There's plenty of people that baby their MINIs like they're worth 10x more than they really are. A garaged GP looks very tempting! Anyways, back on topic

 

Having gone from an R53, I can't say it was that much more reliable. They have their own list of common issues. I really miss the supercharger whine; I must say.

 

You guys are so knowledgeable! It makes a girls head spin. My dealership just recommended that I have "carbon blasting" done on my 2009 JCW Clubman but in reading up on what causes this buildup I am directed back to an earlier problem I had with my Mini when the tensioner bolt backed out and all my oil flew out down the interstate. Ever since that occurred, my car has used oil. Now they want me to pay to clean the build up off of the engine. That does not seem right. Thoughts? I would appreciate any advice from the experts.

 

Not to criticize but they are still pretty dirty. I’m just doing this job on a VW and was able to get it a little cleaner. Especially the walls.



They still could use a final touchup.

 

OK this carbon build up issues has me concerned. I have a 2011 Clubman S R55 with just under 7K so I'm sure it's not an issue yet.

I can't find what engine I have, is it a N18? And if so from what I've read this is not an issue.

Commits please!

 

2011+ MCS has N18. 2013+ JCW has an N18.

 

Thanks, so no issue due to improved design on the N18?

The exhaust tips seem to soot up a lot. Wife's car and is not driven hard, rearly in sport mode but during weekly cleaning the pipes are always black.

Is this normal?

 

No your fine its normal. Even on my magnaflow exhaust it still has black on the tips. The carbon buildup is practically normal on a direct injected engine but it supposedly is a bit more minimal since the N14 engine. I wouldn't waste money on a OCC on the N18 engine but do a walnut blast around 80-85k miles(that's what I'm gonna do).

 

Tks

 

Hi,

Nice job!


Just one question regarding seafoam: isn't it harmful to anything in the engine due to its abrasive composition? I mean wouldn't it harm joints, rubber etc?

thanks!

 

Seafoam isn't abrasive. It chemically dissolves carbon build up, but only small amounts. It won't help if there is significant carbon build up.

Dave

 

A few of us over on the countryman section of the forum were wondering if we can expect to have carbon buildup issues on our turbocharged engines, even though our cars are newer. Is the problem limited to model years before 2010? Sounds like few, if any, of us have run into this problem thus far. Did BMW change something with the engine design at some point that resolved the issue? Thanks.

 

If you have the N18 engine then things can be a bit different but not sure how well it works, Different crankcase breathing with its own ports in the head.