I just bought an '07 Mini (NON-S) automatic. It is a project car with a bad motor. The previous owner ran it out of oil and burned up the motor.

Does anyone have tips about removing this engine? Out the front or out the bottom? With the trans I imagine?

I am just gearing up to do this swap. Just need a little help before I dig in - don't want to remove much more than is needed.

Planning to replace with a used low-mileage engine.

Thanks for any information.
Steve H.

 

Gotta love it when people just don't care and wonder why their car isn't working as it should. I imagine you'd rip it out of the top just like any other engine. Good luck and you I hope you're considering starting a 'build' thread. I love reading a good write up with lots of pictures.

 

Well according to the previous owner... she did an oil change with a friend, and forgot to screw the oil filter housing cover back on. There is oil everywhere under the hood. And of course the stink of burnt oil.

Not sure about this one coming out the top. It might be possible to bring it up and forward once the radiator, etc are out of the way.

I will be taking photos as I go along.

Steve H.

 

MINI installs it from the bottom, on the assembly line. I'd take it out the bottom, with the subframe......

 

We pull em out the bottom. If you need parts let us know.

 

Bringing it out the bottom - can all of the front end components stay in place (radiator, fans,condenser,support)?

And take the struts with it (unbolt from the top so as to not disturb alignment)?


Otherwise looks straightforward. Thanks for the info.

Steve H.

 

Well I would have suggested taking it out the front but if Way says they take them out from the bottom that's the route I'd take. When you do bring it out the bottom you'll want to drop the subframe first and separately. The suspension/hubs can stay bolted up. Just remove the control arm outer ball joints, steering shaft pinch bolt, lower motor mount, and the 14 (I think) bolts holding the subframe in (and some misc wiring) and drop the subframe. The motor and subframe aren't really attached like they are in other cars so the motor will hang there in the engine bay held up by the two main motor mounts. Then with the subframe out of the way you can remove the motor mounts and drop the motor/trans. I would think you could get away with not removing any of the front end stuff since you'll have space to move the motor back some as you're bringing it down.

Good luck and take pictures

 

Now I'm trying to think this thru and I think that it might be best (for me) to take it out the front. My main reason for this is that I want to be able to move the car out of the garage while I swap the old to replacement engine on the trans. It might also take me a week or 2 to get the replacement engine, and I would prefer to have the garage space while I'm waiting.

If I pull it out the bottom then I'd have to reassemble the subframe or make up a dolly to set the front of the car on so it can be moved. Although in both cases I will have to do something with the balljoints so that the axles can come out.

To remove the front end or to remove the undercarriage...decisions, decisions. Ugh.

Steve H.

 

The ball joint is trivial to remove/replace. I would just pop it to remove the axle and then put it back in to roll the car around.

 

V10 - correct ball joint is non-issue. Mainly the difference of having to reinstall the subframe/tie rods/steering shaft.... if going out the bottom.

Thanks.

 

Just to be clear. I've never removed an engine from a R56. Only pulled a transmission and that involves dropping the subframe. I don't see any reason you couldn't pull the motor/trans out the front of the car like they do on many other makes but I've not done it myself so there could be some issue I'm not thinking about. One thing that comes to mind is having to deal with the AC Condensor as I don't have anything to drain/fill AC systems. But I've had most of the front end off before and it's not particularly difficult to take off and should provide plenty of room to remove the engine from the front. Might not be a bad idea to call the mini dealer/way motor works/etc. to see if they know of any issues pulling the motor out the front if you're leaning that way.

 

I started another thread to follow the engine swap.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...th-photos.html

Steve H.