Low mileage N14 or high mileage N18 Clubman S

[scrw.]

Just looking at a couple of 2010 Clubman Cooper S cars, the N14 engined one is ~50k miles, the N18 one ~100k miles. Both full history, very similar money, spec etc.

Is the N14 a big repair bill waiting to happen and is the N18 robust enough to cope with more miles?

cheers

[Keawe8221]

I was asking myself the same question for about three months until I got a N18 JCW last month.

I have actually placed my focus on engine reliably over anything else.
Interior trim options/level, trim conditions, colour or even mot/service history came second.
I do not know how accurate is it, but some owners in other forum have claimed that N14 chain guide rail issue could happened as low as 14k? (if I remembered it rightly)
variable valve improvement on the N18. VANOS...
Plenty more update on the N18 when compare to N14 as I am sure you have already googled it.

At the end of the day, I asked myself if I am selling the car in a couple of years, how am I going to convince the potential buyer the engine have been looked after and is reliable. That's how I came to a conclusion of N18.

Good luck hinting.

[scrw.]

kind of confirmed my thoughts, just avoid an N14 engined one. To be fair I will prob keep it until it is worthless, I do c.20k miles a year, in 3 or 4 years it will be a grand car at best, just don't want to have an unreliable engine or one they will need lots of cash thrown at it.

[Lesgrandepotato]

Ours is an N14 recently had the timing chain guides whole lot sorted at 95k.
Came to about 600quid or so. Had a problem with a split coolant hose and dumped the coolant . Other than that it’s been fine for 4 yrs or so.

[CoolHands]

I bought an N14 and it’s been fine, although it did need the chain tensioner replacing for an updated one when I first got it, and it’s been fine since. Everything else has been fine (apart from thermostat housing needed changing as often happens around 50,000miles but I regard that as maintenance really so don’t mind).

[GaryF]

I have an N14 JCW and I've now done 62k miles with no major issues - thermostat went as above causing fan to stay on but that was an easy fix.

I also fitted the uprated timing chain tensioner (OEM part is under £50) as preventative maintenance.

I think the key thing is to keep on top of oil checks and ensure it is always topped up, and of course like any engine don't abuse it /
or rag it from cold.

[scrw.]

Just to muddy the waters there are now a few more

'08 N14 with 100k on the clock for £3750 (no service history)

'10 N18 with 100k on the clock for £5400 (full history)

'11 Cooper SD with 100k on the clock, £5100 (full history, 1 owner plus mini)

To be fair I am very tempted at the diesel one now. problem is they are all ~150 miles away from me, and no where near each other so difficult to see all 3 in a day.

[stevemcs]

The N18 would be the better car, the SD still has the potential for timing chain issues.

[scrw.]

hmm, wondering if getting the cheap one and doing the chain may be the way to go....other 2 are top of my budget, and by the sound of it could still have chain issues.

[stevemcs]

The N18 doesn't suffer from timing chain issues, only HPFP.

[Maracus]

stevemcs said:

The N18 doesn't suffer from timing chain issues, only HPFP.

^^^ This ^^^

No chain issues on ours, burns no oil, had the HPFP replaced 4 years ago

2010, now on 74k.

[Darren93]

Timing chain changed on a 60 plate n18 Cooper S, 44k miles full service history.

It's more unusual but it does happen!

[MDUBZ]

some N18s don't mind a drink of oil either..

[Majorslow]

My Mini is a 2012 Baker street diesel, 176k on the clock with multiple drivers (it's a learner car) drives like a dream, only ever had to replace disc's pads tyres which you would have to do on any car.

Required a new aircon condenser when a stone went thru grill, so that's not BMW's fault, oh and it required about 1cm of coolant top up last service

I look at 2012/13 cars all the time in case some tosser crashed into me, as at it's age/miles insurers are unlikely to repair it, and would buy another. I see some on 40/50k miles and wonder why they have one

If covid had not come up I would be hitting 200k on it now.

I wouldn't worry about high miles, unless it was a driving school car most of them will more than likely be motorway miles. I would only buy with a full service record for piece of mind

Mines still on it's first clutch

[scrw.]

should have closed this off earlier, in the end I bought an N14 that needed engine work, https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...