2007/8 Cooper S - What to look for?
Discussion
We have a '07 Cooper S and I'm quite happy with it overall.
The issues mentioned above are real, ours suffers from the cold start rattle (new chain tensioner under warranty - didn't solve the problem) and uses a LOT of oil (1L per 800 miles - had new valve cover under warranty but that didn't solve the problem either). I just top the oil off often and live with it. The car itself is extremely fun to drive and good value. Mine has the optional sport suspension which is too harsh with the runflats but just right with normal tyres. Definitely avoid Runflats if you can.
From what I understand the engines have a tendency to coke up because its a direct fuel injected engine and so the fuel never reaches the inlet valves to "clean" them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oXhQKPx0xU
This can be fixed by walnut shell blasting the intake valves for ~£200:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-HlWELr4Zk
Other than that the car had some of surface rust on the rear subframe. I suspect this is because of the harsh salt in the Alps - we use it as a winter car for our chalet in Austria.
The issues mentioned above are real, ours suffers from the cold start rattle (new chain tensioner under warranty - didn't solve the problem) and uses a LOT of oil (1L per 800 miles - had new valve cover under warranty but that didn't solve the problem either). I just top the oil off often and live with it. The car itself is extremely fun to drive and good value. Mine has the optional sport suspension which is too harsh with the runflats but just right with normal tyres. Definitely avoid Runflats if you can.
From what I understand the engines have a tendency to coke up because its a direct fuel injected engine and so the fuel never reaches the inlet valves to "clean" them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oXhQKPx0xU
This can be fixed by walnut shell blasting the intake valves for ~£200:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-HlWELr4Zk
Other than that the car had some of surface rust on the rear subframe. I suspect this is because of the harsh salt in the Alps - we use it as a winter car for our chalet in Austria.
My son has been offered a CS JCW at a very reasonable price however there is no cylinder head fitted.
The story goes that the car went into a garage for some work and removing the head they announced that the engine was f**ked and offered the (female) owner £1500 scrap value. The car ends up with a local mechanical engineer who has a look at it and ended up rebuilding the head. It has been skimmed, valves lapped and pressure tested, the bores have been checked and given a clean bill of health. All that is left is to refit the head which my son is capable of as the owner has decided to move on; cut her losses and has bought a Porsche.
Reading this thread it seems to me that this could be the problem with the coking up and maybe flashing the eml light or maybe she hasn't been checking the oil regurlarly enough. Does this shout out anything else to you experienced owners?
My first reaction is for son to walk away but the spec and price is desirable to him and it really has had the one careful lady owner from new.
The story goes that the car went into a garage for some work and removing the head they announced that the engine was f**ked and offered the (female) owner £1500 scrap value. The car ends up with a local mechanical engineer who has a look at it and ended up rebuilding the head. It has been skimmed, valves lapped and pressure tested, the bores have been checked and given a clean bill of health. All that is left is to refit the head which my son is capable of as the owner has decided to move on; cut her losses and has bought a Porsche.
Reading this thread it seems to me that this could be the problem with the coking up and maybe flashing the eml light or maybe she hasn't been checking the oil regurlarly enough. Does this shout out anything else to you experienced owners?
My first reaction is for son to walk away but the spec and price is desirable to him and it really has had the one careful lady owner from new.
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