Bad news strikes again for my 08 MCS. I've noticed that my car burns oil with a furious passion (though I know Mini's love to eat it), Took it into the shop today after realizing I was again low on oil about 1400 miles after my last oil change. I was 2qt's low so the mechanic did some looking and recommended that I get a new short block due to blow by.

I still owe money on it and have done some performance work to it already so trade in is out of the question.

Anyone have recommendations on this matter, I am not the best with cars but want to learn what happened and how to take care of it. I saw that I can get a short block from Mini Mania for $28xx but is that the best way to go about it?

Thank you everyone in advance!

 

And the shop wants to charge me $3600 for labor only.....

 

$3600 just for labor!
Time to get another opinion and another shop IMHO.

 

Yeah I went and had a compression test and leak test done (different mechanic) and everything came back good (Compression was 160).

Turns out I need a new valve cover, and since I've just passed 80k it's time for a timing chain (I want to get it done before something happens).

Seems like my mini will live on!

 

As my dad told me many years ago, how much oil can you buy for $6,000? Good compression; keep a couple of quarts in the car, check level when ya gas up..

 

Is this your first time replacing the timing chain? I don't understand how we have such great compression with the amount of oil these Mini's not only drink and the oil coked intake valves as well!

 

This is the first time I've done the timing chain. I just want to get it done since I just crossed the 80k mark.

 

Make sure their installing the 5th Gen 82 mm longer tensioner, it's many times smoother than a new 4th Gen shorter tensioner. Don't worry about it being longer, it will just be in further and as the chain stretches it will be more than long enough to tension the timing chain for years to come. Most timing chains go bad long before 80,000 miles.

I think you might be burning more oil than some because of your valve oil seals, oil must be leaking down onto the valve coking right there. Then you have the oil vapor as well coking on the valves.