My daughter has cooked her 2013 Mini Cooper base head. We have a line on a 2010 Countryman cylinder head for a possible swap. Is this possible or is the 2010 a "long" model. We have machined the head it is smooth but apparently is out a bit length wise.(Twist) Machine shop says we could try to install it and maybe it will seat itself. What are your thoughts?

 

If the head resurface didn't result in a flat head surface that's not good.

You put the twisted head on and maybe it seals. Or it leaks or the head cracks and you are back where you started. Or the engine suffers coolant in the cylinder and this runs the risk of hydrolocking the engine.

 

According to RealOEM.com the cylinder heads are the same between 2010 and 2013 models. (2010 and 2013 R60 Countryman base model both utilize the N16 engine.)

If you resurfaced the head, it should be flat. If its not, then the machine shop is lacking in their abilities.

 

You are 100% right. As an ex-machinist I bristled at the mention the head was not flat after surfacing but I decided to forgo any criticism of the shop.