Hey guys so I have some serious decisions to make. I have a 2003 Cooper non-s with around 100k miles on it. About a year ago the #3 Sparkplug literally blew out of the head. I was on the interstate at the time so I just screwed it back in and it lasted about two weeks before it did it again so I sent it to a mechanic who put a helicoil in. I also had a minor oil leak in the valve cover gasket which was remedied with a new gasket. I now however have lost all compression in cylinders 1 & 3. My mechanic says he suspects a blown head gasket. He however can not be sure without ripping it apart. SO what do I do??

This car was my wife's when I met her and we both have quite an attachment to it.

Just to get a clear view of the entire situation the car also has some body damage on the front end from a late night meeting with bambi.

Options:

1. Pay mechanic to rip apart engine, determine the exact malfunction, replace what needs to be replaced, motor on.

2. Buy used engine with 50-70k miles from LKQ for around $2,200, pay another $1000 to have mechanic swap them out.

3. Save my money, buy a rear-end collision Cooper for around $4000 and Frankenstein them together.

4. Buy a new Cooper. (Which we would like to avoid due to emotional attachment)

5. Any other possible alternative.

Thank you so much for reading and giving me your input!!

 

I'd get another oppinion. Not that I doubt your mechanic, but I've seen cases where good people were wrong. Now with the information given, I'd go with pulling the head to see. With total loss in two cylinders simultaneously, I'd doubt a bottom end problem, although if they were adjoining cylinders, the case would be even more compelling. Even if you wind up needing a head, this will still be your cheapest route.

$4k for a salvage Cooper sounds pretty high. My 02 is worth maybe 6k on a good day. And then you just paid twice the money you would have for the engine, and got some front end parts, which probably aren't all that expensive. Then add in the time or money for the labor to pull the engine from the wreck. BTW, I had my engine and trans out recently, and it's quite easy on these cars. I'm not sure about pulling the engine alone, but once you get to that point (draining coolant, disconnecting electrics, etc), separating the lower ball joints to yank the axles isn't that much more of a chore.

 

Emotional attachment is overrated. It's still just a car. Try to find a solution with the least complicated answer.

 

Exactly. Sell it to me for $1,500 (what I paid for mine six months ago), I wouldn't mind another.

 

I would pull the head....look...
Few $$ to save $$$$ if all is ok otherwise....

 

I'd like to think that many around this forum would disagree that "it's just a car." As someone who can't afford a 2011 Mini I have to do what I can. The thought of going to my local used car dealer and picking up some old honda or something doesn't exactly appeal to me after having my Cooper ya know?

 

With the two simultaneous losses what would you be more inclined to look for?

 

Correction: It's cylinders 2 & 3. What you guys thinking??

 

If it is a gasket, that isn't too bad of a job. Really, I think you have to look and see. Keeping the car seems to be emotional at least in part. I saw a head in the market for $450 I think. Even if you just fix it to sell it the work must be done. I say open it up and make a decision based on what you see.

Looking for a low mile wreck is good too. You get an engine and body parts, plus you can try to sell what you don't use. (and the old engine if it is just a gasket). If you have the money and space for it. This may be the best plan depending on what you fine available in the junk yards.

 

Pics of the damage? I understand the emotional attachment to 'just a car' but I'd want to understand the costs - I tend to feel mechanical parts are 'easier' to deal with then body damage unless minor since it's more 'plug and play'. So were it me, if the body damage is not too horrible I would be thinking that a replaced good motor basically 'renews' my friend's (hmm car's) life and that would be how I did the math..

Recently did a bunch of mechanical work on an mini with 78k because I knew it would make it more reliable/pleasant to drive for that much longer (tranny, clutch, etc stuff) and even with a few $K it's way cheaper than a new car and drives great.

An opinion...

 

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]hi, [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]my wife and i have owned our 03 cooper S for about 7 years, with only 55000 miles (of course out of warranty) on it and immaculate service record, the engine blew while my wife was traveling down Parley’s Canyon, between Park City, and Salt Lake City, Utah. after taking it to the MINI repair shop the mechanic even commented how odd this was. we came in to see what can be done towards the purchase of a new car. The MINI sales rep, who forgot we were coming in to speak with him, let us know he could give us 1000usd for the car on trade in. we left with our cash in hand, disappointed, and depressed. We loved our MINI but felt dismissed by our MINI rep, betrayed by the company and questioning buying another as we feel this one had obvious material defects. we had the car towed to my garage where it now sits in immaculate condition minus a blown engine. we have contemplated buying something new, but may have to fly to Las Vegas and drive the car home because we have gotten nowhere with the SLC MINI dealer, and now refuse to give them any further business My friends and even some of my car blogger buddies have suggested me sending in video of me either blowing up my MINI, or having it gunned down to pieces. from whatever new car we purchase so at least i can post it online and make a funny statement. we love our "baby" too much to do that, so will probably get by on our other car for a while until we can find a mechanic and pay to have it repaired, (far below the high quote of 9500usd by the SLC dealership). thanks for the sounding board, maybe watch for the video. I have gotten quotes much less than the 9500k from MINI SLC Murray, ........so i am getting mine fixed as it it is a part of our lives now......plus it is cheaper than forking the dough for a brand new one....[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]bottom line if your not attached and can afford it buy a new one. but, if you have an attatchcement like me,,,one get on some meds, and two find a good mechanic.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]if anyone knows one in or around Salt lake City, let me know. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]peace[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]john [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]