Hello Folks,

My 2008 Mini Cooper S has about 140k miles on it. Timing chain was done at 125k, new water pump recently, tires etc. So I have some money into this car.....

Yesterday, car started to run terrible and the check engine light came on. Had my code reader in the car p0300 and p0301-4. Basically all cylinders misfiring. Which lead me to think it was the HPFP as is so commonly seen on here.

My mechanic ran through the normal tests and found that cylinder two has no compression and said it has a burned valve. I have worked with this person a lot and done a lot of business with him over the years. never have I found a reason to doubt him. But thinks this could cost up to 2k to fix, for just the valve. I am waiting for him to get back to me after he does some more digging.

Anyways. Thoughts on this? I suspect the HPFP ran the car lean which caused this valve to "burn".

Should I get a donor engine? Buy a new head? Do the work and stop bitching? Debating on just buying a newer car but with a new baby here and life....not made of money

If it is a burnt valve only and not a damaged cylinder wall, then you're looking at $15 for 1 exhaust valve, $35 head gasket, $35 head bolts. While you have the head out, you can replace the stem seals, $25. Also do the turbo oil feed line and maybe the oil housing gaskets, $40. Plus labor and time.

When was the intake "de-coked"? You didn't list that as one of your "must-have" maintenance by the time you reach # of miles listed for a 2008 S.
So he knows for sure the pressure from Cylinder 2 is going to the exhaust? If you have an intake valve slightly stuck due to coking, you will have a compression loss as well. Also, once one is affected, likely all of them are affected to varying degrees.

I doubt the fuel pump leaned out the mixture.

A burned valve sometimes just happens. A co-worker had one happen on his Subie with way over 100K miles on the engine. Just one valve.

If the other valves look ok and the valve seat of the burned valve is ok then what MiniToBe offered sounds reasonable. I'd be tempted to do this. Although a good head rebuild -- assuming you get one for the estimated $2K -- has some attraction.

Appreciate the feedback. Looking to go with a remanufactured head, gaskets, turbo feed lines, valve cover, hpfp....

anything else I should do while I am in there?

its my second car so I can take my time but it is my miles pig, and I drive a lot for work. Prefer to keep those off the truck.

I am on the other side of the “baby” time with my guys heading to college. Also, I Have been in sales for over twenty years and know a lot about putting on the miles too. I have averaged about 30-40K miles per year. For your “miles pig” I would suggest only giving it the best and most complete service. I was stuck only once over what must be close to a million miles by now. It happened to be when my wife was in labor and I was three hours away... Upper radiator hose... Anyway, If you are just putting around a small town, no big deal right? You know the area, are close to people or a garage you know etc... It does not pay in the long run to save a few bucks on a car like this one for you. Keep the car, fix it right, do the complete job and you will save money. A new car is very expensive. Another used car has just as much of not more risk.

While you are in there stuff: plugs, coils, serpentine belt, hoses if they are original, have your guy check the pulley bearings, water pump, crank shaft seal, PVC to manifold hose.