R55 Cooper S

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Still not been brave enough to do the roof yet, will need doing when the weather gets better so I can fit a bike rack.
Latest oddness with an N14, last night the oil filler cap decided to undo itself, que a very oily stinking engine bay. Strange thing is it is 3 weeks since an oil top up and 3 weekly oil checks so it did just decide to undo itself.

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Be careful with the oil cooler leak, it can end up with water in the oil if it gets bad

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Get the gaskets for the cooler and filter housing and its an easy enough job, hardest part is putting the front end in "service mode" (which is basically moving it forward about 20cm) However once learned it is a 30 min job, been there many times LOL

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this kit

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274677542735

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needs emptying/disconnecting if you take the rad pack out, if you don't need to to work on the rad I do the service mode thing, alot less faff, but less room to work.

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I would be worried about breaking an AC pipe, they are a bit flimsy. Service mode is a stage of taking the front off anyway, try that for access before taking the front end off. You need to remove the IC rad to get the AC rad out, which could be a bit of a faff.

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I used some bar stock I had somewhere, needs to slot into the frame end and the bumper bar sits on them. It can be done with axle stands to be fair. this is the space you end up with

IMG_20200607_182623 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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Doing it with axle stands
IMG_20200224_171013 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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While you are in there I would do the vacuum pump seal and the thermostat and cross pipe, plus the turbo lines, oil filter housing, and oil cooler seals. You will end up doing them again if you don't believe me, I did.

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Yes, large bore on block, smaller on turbo

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I cranked for 30 odd seconds with the coils un plugged, doubtfull it makes much difference either way really

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Water pump / friction wheel / belt tensioner. If you are digging around near the subframe I would do them, maybe also the rear engine mount bush.

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Slight miss fire on the problem child at high revs in all gears, thinking HP fuel pump is on the way out, but think plugs and coils will get done first. Still need to sort out the exhaust as it is rattling going over pot holes, getting annoying now, however tight I get the clamps they work lose.

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Holding up fine, you have to be a bit creative with mounting as the lugs are a bit out, easy enough though.

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vac pump, turbo oil feed on the block, oil cooler/filter housing. Vac pump is easiest to diagnose, turbo oil feed is the biggest pita to fix, so expect it will be that LOL.

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cat heat shield gets right in the way to diagnose front block oil leaks :/ Been there

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Under the problem child for the first time in a while, right rear abs sensor playing up

2023-06-08_06-26-02 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Now annoyingly Bimmerlink is refusing to clear ANY codes from ANY of the ECUs, this is a new one on me, everything up to date android wise, always did it before (have a reoccurring side airbag fault due to a poor connector I haven't fixed yet, not clearing that any more)

2023-06-08_08-07-16 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Off to try it with my android tablet just in case it is a headunit issue

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checked the battery status, at 28% life and is the original BMW one from 2009, may get a new one

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New battery, managed to clear the airbag error I get sometimes due to a dodgy under seat wire but unable to clear the ABS sensor fault. Anyone know if there are other points to look for other than a faulty sensor? Will see if you can easily see the tone wheel on the hub without stripping it down.


On a plus note, new dipstick, crap photo but you can see the oil level MUCH easier. Some chap on the R55 facebook group is selling them at £18 a pop inc delivery.

20230615_165911 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

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MOT looming so best sort the ABS out. 2 new rear oem sensors and still an issue. Done some digging around and looks likely to be the tone wheel on the back of the bearing. Just going to get a bearing unit, not got time to inspect it then order a new unit. Plus point from todays tinkering is I have fixed the miss fire, seems the plugs are worn, gone from a .8mm gap to 1.2mm gap in 6k miles! Just regapped until I can get some more monday. Has anyone else seen tbis sort on wear in a small milage from Bosch Irridium plugs? Getting NGK to replace them.