Anyone had any luck getting a dealership to cover the repair resulting from a plug blowing out? It is obviously a design defect.

What about with Time-Sert Thread Inserts? They claim to be an 'over the fender' repair, which means you do it without removing the head. Thoughts? Experiences?

Thanks,
RE2

 

What plugs are you using?

 

A plug blowig out is NOT a "design defect". Someone has apparently stripped the threads at some point...

 

Not necessarly.. when mine blew the plug was in for almost two years.. Was going to change them the following week.

Things that were Common in most was.. the head was around the 50-60k mark and most were using NGK plugs.

 

If the plug is too loose or if you're running higher boost levels they can work their way out.

I've read more about the Denso plugs blowing...I've found loose NGK's (after market) before though.

 

Never heard of any dealer taking care of this problem within warranty. Heard of several successful stories of people using the Heli-Coil.

 

Seems more Densos but any after market that was not designed for stock use have blown. The common one is the number 2. This is not going to be a warranty item as most of the ones that have blown were using plugs that were not really designed for the car. If you look at the Denso and NGK sites, you will notice that the plugs we are using are not listed for the MINI. They just fit and are colder....

That being said, the OP never mentioned if he was using stock level plugs with stock parts. If you are, then you might have a chance of getting it covered.

 

How often are you guys changing/checking plugs? I've been running Turbo'd Audi's (23-25 psi) for years and never encountered this..

Plug threads and Head taps should be standardized..

 

I've got a 04 Cooper and last week the plug popped out. Didn't seem to strip the plug but sure surprised me!! If the Denso and NGK aren't the correct plug, what is?

 

I change plugs every two years no matter what.. but check them once a year. Then re-torq a week after installing them.

 

I have 56,000 miles on my 03 MCS. Last weekend #2 plug blew out and took all of the threads with it. Stock plugs, they have never been removed that I know of. Now the dealer wants $4650 to replace the head. This is the first issue I've had and I just can't beleave what they want to charge. Does anyone know of a shop in the Sacramento CA area the works on Mini's

 

I've done inserts twice in 30 years -- just not on MINIs. If you follow the instructions, grease up the tapper (the cutter) good so that it catches the shavings from the head as you go, and take your time, it is a good 'over the fender' repair tactic.

If you're looking at shelling out $4k for a new head, you might as well gamble, I'd say ...

 

Thats what I'm thinking. But I wouldn't mind finding a shop in the area that has done this before. The dealer, (Niello Mini) would rather have my money than my business.