I may be picking up a 2009 R56 MCS automatic with 63k miles. I am buying from the original owner that has maintenance records from the dealership since brand new.

I've noticed that some of the issues were carbon build up, water pump and timing chains being known issues. Here are some maintenance that had been done

- Earlier this year, the timing chain made a noise at start up. The dealership replaced seal rings and replaced timing chain. (QUESTION, HOW OFTEN DOES THE TIMING CHAIN NEED TO BE REPLACED?)

- New Turbo heat shields

- Replaced Aux water pump in 2012

- All brakes had been replaced in 2011

- Removed intake manifold and found carbon levels between intake valves. Performed carbon cleaning on valves. Added 1 bottle of in tank fuel additive in 2011.

- Misc rattles, oil change services.


After these maintenance had been done, should I still be worried about the known issues? How often do you have to do a carbon clean up and replacement of the timing chains? Any idea of costs?

Are there any other known issues that I should be aware of?

 

If brakes were only done once in 63K, I'd expect you are going to be needing them. I don't have this model mini so not sure on the other items.

 

Timing chain life is all over the board, so really no way to predict what life you will get out of it.

For the carbon cleaning, I'd probably assume every 50k miles, but that could vary quite a bit as well.

 

Usually once every ~50K miles if you don't keep an eye on the timing chain tension, and let it stretch the chain. If you replace tensioner every ~30K miles, the chain will last forever.

BTW, it's a very good thing that the PO had taken care of timing chain. Otherwise this would have been a $1.8K bill in your near future!

This reads like a maintenance list from someone who has been taking above average car of his car. All good signs for the 2nd owner.

Carbon build-up on intake valves effects all direct injection engines, including N14 in your '09 MCS (and my '08 MCS). Some people report issues that are resolved by cleaning every 15K miles, others every 60K miles. It varies a lot.

The cost for walnut shell blasting the intake valves ranges from $100 in parts to DIY, $350 at an independent, or $600 at a dealer.

[QUOTE=mikehsu;4026174Are there any other known issues that I should be aware of?[/QUOTE]

This covers most of them.

You may eventually be looking at:
- few minor oil leaks (valve cover gasket, oil filter housing, etc - nothing tragic).
- major oil leak will eventually develop at the point where oil cooling lines connects to the turbo. About $80 in parts to DIY replace; add ~7 hours of labor if you pay someone to do it for you.
- water pump and thermostat will eventually need to be replaced as they leak, or pro-actively

The usual maintenance will also need to be done, as with all cars:
- brake pads and rotors (as needed)
- tires (as needed, consider ditching RFT tires if still on the car)
- oil and filter changes (as needed, or every 8K miles)
- brake fluid and coolant changes (as needed, or every 2 years)

Lastly, have you considered taking the car to a competent shop for a pre-purchase inspection? I always do it when buying used cars, and they always find something that justifies negotiating the purchase price down by more than what you paid for the inspection. Please you get a piece of mind having had the car inspected by another set of competent eyes and hands.

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Odds are, that's just the heat shield added to the oil line on top of the turbo. It was added to protect an o-ring in the oil line fitting. Unfortunately, most dealers just add it and don't do anything about an already-leaking oil line. Check the top of the turbo. If its dark or wet looking, you need to replace that oil line. You usually don't get enough oil to drip, but it will burn off when the turbo gets hot and you will smell it in the car.