Hi All,

I recently purchased a 2007 Mini and the ignition coils died a few days ago. I took it to a local BMW/MINI mechanic and when they ordered the 2007 coils, those didn't fit. Based on the part numbers of the dead coils, it turned out that they had to order the 2009 coils to fit. This made the mechanic suspect that the engine may have been replaced.

Is there a way to tell if the engine was replaced?

Thank you!

 

Remanufactured engines usually have a unique serial number on the engine identifying that they're reman and not new. I'm not sure if BMW does this though. How sure are you that you really don't have a 2009 model?

 

Mine has a replaced engine, didn't come with the MINI logo on it. I have heard that replacements often times do not have the logo because the dealership is too lazy to put it on the new engine.

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the chrome/black badge on the top of the engine

 

Not completely true because my friend doesn't have one and I do and I know for a fact that it does not have a replaced engine because he has all of the MINI service records. Which were all done at the same dealership the 2 years the 3 years the owner had it before trading it in.

You can look to see if there is any info stamped on the engine to see if it was remaned like on the engine I got from Bavarian auto recycling for my e34 it had a small lightly welded disk on the block. Also if I am not mistaken there should be the VIN stamped somewhere on the block. If it doesn't match than it isn't the original engine.

 

Thank you all for your replies.
1. I am certain that the car is a 2007 Mini based on VIN number carfax check etc... The car has a clean title so it is unlikely that it was a salvage car.
2. I do have the MINI chrome logo on the engine cover.
3. I could not locate any VIN or serial number on the engine. but I will give it another look.

I called the MINI dealership today and they checked for all services done on the car and they said they didn't replace the engine on this one.

The only conclusion, given that 2009 coils are different than 2007 coils, is that the engine was replaced at some point in the car's life. It may have been that the timing chain caused engine failure. This actually may be a good thing assuming that the installed engine had less miles than the older one.

Thanks!

 

Maybe just an upgrade on the coils. Really what does it matter if the engine was replaced though?