Folks I am a new Mini owner, purchased a project mini S that had a bad motor a few weeks ago. I Purchased a complete drive train from a 07 S wrecked that ran and moved and swapped motors this weekend. Started right up but had the a check engine light on. Drove it for gas, ran fine to the station. But, on the way home it stalled at every stop and just stumbles like its begging for fuel. I know early coopers had similar issues, is this common on second generations also? Not sure where to start looking or testing. The exhaust side of the turbo in the new engine had a lot of carbon build up compared to the motor that had blown. But then again the toasted motor ran HOT with no oil until it let go.
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks,

 

The first thing to find out is the reason for the check engine light. However your comment about carbon makes me wonder about carbon on the intake and valves.

 

Thanks, concerns me too and I will try and nurse it to Advanced Auto and get it scanned tomorrow. But hereis an update!!

I disconnected the MAF sensor on the stock intake and it idles MUCH better. A little erratic but driveable for certain.

 

CRC makes a MAF sensor cleaner so I would try that but the sensor is delicate so be sure to follow directions. Also the MINI codes may not be read by a generic reader.

 

Hardtop 07 should be the same as the 08. Mine was the high pressure fuel pump.

 

I am hopeful that the issues I am having are related to the MAF sensor. I just purchased a replacement. I checked the codes and read the following. P0100 MAF sensor whilst it was disconnected. P113B ? And P115C mass air volume too low. I took out my existing MAF and cleaned it with CRC cleaner. The car runs but is erratic in power and stumbles with any hard acceleration. Time and money will tell...

 

I had a similar incident but I got two of three of your codes P1497
P0100 P113B. Although im not completely sure of what it was or the other codes the deal was claiming my fuel air ratio was off. I did have a stretched timing chain of 71mm or so and capped off the rear pcv valve, because there was a leak in the pcv hose. Both were done and then a few drives later the cel cleared itself. If its not the hpfp or the carbon build up. I would check for a leak in the engine cover or the pcv valve maybe even the timing chain.

 

I am just out of ideas and think it's time to go to the dealership. I changed out the MAF air sensor and the car will idle okay, not great once you give it gas it takes a few seconds for it to level back up. But now when you drive it the car hesitates like someone is just shutting the gas off, then takes off again but really for a mini (This is my first) and an "S" at that, the car is a dog! No real pep at all. I just hate the idea of paying dealerships Hundreds of dollars an hour... UGH