Hi all - new here and hoping for some insight. Got a good deal (I think) on a 2006 R50 (CVT) with 117K miles. Service Engine Soon light has come on twice since August. First time, brought it into a local MINI/BMW shop and they said it was a "misfire code." They ran a full diagnostic and couldn't find anything wrong with the engine.

Fast forward two weeks and the light is on again. I take it back and this time they do a compression test. The results and their diagnosis:

"Cylinders 1 and 2 have 115PSI compression, cylinder 3 has 70PSI compression, and cylinder 4 has 130PSI compression. This means that there is either a leak in one of the valves on cylinder 3 or around the piston rings. We tested out a new ignition coil and no improvement was made. Our recommendation based on our findings is to replace the engine."

I knew the previous owner and know that the car was well-maintained. Serviced at a MINI dealer its whole life. Only change I made is I'm using premium octane fuel whereas the previous owner was using regular.

Anyone with more experience have any insight into what could be going on? Is it true that the only option here is replace the engine?

 

Did the shop perform a leak down test? This will tell them where the lack of compression is coming from, valves or rings. A compression test will only tell them, as far as I know, that there is a lack of compression. I had the same problem on my 06 R50 daily driver. Turned out to be a burnt out valve, also on cyl 3. Took it to the good people at Detroit Tuned, who decked the head and replaced the all the exhaust valves with R53 Cooper S items.

 

Replace the engine? LMAO! Here's a perfect example of why stealerships have well-deserved, awful reputations as crooks.

 

^^ This ^^
Worse case scenario should be head work and/or replacement, no way it should require an entire engine, bottom end on a well maintained '06 engine should be 250-300k miles.
And yes, running regular instead of premium can easily cause valve damage.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm gonna ask about the leak down test... and look for another shop. Anyone have good suggestions for shops in NYC/surrounding area?

 

In fairness to the shop they deal with economic realities. A reconditioned motor may well be cheaper than extensive head work.
I would fix it, but I do all my own work.

 

Any good, local, well-established garage should be able to correctly do compression & leak-down tests & at least give you a good diagnosis.
Judging by your description, my guess is 'just' a burned valve - worn rings usually affect all cylinders.
MINIs have been around long enough now I'd hope the same garage would be able to do the work.

 

When DT did the work on my R50, the total cost was about $2300 if I remember correctly. They not only did the work on the head, but given the mileage of the car (approx 130000 at the time) they also replaced the timing chain, guides, tensioner, front main seal, etc, as preventative maintenance. Not cheap buy any means, but the MINI is still my daily driver @ 214000 miles.

 

R50 hopeful

I suppose there's one other possibility. You've only had the car for a short time. Do you know how the previous owner used the car? Short, long, fast, slow trips, highway, back roads, commuting, weekend only etc..? Is it possible that the valves are simply all coked up? (the Regular gas won't have helped).

If the car basically starts & drives OK with no obvious misfiring & returns around 30mpg, you might consider just driving it for a while on Premium gas & see if the SES light eventually goes away. I don't believe you can cause any damage doing this; if it is a burned valve it will get worse, if it isn't, it might get better.
You might also consider walnut blasting or a Seafoam treatment. I'm personally not a huge fan of either, but many others have had good results & for a lot less $$ than a full head job.
I think that's what I'd do until I had some reliable evidence.