Hey NAM nation. I have a friend who owns a 2006 R53 and he is having a misfire that he cannot seem to figure out. Someone told him that the R53 Mini's were notorious for burnt exhaust valves. Now I have a 2006 R53 as well with a little over 70,000 miles and was wondering if there is any truth in this claim? I've seen a few issues on here but that's about it. Is this a common problem? What causes it? And what can be done to avoid it? I know of the common problems with our cars seeing as I researched before buying and this was not one of them. And yes I am asking for him. I've tried getting him to join the forum but he just does not do forums according to him. So please give me some feedback and advice so I can try and help him, as well as keep a look out for my own car! Thanks so much.

 

My valves were alright but my head was cracked. In my experience, it seems R53's are slightly fragile, or "normal" people who abuse their cars and avoid maintenance got ahold of some of them.

Prevent it - Stay up on maintenance. If you mod, change your plugs to a colder plug. Let your motor warm up to operating temp before the abuse starts. Use quality fuel.

 

Not just that the R52/R53 engine is not notorious for burnt exhaust valves, it has the reputation of an unbreakable lump. I would ask him for that "someone"s credibility.

 

Unbreakable lump?

 

unbreakable lump

 

Oh ok. Thanks!

 

Has he done a dollar bill test? Will show pretty fast if there is a valve issue. If there are no codes, then could be as simple as a coil pack or plug wire.

The Tritec engine is a pretty good engine, cast iron block. I don't know who the "somebody" was, but I have been around here for a couple of years and have not heard too much about "notorious burnt valves".

 

Exhaust valve guides but not valves..

 

Idk who the "somebody" is either but I told him the same thing as in I have not heard a whole lot about this issue. His car is stock with just a DDMWORKS intake. I'll tell him to try the dollar bill test. Thanks for the info guy's!

 

We see burnt valves in R53s from worn out valve guides. The most common cause we found from this is customers that ran low octane gas.

 

Oh ok, thanks Way! And thanks to everyone else for all your help.