I have a very well maintained MINI. I drive it like I stole it too. Many highway miles. Added an oil catch can, and a DDM air intake. I have hand cleaned the intake valves twice. I knew I was running out of time with the timing chain. I was also getting a CEL that indicated a potential low vacuum situation. I was also going through more oil than usual lately. I also suspected the valve cover was shot since there was a continued oil build up.

Here is what I found even though the car was running pretty well.

Compression across the board at 110 lbs - low in my opinion.

It has been only 3 months since my valve cleaning - lots of carbon build up on the intake valves so I decided to pull the head.

When I opened the vacuum pump, it was full of oil.

All vacuum lines were oil soaked.

All intake tubes and intercooler had oil in them.

Vacuum canister had oil/water in it.

Intake manifold had oil in it.

AC condenser will need to be replaced soon (cooling fins are rotting).

Intercooler is in the same shape.

Oil leaking in each side of the Turbo Charger taking out the Catalytic converter (oil clogs them up) besides into the intake manifold.

So the head is at the shop and only need 8 exhaust guides an a good valve job.

Cleaned out all the intake tubes and the intercooler.

Putting a new spool insert in the Turbo.

Replacing the down tube and exhaust with a HP option.

Replacing valve cover.

Replacing vacuum pump and head solenoid for good measure.

All of which points to a few bucks - near the cost of a rebuilt engine from MINI.

Planning on doing the lower end next year sometime.

So it just goes to show that you can do everything in your power to maintain these little cars and still have major repair bills. I am glad I am doing this myself other wise it would cost me a bundle. The N18 engine may be better, but I have my doubts. MINI/BMW/Citroen/Peugeot really need to stand up to the plate here and design better engines. I truly feel this all starts with the poor crankcase ventilation design they have incorporated. I will be adding a meth/water injection system to this car in the near future to keep the carbon down in these heads. I am also having my head ported and polished to open up the restriction design they incorporated into the valve pockets.

 

New Turbo Insert
New Valve job - 8 exhaust guides were worn out
New Head Solenoid
New Vacuum pump
New timing chain, crank gear, and tensioner
New Valve cover
New vacuum line assembly
New free flow exhaust system.
This all cost my just under $2100.00 and did all the work myself with the exception of the head machine work.

The above fixed the following:
Oil Consumption fixed
Very good horse power and very responsive - better than new
Noisy valve train is gone
Engine code for low vacuum sensed gone
Transmission is shifting better
Engine Compression has improved dramatically

 

My 2009 MINI S Clubman threw a p2885 code a month ago at 67k miles. My local mechanic (looks after my Hondas, Acuras, etc.) found the vacuum lines were oil soaked & replaced them, also said the intake manifold was messy with oil. I jus took the car back to the MINI dealer because my 3rd valve cover was leaking again. MINI technician said that when the vacuum lines are soaked, the cause is virtually always a failed vacuum pump. In my case, it was leaking out the front of the pump down the engine block.

Seems like the PCV system in these N14 engines is crap, and so is the valve cover design in general. Luckily they replaced my timing chain a while ago and I'm asking them to check it again. Also, I think my turbo is leaking oil from the intake side and at 69k miles, I need to get them to see it before 70k. To date, they think the turbo is fine.

 

What engine oil and API spec did you use for 130K miles?

 

Awesome job. Does your catch can collect much? I'm guessing no since your vacuum lines were full of oil.

 

What kind of DP did you go with?