found out my 2008 Clubman S with 114000 miles is dead, needs a new engine. Valves are bent, rings blown, $7300 for a new engine. Had the 100000 mile maintenance deal. At 108000 had a new clutch and flywheel installed (the second, the first went out at 55000, and was covered under warranty except the $900 flywheel). Just had a new timing chain and new high pressure fuel pump installed. Went to shop for a new MINI, my wife loves the car, and they said they'd give me $500 for it. That stung a bit.

We've decided against a new MINI, so what should I do with the old one?

See if MINI will give me $500 even if I don't buy a new one? Tow it home and donate it? I'm not that mechanically inclined, so I don't know if I could sell off the parts?

Any thoughts?

 

Sell it here in the classifieds, don't try parting it out if you aren't good with tools. Should have some value above and beyond $500. Let the bidding begin!

 

were are you located ? How is the rest of the car ?

 

I am located in the Raleigh, NC area. Everything else is in good shape.

 

you can't buy a decent replacement car for $7K so if you liked it get yourself a rebuilt or better yet a BUILT motor, several people sell them.

But it's up to you.

 

What caused the motor to implode? You said you just had a new timing chain installed.

 

I hear the death rattle and took it to my local guy. He has done 4 timing chains so thought he'd be able to do it. It was not running well, so I didn't want to drive it an hour to the dealer. He put a new one in and couldn't get it back together. He thought the valves were bent, sent it out to have them fixed, but the shop sent it back and said they were fine. He put it together but couldn't get it started so sent it to another shop. It wasn't getting fuel so they changed the fuel pump. Now they thought it was getting too much fuel, and needed to be reprogrammed. Sent it to MINI and they said it needs a new engine. I guess the moral of the story is to find a good shop, but I'm coming to find out they are hard to find.

 

Oh man, that sounds things just went from bad to worse. So sorry things went they way they did.

If you love the car, I'd vote for a new engine. It's cheaper than a new car, but it doesn't make the pill any easier to swallow.

 

Sounds to me like you shouldn't be held responsible OP. You got screwed somewhere in that deal.

 

I agree, it was a rough few days.

Having it towed from MINI dealer today and I had to pay $120 diagnostic fee before they'd let me have it. Not sure what I did to make them mad, but no need to rub salt in the wounds.

Since they know my service history prior to this last episode, and all of the issues the car has had, maybe they decided they didn't want anything to do with it?

 

Sorry to hear that, saw this randomly while trying to locate classifieds on mobile, err. Sending you a pm, hang onto it, dont spend, might be able to help.

-g

 

You're welcome to bring it to us. We can do a new engine installed for less than $6000, we just did one for a guy from CT.

 

I vote for towing it to ATL and getting a new engine at WMW.

A number of years ago, i went through the same scenario with my 93 Mazda RX7.......over 9 years, I put 2 engines in it before I finally sold it to a guy in Norway.......got double blue book for it.

 

Where are the classfieds here? How do I view them? How would I post to them? Thx

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rketplace-386/

 

Talk to Chris at G3 Automotive on Duraleigh. Like Way, he may have some options available for a better price than what you've been quoted. If there were two guys I would trust on this, it would be Way and Chris.

Bah, now I see it's an old thread. :/