Hi folks. 2009 R55 Clubman S with N14 engine. I bought it recently for cheap as it was only running on 3 cylinders. But it was running... Pulled the head to find 2 burned exhaust valves on #2 cylinder. Replaced all the valves, new head gasket etc etc. Now that it is assembled I cannot get it to start.

Clues:

- It sounds like it wants to start, it will kick occasionally when cranking.
- The plugs are dry. Hmmm, not getting fuel? Sounds like it or just getting a whiff of fuel enough to tease a burp out of it.
- At one point it did catch and run for a second, then back to cranking.
- I can hear an electrical hum (like a transformer) coming from the HPFP when I turn on the ignition, and a few seconds later there is a solenoid kind of thump and a little gurgle or hiss in the area under the air cleaner housing.
- If I crack the fuel outlet line some fuel does come out if the ignition is on. If the ignition is off, no fuel comes out.
- I had that same fuel line disconnected and the fuel pump off the head when I was pulling the head off.

Note: the front bumper is still off the car until I'm done with everything else. Could this cause the issue? (Don't see how, unless the ambient temp sensor in the bumper is the culprit?)

I don't know what I've missed. I think I have all the connectors reconnected, and even pulled the intake manifold off again to ensure there were no orphaned connectors. I'm at a loss and could use some advice. Please.

 

I would start with the ambient temp sensor. a friend of mine, had the same issue, althought it was an N18 engine, his did not start becuase of that sensor.
next, did you check the timing? how was it set up?
did you try spraying quick start/starter fluid?

 

plugging in the ambient temp sensor did not help. I went back and checked the timing for the 4th time. It was out a bit, and after resetting it and rolling the engine over several times it appeared to now be ok. A bit of cranking once it was reassembled and it’s running again. Such a good feeling to be over that hump. No opportunity to drive it yet.

 

Hello there! I seem to be in the same situation with the same motor... bought a 2008 S for silly-cheap and cylinder #2 is dead, no compression. Starts and runs on 3 cylinders. Planning to take the head off and give everything a good cleaning and replace the broken bits - expecting I will find something similar to yours, so would you mind sharing what kit you went with (valves, gaskets, etc)? Any particular terardown guide you used that you'd recommend following? Not in a rush, I picked this up to be a winter project and well... its going to be winter for a while yet. Just hoping to get ahead of the learning curve from someone who's been there before.
Thanks in advance, and hope you're able to drive yours now!

-Matt

 

Hi Matt, I have sent you a PM with links to what and where I bought my parts. I didn't want to clutter up this page with the links because in a few months they will be obsolete anyhow.

 

I have not done anything with the Mini in a week or so. I'm still leaning toward the ECM being bad owing to the P1617 code I mentioned in my 1st post. I found several ECM, BCM, EWS, Key and key halo thing combo on e-Bay, my only issue is most of them are from a 2003 car and mine is a 2002. Are there any differences in the computers that would keep them from being a good swap?
Should I try changing the fuel pump first before going straight to the computers?

Craig