So we obviously work on ALOT of MINIs and we have noticed that about 3 out of 5 cars that have the stock coil pack have at least cylinder #3 plug wire corroded, and many times #4 also.

So I want your feedback in this thread. Please post if you have checked the terminals on your coil and found corrosion or not?? Please also let us know if you had stock plug wires, or aftermarket wires when you found the corroded terminals. Other info like year and miles would be good too.

And if you feel like tinkering and haven't checked, please go out to your car and pull the back two wires off and see. We think the main reason is that the terminals are steel and we have been replacing the coil with the Screamin Demon which has brass coated terminals to keep it from happening again.

 

Corrosion bad enough to cause a #3 misfire code.

Solution is to take stock plug wires off the coil pack, then clean the coil pack terminals and plug wire ends with steel wool/emory cloth. Then reassemble with electrical grease.

No trouble for over two years.

 

I have had the corrosion on the #3 terminal on both stock and Screamin' Deamon coils. And with stock and Magnecor wires.
Now I'm using a stock coil with the Magnecor's, and a liberal coating of the dilectric grease. The corrosion hasn't stopped,just slowed it down.

Jim

 

2004 MCS, I changed out the Stock Coil Pack and Stock wires at about 90K, plenty of corrosion on the number 3, was also throwing a code every now and then,I cleaned the coil all up and now carry it as a spare incase I or someone else gets stuck on a run with a bad coil.

 

Over lunch I took the coils out and examined them. No corrosion nor any hint of it. Only owner 2008 MCS with 23k miles.

 

Hey Way, are you talking about Gen 1 or Gen 2 cars?

 

Sorry I was only talking about first gen R50 R52 R53 MINI's.

 

This is the worst stock coil I saw when doing a pulley install. After cleaning I had to tie strap the lead on to retain it. He had no misfire codes ever. The owner left knowing the coil was on last legs...

I always service stock coil terminals with dielectric grease.

Jeremy

 

#3 stock wires/coil a few years ago...cleaned it up once...then replaced both a few thousand miles later....first found about 45,000 miles. Switched to MSD coil, brass terminals, added dielectric greae, added new wires....no reoccurance.

 

03 MCS 68K Stock pack and wires. #3 is gunked up.

 

2005 MCS, corroded terminal #3 when I got it in November of 2010. Cleaned it and the plug end thoroughly, applied dielectric, and it still misfires sporadically.

One of the many things on the to do list.

 

Great idea to compile this info. On my 2002, #1 and #3 are looking crusty. The car doesn't complain (through OBDII), but does have a slight early morning stumble on first takeoff.

Edit: Oh, 126,000 miles and as far as I know, original wires and coil. Car had original plugs when I got it with 122,000.

 

All four had a bit of surface rust on my wife's 2003 Cooper - 70k miles. I lightly sanded and applied some dielectric grease.

 

Just checked with 70,000 miles. #1 and #3 are corroded. #3 a little worse than #1. I am using Magnecore wires.
I have a MSD coil sitting in the garage so I guess it is time to change the coil.

I knew this was an issue but did not expect to find any corrosion but was surprised. Thanks for the post to make me look.

 

2004 S with 66,000 miles, found #3 quite rusted when I was changing stock wires to Magnecors. Wire brushed and sanded terminal and still using same coil. No codes or running issues noticed in the 12,000 miles that I've owned the car.

 

R53 Early 2006 gen with #3 & 4 corrosion. Replaced pack and wires with stock under warranty when throwing missfire codes. So must have been service back in 2008/9.

 

Update: After sanding the offending terminals with 60 grit, cleaning the wire ends with a wire pipe cleaner and PB Blaster, blowing with compressed air, and reinstalation with a prodigious amount of grease to help slow down the process, my early morning stumble is gone. I also can confirm original wires from date codes printed on them.

 

Minimal corrosion on all 4 of mine at 60,000 and 11.5 years (2/2003 build).
I put some dielectric grease at the fitting when the car was pretty new,
and when I changed the plug wires to the blue kind (Magnecor 8 mm),
and when I changed plugs (twice so far).
Is it less common on R50 models (less heat in the general vicinity)?

 

I had some corrosion on the #3 terminal. My 03 R53 has 77K on it. Sanded the corrosion off and put some dielectric grease on all 4 terminals. Runs like a champ so far.

 

I haven't check, but if it aint broken or throwing codes I'm not about to unplug it to get a peek.

 

Way
Thanks for starting this thread and prompting people to check. I have 20,000 miles on my GP with stock coil and wires and was expecting some amount of corrosion. To my surprise all four terminals looked like brand new. I did coat with some dielectric grease before re-install.
Thanks, Steve

 

 

Left you an post on the other thread you posted this same question on. Might be a bad head gasket with the misfire.