I'm not a car guru so please help.

1. What is an engine block?
2. How can you crack an engine block?
3. Is an engine block repairable?
4. How much does a new engine cost?
5. Anyone have a new engine they can sell to me cheap? I'm a part-time worker + college. I just recently bought this vehicle used, and well, it died on me driving down the highway at 55mph, what a surprise and dilemna.

2003 MCS (R53), no performance mods.

Thank you ahead of time.

 

1.It's the static part of your engine, pistons hang out inside of it and party.

2.One quick way to crack an engine block: Cold start in cold weather. Instant WOT. Turn off. Repeat.

3.Yes, there are two options, one involves welding, one does not.

4. It would be more worth it to buy a new 1st gen, unless you have a friend who accepts lots of food and beer as payment.

5. If you have great luck, a junkyard might have a wrecked mini. But that's a stretch. Good luck in your endeavor.

 

1. Engine block is the core of the engine minus the head. It holds your cylinders/pistons/crank. It is the main structure of an engine. In the MINI it is an iron core block, so its very roboust.
2. A few ways can crack a block, a failure of any of the internal moving parts could send them through the outside casing or block. The other way would be if water would be used instead of anti-freeze during winter, but most engines now employ freeze plugs that pop out if the coolant would freeze and expand.
3. Yes, but depends where the crack is and if it is part of the main support for internal moving parts.
4. You would be looking somewhere in the 2k price range for an engine used. New from the dealer is not even worth mentioning.
5. I have a used engine with 46k miles on it that I could sell cheap.

where are you located?

 

Not to thread jack, but it is effin' RIDICULOUS that you're running a GT3071.

 

Do you KNOW that your block is cracked?

Or is this just general information for you?

When your engine died, did it shed parts onto the ground and/or leave a trail of oil?

 

Trickle X - I'll PM you. And thanks for the info.


-- My Mini is at the Mini dealership now and they just called and told me about it. I was at work and fairly distracted, but I believe I recall them saying it was the engine block and they needed to replace the engine.

-- No parts were shed onto the ground, no oil (that could be seen, it was 2200 at night and it was on an offramp of the highway).

 

here is the thread, in case you didnt see it...enjoy and you can hyjack that thread all you want.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...old-build.html

 

Getting it fixed at the dealer is THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE!!
If you are cost sensitive....go ANYWHERE else that will work on a mini....
the cost of a new short block/Long-block (or re-manufactured) will easily total the car IF you let the dealer-ship do it....
The 'BLOCK" is what EVERYTHING is bolted to...you old one is removed, and the "new" one has every accessory bolted to it...then it is re-installed!
An aftermarket shop could do the work for much less, even if you get the block from MINI, even cheaper if you get one someplace else (junk yard, etc)....We are talking about THOUSANDS of dollars difference....unless you are under warranty...
Hopefully they were saying the Head was cracked, or the bell housing on the tranny....call them back, and listen!!
If you do "need a motor" I would get it towed to a 3rd party!!