Hello Mini World,
How can I tell if my Mini's engine was previously replaced by looking at the physical engine? Are there numbers I can match up anywhere?

Some background on this: I bought the car preowned in Oct 2010, and at the time the carfax did not have anything about an engine replacement. 2 months (Dec 2010) later Carfax was notified that the engine was replaced about a year earlier (Nov 2009) at a Mini Dealer. Why would it take so long for the mini dealer to notify Carfax? I am hoping that this service could have been submitted under the incorrect VIN.
Any other ideas to verify if the engine was really replaced or not?

I forgot to mention it is a 2008 Cooper S

Thanks,
EP

 

Don't know how reliable this is, but all the motors that I've seen replaced, including my own, do not have the MINI logo on the valve cover.

I would just call MINI and have them pull the service history on the car, they should be able to tell ya.

 

FYI, my '09 Clubman-S didn't come with a MINI logo on the engine valve cover from the factory, build date 10/08.

 

I thought every engine had to have a VIN stamped on it from the factory? Well... If it came with the car. And as stated above... Call MINI Dealer and ask

 

It's not the responsibility of MINI USA to contact some 3rd party company like carfax regarding their customer's MINI's.....it's quite the opposite in fact.

They get their info from insurance companies.....

 

My replacement motor is also missing the logo