Yes. The head comes off, all of the parts come off it (valves, springs, cams, followers, anything electrical, etc.) and the guides get drilled until they are thin enough to easily be pressed out without damaging the bores they reside in. Then the head is heated in an oven, and then cold guides are pressed in. They are sized to give the correct amount of interference fit. The inside bores of the guides are then reamed to the precise size they are supposed to be.

There are seals around the valve stems which may be able to be replaced without removing the head, at least on some cars. Not sure if ours can be or not, though.

 

Valve guides yes, valve seals probable not. You fill the cylinder with compressed air to hold the valve in place while removing the seals, it wouldn't be a good idea for someone with low PSI or a leaky cylinder. You said your compression is good so you shouldn't worry about it.

 

It took the dealer doing all of the tests available and then removing the head to determine what the problem was. They replaced all of the valve stem seals. The smoke coming from the exhaust after ten minutes at idle was massive before the fix. The tech described it as oil leaking down from valves into the exhaust manifold.

The car ran very well before the issue of smoke was found, and we always run 93 octane Shell, 60k miles.

Have had a chance to test it for a couple of weeks and the fix it is! No smoke after 25 minute idle time, and no carbon build up on exhaust tips. Very clean now... Drives very well.

Thanks to extended warranty with CarChex we just paid deductible.
Labor was $2,785! Parts @ $650.

Investigating a meth injection system as a preventative measure for both MINIs now. (cheaper than this fix!, and could net a happier engine with more punch on hot days)

Hope this helps those with smoking idlers! (drove an f56 base / S as a loaner for a few weeks... keeping my R56!)

Marc

 

Wish I had a warranty... I'm wondering maybe if the head doesn't have to come off should I have my independent shop try replacing the valve seals only? It'd be silly of me putting $3k in head work when can replace the with a new factory motor for $5k. I've had my mechanic look at it and after inspecting the turbo inlet/outlet and examining the plugs he's thinking valve guides or valve seals also.

Crap...

Glad for you though Marc.3

 

Meth injection might help with carbon build up on the valves, but won't do anything for the valve seals. The seals are on the other end of the valves.

 

Your car has a tune on it. You are running a catless dp. You are throwing codes for the O2 sensor.

Your car is running rich. It will smoke.

 

The dog is in the basement. The dishes are crying. October is on a Red Oak.


The dog has a fever. It will bark.

 

I don't know why, but this was very funny to read!

 

I had been waiting several weeks for WMW to get in touch with Manic to have my P0420 code eliminated. With no response and multiple phone calls week after week I resorted to Facebook messages to get in touch with Martyn Hood with Manic. He was very helpful in getting the re-written files sent to Way. He notified me via e-mail the day the files were sent. Thank Martyn!

I got to WMW on July 8th and had the files uploaded not only has my P0420 cell is gone but so is the obscene blue smoke at idle. Oil consumption is back to normal as well, about .5 liters/thousand miles. I also have "pop and burble" and the car is "night and day" quicker than after the original tune. Stage 2+ map B.

Go figure???

 

Hmmmm verrrrry interesting

 

I feel lucky the engine seems to have survived whatever I may have subjected it to but overall kind of disappointed in the entire ordeal and the effort I had to go through to get what I paid for...the initial trip to WMW the trip to MOTD for the switch from A to B map...the multiple phone calls to WMW...the multiple e-mails to Manic, the fruitless attempts at diagnosing the problem, the multiple messaging on FB then another trip to WMW in ATL...

I suppose I should share these happenings with Martyn at Manic.

At least it's no longer embarrassing to sit at a red lights anymore
I finally feel like I got my moneys worth for the mods too