North American Motoring - Looking at a Mini Cooper S today, just read about possible timing chain problems

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Looking at a Mini Cooper S today, just read about possible timing chain problems

My wife has always wanted a MINI, and yesterday she found one online that she wants to go take a look at. It's a 2007 Mini Cooper S with ~50K miles, and the price is right. I was reading up a little on these and came across the issues some people have had with the timing chain tensioner, as well as various other oil leaks and CELs.

What I haven't been able to determine is:

-How widespread are the issues related to the tensioner?
-Was there ever an actual recall for this? I read about a lawsuit but does that offer me any protection if I buy one now, years after the fact?
-If we brought this car to a MINI dealer would they help us get rid of the issue (i.e. pay for most or all of the repairs necessary?)
-Is there a set of known fixes that I could do myself? (I've had engines apart before and managed to get them back together, but I am by no means an accomplished mechanic.)
-Should we just avoid the affected models and spend more on a newer generation?

Any help would be appreciated immensely. I've searched around and found references to the issues and found stories of people having it fixed for free or for cheap by dealers, but all the threads are really old. What's the current status / thinking about the timing chain issues and other problems with this generation of cars?

Anyone? I realize I'm kind of begging here, but can someone throw me a bone?

We didn't go look at the car BTW. We called them and mentioned the timing chain issue and they didn't know anything about it. I told the wife that I don't really like the idea of her driving around in a car that could turn into a smashed pile of valves and pistons at any given moment. She was not happy with me.

I had a 2007 S with the N14 engine and had no issues up to about 33k when it was totaled. However, as you note, there were issues with that engine and they were to the point that in 2011 MINI came out with an updated engine, the N18. I am much happier with my 2012 S with that engine. For one, it makes power much more nicely. That is the butt dyno says it is stronger than what MINI says and it feels much stronger than what the difference is between the N14 and N18. Second, it isn’t prone to the issues the N14 had. I would pass over the earlier Gen II MINIs and go for a 2011 or later. Or go find a 2005 or 2006 Gen I MINI. As for getting a dealership or MINI to own-up to issues, it seems to be at their whim and usually not in your favor, hence the lawsuits.

That said, it would be great if your wife could find another one she likes. My wife bought hers (the 2004) based on how nicely the door closed on the showroom floor model and we haven’t looked back. She loves that little car and we go all over the place in it.

I would avoid that model year especially because it was a first year model run. The 07-13 MINI's are known as R56 (the 3dr) and have more problems than just the timing chain. They used a Peugeot-made engine. They addressed some of the issues with later models on the updated engine, which is known as N18, the earlier is called N14.

Those 2nd generation cars seriously impacted MINI's reputation and they're still trying to recover from it.
Relevant article,
here:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2019/03/...lity-problems/

I own a first gen car so I don't know much of anything at all about the R56's, so I can't really elaborate any more in depth.

Here's a recall thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...11-recall.html

I had a 2008 MCS (N14 engine) last summer, fixed a lot of things on it and then sold it. Just bought a 2011 MCS (N18 engine). Great cars, but they all leak oil and coolant at some point. The timing chain is an issue on the N14 and can be checked out if you pull off the engine cover. Price should be well under $4k and you need to be handy to address a lot of the common failure points. If not, look elsewhere. Lots of threads on here about common failure points if you search.

I would buy one with the N18 engine, unless you want to do your own work (& lots of it) to maintain/update the N14.

If you have to have it serviced at a shop, it will not be a bargain for long.

My R55 Clubman S with the N14 engine (purchased new) has been trouble free.

I’ve know at least a dozen people personally who have bought used N14 engine MINI S’s only to be very disappointed. Some so turned off($3000, $6000, $10,000 for major engine repairs or replacement) they have vowed never to own another MINI. As long as you know what you are getting yourself into........almost 14 years and 160k miles of owning my 1st Gen 2005 R50, still in love with this car! And if you know me, you know I drive it HARD! Good luck and do your research.

Thanks everybody, very good info here.

Minis should not be scary or intimidating. I personally love all 2nd gen minis. once you get to know the car, becomes easy to deal with the "issues". history is key. REGULAR oil changes is a MUST. owners were mislead to replace oil every 10K hence the issues we see these days. if you focus in the negative only, you'll not enjoy these otherwise awesome cars ;) finally, it goes without saying, each mini is different as owners have different driving habits.