JCW Cooper S with a rebuilt engine
Discussion
Looking for some advice please.
I'm currently looking at a 2008 Cooper S that has a factory fitted JCW engine from new (plus exhaust and brakes). Car fits the bill reasonably well in terms of spec, colour, condition etc but there is potentially a big issue - or maybe not.
It seems that the car in question has had A LOT of warranty work to the engine in the last 3 years. The car has done about 45k miles and has FSH from Mini.
Couple of years ago it had a new water pump and a new cylinder head. Then last year it had basically a total engine rebuild. Cam chain tensioner, cam chain, cylinder head, pistons and I'm assuming valves etc as well. All of this has been done under warranty by Mini and the car is now on sale with a 12 months Mini warranty.
My guess is that the cam chain tensioner has completely failed as they often do, and as a result the valves have met pistons at high speed - hence the significant rebuild.
So, you could argue that I'd be getting a nice Mini with a basically new engine with all of the usual weak components already replaced, or of course you could argue that I'm buying a car that has been thrashed, neglected and has then lunched it's own engine as a result.
What does everyone think? Run away screaming for all the normal reasons or trust in the quality of the engine rebuild by Mini safe in the knowledge that I have a 12 month warranty. The car is not ludicrously overpriced like many other cars out there and I do like the fact that is has a bit more individuality and performance that the standard Copper S. That said I obviously don't want to buy a lemon.
Cheers for any advice,
TD
I'm currently looking at a 2008 Cooper S that has a factory fitted JCW engine from new (plus exhaust and brakes). Car fits the bill reasonably well in terms of spec, colour, condition etc but there is potentially a big issue - or maybe not.
It seems that the car in question has had A LOT of warranty work to the engine in the last 3 years. The car has done about 45k miles and has FSH from Mini.
Couple of years ago it had a new water pump and a new cylinder head. Then last year it had basically a total engine rebuild. Cam chain tensioner, cam chain, cylinder head, pistons and I'm assuming valves etc as well. All of this has been done under warranty by Mini and the car is now on sale with a 12 months Mini warranty.
My guess is that the cam chain tensioner has completely failed as they often do, and as a result the valves have met pistons at high speed - hence the significant rebuild.
So, you could argue that I'd be getting a nice Mini with a basically new engine with all of the usual weak components already replaced, or of course you could argue that I'm buying a car that has been thrashed, neglected and has then lunched it's own engine as a result.
What does everyone think? Run away screaming for all the normal reasons or trust in the quality of the engine rebuild by Mini safe in the knowledge that I have a 12 month warranty. The car is not ludicrously overpriced like many other cars out there and I do like the fact that is has a bit more individuality and performance that the standard Copper S. That said I obviously don't want to buy a lemon.
Cheers for any advice,
TD
Well you could have quite happily bought a car that had not had that work done, but still been thrashed to within an inch of its life. I would say it is a good thing for the work to have been done, also there may be some scope for future goodwill if any further issues given the recency of the work and the (extendable) warranty. I would rather know my cars history than not know it; I sold a 996 which I had had to rebuild the engine at a stupendous cost, the next owner ran it trouble free for years afterwards.
On a different note, go for it! I have a 2012 MCS and absolutely love it, wish I could have stretched to a JCW but I'll stick with it for now. Enjoy
On a different note, go for it! I have a 2012 MCS and absolutely love it, wish I could have stretched to a JCW but I'll stick with it for now. Enjoy
My Mrs has 2013 factory JCW, and it's one of the most entertaining cars I've ever driven, and I work for Audi!
Cooper S' of that age suffer badly from carbon build up, aswel as the timing chain issue
I'd 100% have it as it sounds like all the possible downfalls of that particular engine have been rectified!
Cooper S' of that age suffer badly from carbon build up, aswel as the timing chain issue
I'd 100% have it as it sounds like all the possible downfalls of that particular engine have been rectified!
Faxo said:
My Mrs has 2013 factory JCW, and it's one of the most entertaining cars I've ever driven, and I work for Audi!
That's not a great advert for the MINI being exciting 
OP - There seems to be issues with the R56 engine not necessarily as a result of abuse, given the choice I'd go for a rebuilt engine everytime!
hyperblue said:
Faxo said:
My Mrs has 2013 factory JCW, and it's one of the most entertaining cars I've ever driven, and I work for Audi!
That's not a great advert for the MINI being exciting OP - There seems to be issues with the R56 engine not necessarily as a result of abuse, given the choice I'd go for a rebuilt engine everytime!
Have the engine borescoped before buying. Take the spark plugs out and see what the bore walls look like.
The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
GavinPearson said:
Have the engine borescoped before buying. Take the spark plugs out and see what the bore walls look like.
The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
Going to get a compression test done before formal deal is done. Am guessing that a poor rebuild will show up as low and or variable compression across the cylinders. Beyond that I think the 12month warranty should be sufficient to deal with any issues that come up. It's not ideal but on balance I think it is worth a punt given that this is one of only 50 limited edition coopers specced with the JCW engine brakes turbo and exhaust - plus some other interesting bits and bobs. Car is a bit Marmite I suspect, but then I like Marmite!The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
TorqueDirty said:
GavinPearson said:
Have the engine borescoped before buying. Take the spark plugs out and see what the bore walls look like.
The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
Going to get a compression test done before formal deal is done. Am guessing that a poor rebuild will show up as low and or variable compression across the cylinders. Beyond that I think the 12month warranty should be sufficient to deal with any issues that come up. It's not ideal but on balance I think it is worth a punt given that this is one of only 50 limited edition coopers specced with the JCW engine brakes turbo and exhaust - plus some other interesting bits and bobs. Car is a bit Marmite I suspect, but then I like Marmite!The car may seem like a bargain, and if it had been fitted with a factory sourced short block + head then perhaps it would be, but replacing the pistons alone and glazebusting is ringing the alarm bells for me.
HOWEVER....
If the lid has come off the Marmite and there's butter and marge in there you're not really getting what you really want, are you?
Using the compression tester is like weighing the jar of marmite so you can compare it to others. You need to know what's in the jar.
If you are not aware of what a borescope is it's basically a small camera that can be inserted into the cylinder. They are great for diagnostic work and the price has come down a lot in the past few years - they cost around USD 200 - not sure about the cost in the UK, but they are readily available via the internet.
Will the dealer be amenable to you using a borescope on the car? Honestly not trolling but I can't see them allowing that on a car you havn't yet bought.
You've got a 12 month warranty, if any of their repairs were suspect, I'd imagine it would go bang within that time.
Good luck anyway OP. Sounds like a decent car.
You've got a 12 month warranty, if any of their repairs were suspect, I'd imagine it would go bang within that time.
Good luck anyway OP. Sounds like a decent car.
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