After trying to deal with the drivetrain check engine light for over two weeks I finally sucked it up and took my mini to the dealership, after a day of being there they called me and let me know what the issue was, just so you guys understand what has been happening every time I go full throttle it would throw the drivetrain check engine light and send me into limp mode, so now that they have gotten back to me I understand why my wastegate went bad, they told me it would be a little over $3000 to replace I told them that I could not afford that so they gave me a second option they are going to install a refurbished turbo it will still be under warranty just for less Time, instead of a three-year warrantee it is a six month 12,000 mile warranty which is good enough for me and so far it looks like it is going to cost me $1900. Shitty deal but it's my fault I'm not even mad it's because I drive the damn thing so hard so often. Has anyone else had a wastegate go bad on them? if so did you have to replace the whole turbo? I figure like most cars I could've just replace the wastegate but they said that it is one with the turbo, I would like to think otherwise but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised. Let me know if you guys of had any experiences like this and how much it costed you guys to get it fixed. Thanks.

 

I replaced mine on my 09 JCW at 100k miles. Not sure why you think it is your fault. Driving the car hard is not a pre-cursor to a failed waste gate.

If you are halfway decent with tools you can do this yourself and save a ton of money. Contact Arric at JMturbocoopers.com. You can send yours in for a rebuild, buy a rebuilt, go bigger, and also you can buy just the exhaust housing and replace only the waste gate.

Now fair warning: If the waste gate is gone, then there is prob damage on the spool side as well and the turbine shaft seals are leaking oil.

For me once I got the turbo off I found that the shaft was sloppy and I had oil in the intercooler and also in the Cat converter. So in the end, I replaced the JCW turbo, the Cat DP and the intercooler.


Then I traded the car for a GTI.

 

Wish you could have brought it to us we could have saved you hundreds $$ as we have done many turbos and keep them in stock. Plus we do our WMW stainless turbo line kit, and oil cooler seals at the same time since we have it apart.

If you need a turbo:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/stock-c...8-r59-r60.html

 

We have the OEM supplier turbo HERE that comes with a 24 month/24,000 mile warranty. We are local to you, in SoCal as well and do local pick up.