Hey there, everyone. I've got a 2009 Cooper S with 68k miles on it. It's been running absolutely perfectly. I replaced the water pump about 6k miles ago, did an oil change at that time, and check it regularly.

I'm driving home, 70mph the whole way for 35 miles, no dash lights, no noise, no nothing. I stop at a stop light a half mile from my house and the car rattles a bit on the passenger side, coughs and dies. No smoke, no fluids, no warning. I had it towed to a mechanic nearby who told me today that the engine is seized up. They can't turn it by hand.

What causes this? Could this be a timing chain issue? Or is it more likely that something really broke in there and I'm looking at an engine replace?

Thanks...

 

It could be a timing chain issue, or a vacuum pump issue. There might be other possibilities, too. For those two things, the problem starts with the named part but by the time the engine is seized up, it is usually because of significant internal damage. Like pistons smashing valves into the head.

:(

If you're handy, you can try taking stuff apart to see what is going on. Chances are that it's new motor time, or at least time for significant engine work.

 

There's handy, then there's handy. I replaced the water pump but this feels like it's well out of my league.

I keep reading about this "death rattle"... is this normal if it's a timing chain problem, and how long does it happen for before it dies? I didn't notice any kind of weird noises at all until just right before it seized.

Thanks for replying.

 

Like pistons smashing valves into the head.

Isn't MINI (both GEN) a "non interference" engine?

In a non-inference engine the lift on the camshaft is sufficient to open the valve and allow air into the chamber without opening so far that the valve will strike the piston should the camshaft suddenly stop rotating. This is what happens when the timing belt or chain breaks. This is not true with an interference engine where the camshaft has more lift opening the valve further into the engine cylinder. If the timing belt were to break in an interference engine the fully open, stationary valve will be struck by the moving piston resulting in internal damage.

from: http://www.freeasestudyguides.com/in...ce-engine.html

 

The 2nd-gen is very decidedly not non-interference.

 

And siezed USUALLY indicates an oil issue...
but safe to say new motor...
WAYMOTORWORKS did post he can sell new gen2 motors with a warrenty....foget the $$ from the post, but it was much less that i expected in the post...might be worth looking into!!
You also say you changed the oil about 6k ago...do you know you oil consumption rate? In otherwords, when did you add oil/check it last?
These motors tend to burn oil....some about a quart per 1000 miles....at even half that, the motor could have been 3 quarts low...enough to cause wear, or failure. Low iol level CAN cause timing chain issues, and many others...