I have an '05 CVT MC and noticed some oil leaking under my car yesterday, so I just ran down to South Bay MINI and had them check it out - turns out I had an internal Valve Cover Seal failure. They replaced it quickly without any questions.

This is a little puzzling to me - I've never had this happen to any of the other cars I've owned so I'm kind of wondering how common this is, and if there is something I might be doing that is unusual, or if maybe this is symptomatic of something else that might be wrong with my car. I have made no modifications to the car, and I don't drive it very hard, just the usual daily commute.

Should I expect to have to replace this again at 80K?

 

Let me guess - you're young.
That a valve cover gasket can last 40K is a testament to materials engineers. I'm used to replacing valve cover gaskets every two years or so - though I haven't had to do so with the MINI.

 

^LOL

I've had a valve cover gasket let go on just about every piston motored car I've ever owned.

 

How expensive would this be to do yourself? My car is at 39,150 miles right now. It is not leaking any oil as of yet.

 

I think I might be do for a new one too.I noticed oil on the backside of the heat shield that is bolted over header primaries(when header was installed).Good to know its part of normal maintenance.

 

Very cheap. Make sure you get both the valve cover gasket, and the plug sleve gaskets (not the correct name, but you get the idea). I just replaced mine a couple of weeks back, easy job.

I bought my parts awhile back and don't remember the cost, but its just a couple of gaskets. Bought from Classic Mini.

Nik

 

that's nothing. my oil pan gasket blew at 24K. yup, defective.

 

Wow, okay, guess I must have just gotten lucky all these years! BTW - I've mostly owned used cars prior to my MC. Most of them made it to 90K and the biggest issues I've had were the transmissions and alternators.

Okay, guess I haven't seen too many failures!