Surely after my Mini gets completely fixed something else could go wrong, ha! Started having a misfire in cylinder 2, ran through the plugs, wires, coil, etc. Then I find liquid on the end of my 2nd cylinder plug. Did a compression test, everything came back between 145-155. Luckily I have a good mechanic who knows Mini's because he guided me in the right direction. We did a pressure test through the coolant tank and sure enough I can see the bubbles inside valve 2. My Mini has 140k with a broken low speed fan, (high still works) no power steering and no ps fan. Think the low speed fan would create a problem? I do live in Houston so it gets HOT! Took the valve cover off, everything looks legit and clean, no burns or carbon build up. Now if I clean off the spark plug and put it back in, the car will run perfect, no misfire, no codes, and drives like a beast! But if it sits for a few hours and then I start it, of course it miss'. So, what I'm asking really is, any advice? Think it could be just a gasket? Or could it be a cracked head? Next step is to take the head off and send it in for testing I suppose. Let me know if I'm missing something or what I should do next! As my mech said, it would suck to replace the gasket, then put it all back together and it still be messed up. I wanna do it right for sure.

2003 R53
15% pulley
2% ATI OD Crank
SuperSprint Exhaust
CAI

 

if your plan is to take it off why dont you just have someone check it for straight edges and if everything checks out put it back on and who knows you might take it off and find that there is something wrong with the gasket just inspect everything very carefully and you might find something completely unforeseen. if worst comes to worst and you have to replace the head now might be a good opportunity to swap it with a performance head

 

I am in sort of the same boat.
I had massive coolant loss with no visible leaks. Did a leak down test and all but one cylinder had more than 40% leakage. I pulled the head, had it pressure tested and resurfaced. Head passed pressure test so I re-installed it with a new headgasket.

I don't know if I just have air bubbles in the system somewhere but I'm still getting coolant loss. It's quite frustrating.

I didn't think it was difficult to pull the cylinder head. It's not too complicated, just time consuming.

 

Well, thanks for all the advice but turns out it's cracked right where the 2nd spark plug is and near the water jacket. Machine shop said they can't fix it. :( Now what?

 

If its cracked beyond repair it's time for a new head.

 

Yeah for sure, it's just such a PITA to find one where I'm at, (Houston) I've called a few salvage yards already.

 

There's one in the classifieds here for $500

 

Only one I could find in the market was $750 : \ might get one off ebay from someone. Uggghhh, I refuse to sell my Mini lol, just costing sooooo much

 

Try WayMotorWorks - he usually has several cars to part out, and is a trusted MINI enthusiast.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ine-parts.html

This guy has one for $500

 

Thanks, I appreciate that big time! I gotta get my Mini up and running asap, think I should have anything port and polished while its out? Like the intake mani?

 

You should get the one from that guy^^^ up there. 500 is a good price and you can't go wrong with a factory head.

+1 for this
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ine-parts.html

 

Yeah do some porting and or a cam while it's out if that's your kinda style

 

Yeah I want too! Already PM'ed him. Pretty sure I'll be buying it! What's the deal on cams? I do not know anything about them!

 

Alrighty, here we go again haha! Found a head with 16k on ebay and won the bid for 300 bones! Replaced the thermostat, upgraded my engine mounts, replaced my rad fan, and some gaskets! Waaaalaaa! Mini is back on the road and running better than ever! Super stoked, the old head ended up having a crack between the spark plug slot and a water jacket internally, it was unrepairable. Now what should I do with it? lol

 

Boat anchor? Paperweight? Bring it to the local aluminum can recycler with a load of aluminum cans and LYAO when his eyes bug out?

 

Scrap metal is about as good as it will be for ya. You may not recoup much $$ but you will get enough to buy some beers which always helps after a big repair.

My mini was in the shop 3 weeks ago for a new throttle body, $500. 2 days after that I got caught in a hail storm. Just got it back from the body shop 2 days ago and $2400 later and now the damn throttle went haywire again. Now I need the engine wiring harness. Was quoted $1200 for that... Remember dude, it could always be worse!~ Now where's my beer at?!

 

Hahaha! That's probably exactly what I'm going to do, can't go wrong with a 12 pack of Dos lol! Putting in my new PS Pump this Saturday, pretty excited to have power steering back again, it's been like a year without it! After that I can start modding again, I'm hoping to get some coil overs!

 

And yeah, I made out pretty good with the cost of all my repairs, especially since I know a mechanic that does it all on the side for me! Makes things 50 times cheaper!