Just a note here, the mini valve cover has 12 bolts, the PT cruiser has 10......so unless we can come up with individual grommets, Mini Cooper owners will have to buy 2 packages of the felpro grommets and will have a few left over

Bryan

 

 

Looking at a picture I don't think there the same. They don't seem rounded at the edges like the es73026

 

Just wanted to update this thread with another comment about the blue valve cover grommets that we found.......as I stated above, our MINI valve cover takes 12 grommets, the Felpro package of grommets is a quantity of 10......so that means you would have to purchase 2 packages at your local auto part store to have enough to do the MINI valve cover.....then you would have 8 left over......

I was out in the garage today tinkering with the R52 .....I noticed the spare coil pack sitting on my toolbox.....it takes the same grommets on the coil bolts....and it takes 8 total to mount the coil to the valve cover......so that would take care of the extra grommets from pack #2

Bryan

 

$165 for valve cover bolts! wow. I have a new valve cover gasket and the spark plug gaskets, what else do I need? Do I need to replace the bolts once the valve cover is removed? I bought APR head studs and that's the main reason I want to take off the valve cover, that and have it hydro dipped.

 

You don't have to replace the bolts unless there is something wrong with them. A few people just needed the grommets under the bolt heads, and we came up with a solution so that people don't have to purchase the entire bolt set for their car.

If your bolts and grommets are still good, just reuse them. If your grommets are bad, now you have a source for them

Bryan

 

BS 1001B0-01 ADB 34




I only saw it on a few of the grommets but it’s the same every time

 

The number on the ones I pulled from my 2003 Mini Cooper s was BS1001B0-C1 ADB-40

 

Also see the information I dropped here for a stainless bolt conversion > https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4596152

 

Cool!

We have some lower cost options here also from last time:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/11121487179/

and

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/11121487178/

 

Nice, even more options !

 

I have a couple of quick comments on this subject. I am trying to replace my valve cover gasket. I have not been able to remove all the cover screws yet. Four of the eight cap screws have corroded heads. I was able to hammer on a 7mm socket on two of them to get them removed, but the other two are proving tough. I may try to slot them with a dremel and cutoff wheel.

Anyway, as has been noted, there are two different parts used to attach the cover, both M6 x 1.0. The first (MINI p/n 11121487179, quantity 8) is an 32mm flanged cap screw that has a captive, floating collar which holds the grommet. The second (MINI p/n 11121487178, quantity 4) is a 65mm long double ended stud with a flanged cap in its middle--the base of the cap starts 32mm from the end, and this part too has a captive, floating grommet.

On mine, the parts are coated with what looks like a black oxide coating on them (that is, where corrosion did not attack them). Note that the parts that MINI-focused retailers, such as ECSTuning, don't look to have the same coating (even for the Genuine MINI parts). Not sure why they would have dropped the corrosion-resistant coating on such a corrosion-prone part! Or did they just go with a better corrosion-resistant coating?

On mine, the grommets on the flanged cap screw are white (like a white viton, perhaps), while the grommets on the double ended stud are gray. I think that the three primary characteristics that matter about the grommet are shape, durometer (for proper seal), and oil resistance (for longevity in its operating environment).

Credit to A383Wing for drawing the connection between the PT Cruiser and the R50/R52/R53! I am guessing that both MINI valve cover fasteners are Chrysler parts. For instance, this part, which is not the same as the MINI part... looks mighty close for the double ended stud, but is 9mm shorter on the protruding stud end, and more importantly, has a different grommet. Special Stud and Grommet But maybe there is another Chrysler part that is an exact match.

If these are Chrysler parts, then we should be paying Chrysler prices!

 

For readers of this thread: the grommets in Fel-Pro part number ES 73025 are not the same as the Mini valve cover grommets. I am confirming the observation of 89325iturbo1 made earlier in this thread.

 

The grommets in the ES 73026 are an exact match, except for the color of the grommet....I measured both and came up with the same measurements on both the black ones and the blue ones

Bryan

 

I suppose the color of the ES73026 (I think you have a p/n typo there...) indicates that it is a fluorosilicone material. Did it seem to be about the same hardness as the ones you pulled?

I am confident that ES73026 is suitable for use in the MINI engine based on your observations. You did a great job figuring out the connection. Kudos to you!

 

Fixed my typo mistake....sorry

I didn't actually check the hardness of each grommet....I never thought about it....but I figured if the blue ones were for the same style hold down bolt on the PT Cruiser as the Mini, and the 1.6L engine in the Mini was a joint venture between BMW & Chrysler...the valve cover grommets would be the same, except for the color

Bryan

 

That is quite reasonable. The only wrinkles I see revolve around potential (but unlikely) variations in torque spec. between the two different valve cover applications. If there were different torque specs, then the grommet would compress more under a higher torque spec and less under a lower torque spec. And that, I think, could be compensated for by a different grommet hardness. Please pardon the theoretical excursion.

 

I understand what you are saying about the torque spec in relation to the "hardness" of the grommet.....if I have a little time today, I will look up the torque specs on both valve covers and get back to you here in this thread

Bryan

 

After consulting both factory service manuals for the PT Cruiser and the Mini Cooper....the torque specifications for the valve cover bolts are the same for both engines. Torque spec is 12nm or 9ft-lbs for the bolts. So I will probably say that the "hardness" or the "crush factor" is the same for both the black ones and the blue ones.

One thing to mention here, the OE rubber grommets on the PT Cruiser are also black in color as is the Mini grommets. When I went to the parts store, I asked specifically for the grommets for the PT Cruiser and he brought out the blue ones. Are the blue ones an upgraded style?? I don't know, and at this point, it doesn't make any difference to me. I was just happy to find another option for the grommets rather than bend over at the dealer and have to purchase the entire bolt or bolt kit to just get the little rubber ring.

One other thing that I learned in this forum is that the little plastic valve lash caps that go on the lifter at the end of the rocker arm is the same as Chryslers 3.0 V6 engine.....I found that out in my JCW thread in the other section.....so, who knows what else is interchangeable between the Mini and Chrysler

Bryan

 

Good job crossing the t's and dotting the i's. The matching torque specs tell the story.

The blue color of the grommets strongly suggests that the material is fluorosilicone. Fluorosilicone has some engineering advantages. The one that leaps out vs. other material choices is that it has a very wide temperature range, easily able to handle the extremes of the North American market.