HI I am considering a 2011 mini Clubman S used. I had a 2008 mini cooper S that i sold in 2012 due to carbon issue , thermostat and then Chain rattle that came back even after the fix.

Now it will really help if I can get some answers on this 2011 year engine . Thanks in Advance.
1) May I know when mini changed the engine to N18. The vehicle I am looking is delivered to the previous owner on April2011. is there a way to check looking at the engine.
2) How are N18 engines compared to N16. are there any items that i should check specifically while looking at the car.
3) Looking at Car fax this one already had fuel pump replaced at 15000, mils. It now has 39000 mils.

If the owners can chime their experience good or bad. That will help me a lot.
Thank You.
Pavan

 

Do some searching around and you'll know that the n18 is much better than the n14. However it's still not fault free. Try to search for Lci or n18 r56 common issues

 

There's just too many issue with the N14 engine, Mini changed the engine to the N18 in mid 12011, April 2011 = N14.

It's inevitable for the timing chains to go bad do to seven years of badly designed timing chain tensioners, Mini just continued striking out! Some member's have gone through at least 1-2 timing chains especially when buying a used N14 equipped Mini, they consume absurd amounts of oil that ends up coating the intake valves with tons of carbon deposits.

Get used to adding 1-2 quarts of oil every 1000 miles and having your valves walnut blasted every 25-40K miles and your pistons covered in black baked on carbon that acts like a heat barrier cooking the pistons with high cylinder temperatures. Some member's have gone through more than two timing chains and that's usually when they sell them and get rid of them, too many problems!

It's just way too much risk buying any N14 equipped Mini, it's just a lousy financial bet your sure to lose. The worst use car you could possible buy!

 

Thank you for clarification. I guess I will look for some 2012 models or late 2011. Definitely do not want to deal with the hassles I faced on my earlier Mini.

Regards
Pavan

 

You can use the VIN decoder http://bimmer.work/ to identify if any particular 2011 model got the N14 or the N18 engine.

 

Hi thanks again.
I guess going by the site, its a N18 engine.
Looks like for the clubman they replaced early on.

Regards
Pavan

 

Glad it's the N18. If you can, I'd get a reputable MINI indy shop to do a PPI on it before you purchase just so you know what may or may not need to be fixed. This way you at least have a good idea about the condition of the vehicle.

 

Any Cooper S model built August 2010 onward should have the N18 engine. August 2010 marked the beginning of 2011 model year and LCI production.

 

JCW still used the N14 at that time though?

 

JCW's were N14 until 2012 I believe.

FWIW my '11 was built in October of 10 and it has an N18 so what MINIAC stated should hold true.

 

The JCW didn't get the N18 engine until the 2013 model year.