Thanks to this board, I tackled the suspected carbon build-up this weekend. I would like to give credit to whoever had the 13 page pdf in his thread, but I couldn't find the original thread. As you can see, Mine were very NASTY. It took about 8 hours total and I used Seafoam and Hoppes gun cleaning fluid along with a pistol cleaning brush and a pick (both bent about 45 degrees at the end). The difference is amazing, which does not surprise me considering the amount of crap in there. when I first took of the manifold, I couldn't even tell which valves were open and which were closed. I had to spray Seafoam in there and see which one didn't leak out. I ordered the BSH catch can and it will be installed next weekend. Thanks guys!

 

To follow-up, could you elaborate your driving habits, average drive time / mileage, and other possible attributing factors to your carbon build-up?
I'm wanting to see if there's a direct correlation to one's driving habits and the amount of build-up found.

- Erik

 

we bought the car used in 2009 with 40K miles, so i assume they were mostly highway miles at that point. in the last 3 years we have put 20K miles on it and they have been mostly short trips around town. it is my wife's car and she drives, well, like a girl (no offense meant to any of you of the fairer sex). FWIW, i have done the Seafoam in the intake every 6 months for the last 3 years. Either it does no good, or the valves were to dirty when we got the car.

 

Great job mate.

I've set a groupbuy for the SoCal peeps and have been stressing the importance to having this kind of procedure done to these director injection based cars so this is a prime example of how they'd look unaddressed.

I'm glad you tackled this via DIY and commend you again for the before and after. Every MINI over 40k miles really should consider getting this done whether at a shop or by themselves....

 

Driving style doesn't matter with the carbon build up, just the design of the engine. You can help it a bunch by installing a catch can and blocking off the PCV tube. Here is a cheap solution to removing the PCV tube.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/036131510/ES274329/

Buy 2 and remove the tube completely.

 

I had the catch can installed about 3 weeks ago and the amount of crap it catches amazes me.

 

Just wait until it gets cold outside.... then the can fills up much faster. Watch it.

 

Thanks for posting this. I plan keeping my '12s for a long time and at 40-50,000 miles this service will be done on my car along with 7500mi. oil changes.

 

What group buy?

 

I started here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=732369

And I've mentioned it on here and even have another thread in SCMM:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...cal-ltbmw.html

http://www.clubscmm.com/board/index.php?topic=8744.0

Saw someone post they had it done at Motoring Magic for over $4xx, yet no one on the MINI side seems interested at $350 w/ a 1-day car rental? Blows my mind, but....at least 2 members on NAM are on this 2nd round groupbuy.

 

So are you going to start group buy #3? I would be interested. Thanks.

 

I'm not sure about a 3rd round. I have to talk to him and see what he says. I'm heading over to the shop soon though so I will bring it up to him.

 

I think I'm going to have to do this, just to be sure the valves are clean. Anyone get an affordable OCC? No offense to the R&D some vendors have done but the pricing seems a bit excessive.

 

I got the BSH on ebay for $155. I think it's worth it because it has adapters so none of the hoses need to be cut and it has a dipstick.

 

Installing a catch can helps a lot and retard the build effect, but you can`t avoid this in the long term, it is a design problem that all direct engines have, and the ones which have variable cam have more, becouse valves overlap.