‘09 Mini Cooper S… valve failure?
Discussion
Hi folks,
My 75yo mum is a nightmare, couple of months ago she bought an 09 Clubman locally. Completely disregarded the last MoT full of rust, but that’s a different story!
She mainly uses it taking dogs walking, so it probably never gets hot. Conked out on her yesterday… garage luckily helped her out and tried changing plugs/coil packs. That didn’t work so they have done a compression test… cylinder 3 no compression. Saying that a valve may have failed.
He reckons it would be about an 800/900 quid job.
Is this a plausible diagnosis, and is it worth spending the money or likely to uncover a can of worms once head off? I’m starting to think we have nothing to lose by getting a local place to have a look.
Mothers, grrr
My 75yo mum is a nightmare, couple of months ago she bought an 09 Clubman locally. Completely disregarded the last MoT full of rust, but that’s a different story!
She mainly uses it taking dogs walking, so it probably never gets hot. Conked out on her yesterday… garage luckily helped her out and tried changing plugs/coil packs. That didn’t work so they have done a compression test… cylinder 3 no compression. Saying that a valve may have failed.
He reckons it would be about an 800/900 quid job.
Is this a plausible diagnosis, and is it worth spending the money or likely to uncover a can of worms once head off? I’m starting to think we have nothing to lose by getting a local place to have a look.
Mothers, grrr
No compression will usually be a valve issue, which is of course different to a low compression result.
Don't know much about the cars, but if it is a rust bucket too....it would be hard to justify many repairs.
Chucking a camera into the cylinder to get a visual should add to any current diagnosis with basic tools even any basic garage should have.
Don't know much about the cars, but if it is a rust bucket too....it would be hard to justify many repairs.
Chucking a camera into the cylinder to get a visual should add to any current diagnosis with basic tools even any basic garage should have.
carreauchompeur said:
Completely disregarded the last MoT full of rust,
Just to stray slightly off your given topic, you are of course aware that things like that can be VERY much down to individual testers views.I used to have an '06 Cooper S that I bought with an advisory of rust on the underside in general & particularly on the rear sub-frame.
In my 5 years of ownership it was never mentioned again & I did no work on the rust.
A leakdown test will tell you if it’s valve related or piston related, but zero compression will normally indicate a bent / failed valve or two. If you examine the plug on the affected cylinder and it is mangled then you will be in a world of pain as this usually indicates that a valve head has come off and the chamber and pistons will be destroyed. If the plug is pristine then it could be as simple as replacing a couple of valves and determining and correcting the cause.
Dave
Dave
E-bmw said:
Just to stray slightly off your given topic, you are of course aware that things like that can be VERY much down to individual testers views.
I used to have an '06 Cooper S that I bought with an advisory of rust on the underside in general & particularly on the rear sub-frame.
In my 5 years of ownership it was never mentioned again & I did no work on the rust.
That’s a fair point… this one failed on rust spectacularly and after a few hundred quid of welding was clear pass. Needless to say, I was suspicious one way or another!I used to have an '06 Cooper S that I bought with an advisory of rust on the underside in general & particularly on the rear sub-frame.
In my 5 years of ownership it was never mentioned again & I did no work on the rust.
Thanks all, this is sort of confirming my thoughts, although it probably can’t hurt getting a quick diagnosis before binning it.
She’s obsessed with these bloody cars… last one was 58 reg Cooper and it was fine until a couple of years ago and we’ve just been throwing money at it. Final straw was a decent oil leak.
Don’t want to be in the same position with this one.
Maybe she might listen on the next car purchase!
She’s obsessed with these bloody cars… last one was 58 reg Cooper and it was fine until a couple of years ago and we’ve just been throwing money at it. Final straw was a decent oil leak.
Don’t want to be in the same position with this one.
Maybe she might listen on the next car purchase!
could be valve or piston, if non S most likely valve or actually a seat, leak test is what's required
these aren't that grim really, just often left until several issues exist
naturally people don't wish to pay for them, yet they source the cheapest possible car, more likely to have stuff going on
these aren't that grim really, just often left until several issues exist
naturally people don't wish to pay for them, yet they source the cheapest possible car, more likely to have stuff going on
Parts seem bit expensive. Timing chain kit (complete) £216 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Complete set of valves £144 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Inlet only £69 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/set-of-8-inlet-v...
Complete set of valves £144 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Inlet only £69 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/set-of-8-inlet-v...
CoolHands said:
Parts seem bit expensive. Timing chain kit (complete) £216 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Complete set of valves £144 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Inlet only £69 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/set-of-8-inlet-v...
Yes, but alas if he is a one-man-band, he will likely just have one supplier who he can give one call to to get whet he wants, so will be paying a premium for them all.Complete set of valves £144 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/timing-chain-kit...
Inlet only £69 https://www.lymmengineparts.co.uk/set-of-8-inlet-v...
At least by the sound of it the OP has a working car again, so (expensive, but) 'appy days.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff