Had a mechanic friend swear to me that my MINI's engine compartment looks just like a Dodge Neon's. So I am wondering, how much Chrysler engineering went into this collaboration anyway? I know they want the BMW name associated with it for sales purposes, but is it really a lowly Chrysler product in disguise? Anyone know the true story?

 

The MINI Cooper engine was designed by BMW. It was then co-produced and assembled with Chrysler in Brazil. This engine was solely designed for the MINI, but there are rumors it will be used in Chrysler cars down the road... but there is nothing to back this up as of yet.

There are numerous postings in regards to this matter. Some attack the quality of the engine as it being Chrysler. To date, there have been no defects posted in regards to the engine itself. I believe it is a very solid engine. And the whole US vs Euro thing is tired. Please don't start that up again.

 

I've read the posts about the Chrysler based and/or co-designed engine.

Can't wait to get my hands on some technical data or shop manual to compare to the Neon 2.0 engine.

The DOHC head or the 2.0/2.4 shortblock would be a nice.

Even dropping in the '95 SOHC camshaft might be nice.

Randy

 

Isn't it Daimler-Chrysler these days?

I can't imagine BMW would just plunk an old Neon engine into a totally reengineered automobile. It just sounds unlikely. And the engine seems like more than one might expect to find in a $13K Neon.

That being said, Chrysler has returned to building good cars in the past decade. Of all the cars I've owned my 1972 Plymouth Duster was my second favorite. I bought it for $500 in 1984 and it would still be running today if it hadn't been tail-ended by a **** in his father's Cadillac.

Mopar's Slant 6 was one of the greatest engines ever mass-produced. Cram that one into a Mini and woooo doggies!

Now, if I thought it was a Ford engine under the bonnet. . . .

 

Future MINI gasoline engines will be co-engineered and manufactured by Peugeot (PSA Group) of France. However, we won't see the all new BMW-Peugeot MINI engines until at least 2005 or 2006. At that point, BMW will stop sourcing the current 1.6L Gasoline Tritec engine from Chrysler.

Also as of 2004, for the European market (And perhaps later on North America), BMW will offer a 1.4L Diesel engine option for the MINI. This engine will be manufactured by Toyota. It is interesting to note that Peugeot and Toyota will be designing, engineering and manufacturing small cars in Europe. This relationship connects the dots between all 3 companies.

The current BMW-Chrysler TRITEC engine is a pretty solid piece of hardware and has been very reliable so far. The Tritec engine is currently manufactured in Brazil and it is also used in the European Export versions of the Chrysler PT Cruiser (North American versions get the 2.4L 4 cyl engine instead).

The TRITEC's development started in 1997 and took place before the Daimler-Chrysler "merge" (Rather hostile takeover as later admitted by Schrempp). Right now there is a conflict of interest because Daimler-Mercedes is BMW's more direct rival in the industry, so obviously there is a strong conflict of interest going on now.

As a piece of MINI trivia, the current 1.6L Tritec engine is the only non-Europe made component for this car. The rest of the MINI parts are 100% of European Union origin.

Did you know that your key was made by a French company called Valeo? Your engine's ECU computer was made by Siemens of Germany and programmed in France?

 

My cam, head and header pipe are at the machine shop.

They said the NEON cams, that they have worked with in the past, are longer.

Also, to pull the cam on the Neon you need to pull the head. On our Mini's we do not.

 

:smile:

Hey, Cooper4us! Thanks for all the info! I didn't know about the countries of origin of some of the components...very, very interesting!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Diamini,

please keep us posted on the camshaft work (replacement?) you are doing!

I know that MiniMania sells a performance camshaft, but thought it would prohibitively expensive to get it installed...

Any cost, time, and difficulty/ease of install info would be much appreciated!

 

Once all back together I will post. I have a full documentary with pictures.

 

If you want something that's just a Neon then buy a PT Cruiser.

In the same line an Audi TT is just a Volkswagen Golf.

 

>>If you want something that's just a Neon then buy a PT Cruiser.
>>
>>In the same line an Audi TT is just a Volkswagen Golf.


You are taking my post out of context. No, I do not want a Neon or a PT cruiser. I owned a 95 Neon SOHC ACR (autox'd it) and for the most part it was a POS.

All I'm looking for is a car to source performance hardparts from. From the above posts it looks like the Neon engine is not a candidate.

Randy

 

Sorry Randy, I meant "you" in the broad sense.

 

>>Sorry Randy, I meant "you" in the broad sense.
Who are you calling a Broad??? Relax a little, just joking..
:evil:

 

>>>>Sorry Randy, I meant "you" in the broad sense.
>>Who are you calling a Broad??? Relax a little, just joking..
>> :evil:

 

As someone who has driven a Formula Dodge and a Neon at speed I have no problems with that company being involved in the Mini engine at any level. As far as Chrysler, remember the K car? You couldn't kill that engine with a gun! The Neon engine I'd say ditto to as well and anyone familiar with their exploits in SCCA racing has to be impressed by the Neon. I think we all need to remember it is a Mini....not a Mini BMW. BMWs don't impress me much and I don't think I'd buy one. Sorry, this is just IMHO. :smile:

Florida Mini Owners

 

Better to be a broad than a dame, right?

 

I have a friend who works for chrysler and he recognized the engine right away as the motor BMW designed for an upcoming euro neon. He wasn't sure the exact relation but did say he had seen this motor before.

 

"In the same line an Audi TT is just a Volkswagen Golf."

except for an bigger turbo, quattro awd, convertible top, and larger wheels there exactly the same. Oh yeah, and the styling. I'd think a mini owner could appreciate the styling difference.

 

Audi TT:

It's a Volkswagen Golf Chassis.

That's really the car.

 

>>"In the same line an Audi TT is just a Volkswagen Golf."
>>
>>except for an bigger turbo, quattro awd, convertible top, and larger wheels there exactly the same. Oh yeah, and the styling. I'd think a mini owner could appreciate the styling difference.

 

>>
>>The current BMW-Chrysler TRITEC engine is a pretty solid piece of hardware and has been very reliable so far. The Tritec engine is currently manufactured in Brazil and it is also used in the European Export versions of the Chrysler PT Cruiser (North American versions get the 2.4L 4 cyl engine instead).
>>
>>The TRITEC's development started in 1997 and took place before the Daimler-Chrysler "merge" (Rather hostile takeover as later admitted by Schrempp). Right now there is a conflict of interest because Daimler-Mercedes is BMW's more direct rival in the industry, so obviously there is a strong conflict of interest going on now.
>>

As the above note pointed out; the (Chrysler) Tritec engine was pretty far along before the BMW/DC "joint" effort. If you want to learn more about the details of the "birth" of the MINI, the book (advertised on MCO) by Graham Robson (New MINI) does an excellent job of discussing the engine, the design of the car, and the various "hiccups" on it's manufacture (ie, AFTER the entire manufacturing facility was in pre-production test at "Longbridge", BMW sold the Rover Group, and moved the ENTIRE FACILITY (ie, machinery) to the Oxford (current) site!).

If you read the book, you realize how lucky we are they ever actually brought the car to market!

-DavidG

 

Where is this book advertised? I haven't seen it on this site. I checked reading list and links......could you lead me in the right direction?

 

I bought both this book and the other new MINI book that is released this week. Amazon.com has a no-shipping-charge deal for under $28 for both books.

 

>>Where is this book advertised? I haven't seen it on this site. I checked reading list and links......could you lead me in the right direction?

It is often advertised it on the "home" page of this site....it helps to refresh your screen a couple of times to see if it will come up.....

 

Here is a link to where you can find the book from Moss Mini ($24.95)....
http://www.mossmini.com/cgi-bin/db2w...t?PlateID=5446

Cheers!

L.Mini