with Peugot.... Economy of scale!

Matt

 

Information on the joint venture BMW code "W11" Tritec engine.

The R53 engine internals have MAHLE German made pistons, connecting rods, wrist pins and bearings.











Tritec Cooper S engine technical specifications and plant details.
Tritec Motors 3.pdf
Tritec Motors Awards.pdf
Tritec Motors.pdf
Tritec Motors2.pdf

 

Nice Info.

 

I didn't know the 2003 MCS had a DOHC

Good to see Mahle says we have strong motors

 

Haha.
DOHC
little misprint never hurt anyone i guess.

 

Iron block Tritec has proved itself one tough little low-tech engine, SA's everywhere rave about its durability, and modders everywhere rave about its mod-ability.

 

Those who complain about the Tritec engine's Chrysler heritage should remember that it's the reason why the engine runs so well and can handle some serious modding.

 

And turn the other way when thinking of the depreciation, the terrible looks, and terrible ride quality all of their vehicles possess. Its just an engine

 

I'd be curious to know how many of these engines went into MINIs and how many went into Chrysler euro PT cruisers? I know that towards the end of the cycle some were being sent to Chery in China for use in a mid-sized sedan...

And what's the status on the Tritec plant today? Did the Chinese buy it as planned?

 

All minis from 2002-2006 had this motor. If you can find that figure, you're the man.

 

And then some, as the 'verts still use the tritec engine.

My point was - if more engines from the joint venture go into MINIs than it's not really fair to call it a "Chrysler" engine. I can just hear the salesman at the Chrysler dealership: "Y'know, this PT Cruiser uses the MINI Cooper engine, not the crappy Neon engine that US PT Cruisers have..."

The only stat that I could find on the tritec website was that they were capable of producing 400,000 engines per year.

http://www.tritecmotors.com.br/english/index.html

 

And how what goes around, comes around. Older Chrysler vehicles, especially from the musclecar era and before, are commanding some of the highest prices in their respective classes. It takes people some time to see where the good stuff really is.

It seems to me that in retrospect, the engine is probably the most reliable part about a MINI.

 

Additional reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritec_engine

I've even managed to find the Chrysler Pentagon in the sea of BMW stamps.

 

I believe the engine is just in the neon, the PT uses the 2.4 in the US and the 1.6 (export) but the oil filter doesn't match in location.(never actually seen one) BTW isn't the SRT neon up to 280 HP???? Fastest Chrysler save the Viper!!

 

Nope, the Crossfire SRT6 with 320+ HP, actually MB AMG engine is.

 

yeah the engine's the least of my worries, it's everything else that surrounds it that's kinda dodge-y