Just thought I'd say hello. Picked up my 2013 Cooper S 6 spd Manual last week. It's my daily and I don't really plan on modding much other than some things to improve reliability. Thought about maybe a catch can and a heat shield for the turbo. Any thoughts on these items? Bought the car from original owner with about 67k miles and it seems to have been well maintained. The timing chain has not been replaced, but the engine seems pretty quiet.

 

Looks nice!

I'm going to go against the crowd and say a catch can isn’t needed on the N18 engine, as long as you use a quality, low NOACK engine oil. Same with the turbo heat shield - not really needed. The heat shield really only makes that part of the engine look a little bit better. (some might say turbo heat shields can damage your cam cover, since it’s plastic)

If you’re not planning any big mods, just get all the maintenance up to date, and drive it. Motor on!

 

2013 MCS @ 68K, no catch can.

Recently blasted the valves for the first time. Deposits were fairly light and crusty, and were knocked off easily.

Oil consumption is on the order of 1 liter per 5K miles.

I've owned the car since 31.9K and use it primarily for interstate commuting, I'm pretty hard on the gas pedal, maybe that helps keep the deposits down

 

Clean car! Looks well cared-for. I am also going to say you don't need a catch can with the N18. PCV is a revised design versus the N14. My 2011 N18 has 127k miles now, uses maybe a quart of Mobil 1 0w40 between 5k oil changes. I managed to blow a head gasket at around 110k, replaced the head with a low-mile used one since I couldn't find a machine shop locally who sounded familiar with the N18. On the original head, the valves had very little buildup, and looked fine. I bought the car used with 21k miles, don't figure it was carbon blasted before I got it, and I know I never did it. I also drive it like a sports car, since I heard that can help keep intake valve deposits to a minimum. I am also on my original timing chain, as far as I can figure, although I did replace the upper chain guide and tensioner when I replaced the head and gasket. I decided to wrap the turbo AND install a heat shield. Both have been on for probably 45k miles, no issues, no melting valve cover.

 

I think the catch can died with the CD changers and the pulleys lol.

 

Thanks for the replies. Opinions very on the catch can. Curious If people walnut blast the N18. For some late model hipo engines there’s a factory option for a catch can. I’ll do my best to keep on top of the maintenance and go from there.

 

Impossible to discern if that option is available because the engine actually requires it, or if it is a revenue enhancing option. My vote is for the latter....