N14 Engine - bad idea?

[TTwiggy]

Hello all, looking for some advice please.

My lease car is due to go back and I want a cheap 'fun' car for a bit.

I had an R53 Cooper S about 16 years ago and really liked it, and I was all set on getting another. However, I don't want to spend more than £3k, and there isn't a lot of choice in R53s at this price point, and the ones that are around look a bit tatty.

So... I started to notice that the R56 seems to give better VFM, and crucially is rather more frugal (I remember that my R53 liked to drink). But... there seems to be a strong view that the engine is a lemon. Is this the case, and should a car that has gone over 100k miles be considered 'ok', as anything serious should either have been sorted or already killed it?

[SlimJim16v]

It'll only have got to 100k with a new timing chain. The question is how long ago and will it need doing again.
The other issue is they can drink oil and you won't know until after you've bought it.

Nice cars though.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Wednesday 11th May 18:56

[rigga]

Chain drive, not belt.
N14 isn't without issues, but can be very reliable if looked after.
Regular checking oil will go a long way to extending timing chain life, as low oil pressure on the tensioner, will allow it to slap and stretch.

[vikingaero]

rigga said:

Chain drive, not belt.
N14 isn't without issues, but can be very reliable if looked after.
Regular checking oil will go a long way to extending timing chain life, as low oil pressure on the tensioner, will allow it to slap and stretch.

It depends on the type of owner you are. If you check and maintain your cars each week and can do some of the maintenance, then it's an OK car. If you're expecting never to lift the bonnet like a Japanese car then you're in for a shock. Think of it as a British Alfa Romeo and you won't be disappointed with the constant niggles - HPFP, thermostat housing seals, oil seals everywhere, valve covers, constant oil leaks (fix one and somewhere else will leak), timing chain/guide/tensioner, oil pan leaks, and the piece de la resistance - oil consumption. I used to constantly scout for offers for 5w30 oil and still have half a dozen 5l bottles in the garage. At the end my tenure, my N14 was on about 1litre/400miles. I haven't put any oil in my other cars for 2 years!

[rigga]

vikingaero said:

rigga said:

Chain drive, not belt.
N14 isn't without issues, but can be very reliable if looked after.
Regular checking oil will go a long way to extending timing chain life, as low oil pressure on the tensioner, will allow it to slap and stretch.

It depends on the type of owner you are. If you check and maintain your cars each week and can do some of the maintenance, then it's an OK car. If you're expecting never to lift the bonnet like a Japanese car then you're in for a shock. Think of it as a British Alfa Romeo and you won't be disappointed with the constant niggles - HPFP, thermostat housing seals, oil seals everywhere, valve covers, constant oil leaks (fix one and somewhere else will leak), timing chain/guide/tensioner, oil pan leaks, and the piece de la resistance - oil consumption. I used to constantly scout for offers for 5w30 oil and still have half a dozen 5l bottles in the garage. At the end my tenure, my N14 was on about 1litre/400miles. I haven't put any oil in my other cars for 2 years!

And for every owner who's had issues, there's multiple others who haven't, no one ever protests their car does not go wrong. The N14 was a multi manufacturer cross development, and was placed in many different models in big numbers.
As an opposite story to yours, I've had my jcw for 10 years, its now just on 80k, and its bone dry, needs topping up every now and then, and only had the thermostat housing actually fail and leak.
Fitted a tensioner myself (cheap) when I purchased it, for a later longer version, and had the chain itself replaced about 7 years into my ownership, couldn't persuade the previous owners to be so interested in its maintenance regarding oil level.
Are there better engined cars out there? Yes, lots without the stigma the N14 carries. But its not the stbox the internet wails it is.

[SlimJim16v]

It's not that good. There was a court case in the US and BMW had to put right every engine at their own cost.

If an earlier model, fit the latest tensioner. They were uprated several times.

[rigga]

Yes BMW lost a class action law suit, had to extend warranty to 10 years on items such as the high pressure fuel pump, and the cam chain.
Unfortunately a different system in the UK, where all the engines were built, and it remained the limited initial warranty period.

[vikingaero]

rigga said:

vikingaero said:

rigga said:

Chain drive, not belt.
N14 isn't without issues, but can be very reliable if looked after.
Regular checking oil will go a long way to extending timing chain life, as low oil pressure on the tensioner, will allow it to slap and stretch.

It depends on the type of owner you are. If you check and maintain your cars each week and can do some of the maintenance, then it's an OK car. If you're expecting never to lift the bonnet like a Japanese car then you're in for a shock. Think of it as a British Alfa Romeo and you won't be disappointed with the constant niggles - HPFP, thermostat housing seals, oil seals everywhere, valve covers, constant oil leaks (fix one and somewhere else will leak), timing chain/guide/tensioner, oil pan leaks, and the piece de la resistance - oil consumption. I used to constantly scout for offers for 5w30 oil and still have half a dozen 5l bottles in the garage. At the end my tenure, my N14 was on about 1litre/400miles. I haven't put any oil in my other cars for 2 years!

And for every owner who's had issues, there's multiple others who haven't, no one ever protests their car does not go wrong. The N14 was a multi manufacturer cross development, and was placed in many different models in big numbers.
As an opposite story to yours, I've had my jcw for 10 years, its now just on 80k, and its bone dry, needs topping up every now and then, and only had the thermostat housing actually fail and leak.
Fitted a tensioner myself (cheap) when I purchased it, for a later longer version, and had the chain itself replaced about 7 years into my ownership, couldn't persuade the previous owners to be so interested in its maintenance regarding oil level.
Are there better engined cars out there? Yes, lots without the stigma the N14 carries. But its not the stbox the internet wails it is.

You've just summed up what I said! If you care about the car and can do odd jobs yourself, it's an OK car. Most people wouldn't lift the bonnet each week to check the oil level and it would probably run dry. I had a bad phase where the car went back to my mechanics every 3 weeks when it was just one thing after another. And the N14 has consigned just as many Pugs and Citroens to the early scrapheap.

[Brompty]

Mine has done over 100k. I check the oil regularly and top up. Oil leaks were fixed after purchase and its ok really. I preferred the engine in the R53 though - it seemed to be more robust.

[Challo]

vikingaero said:

rigga said:

vikingaero said:

rigga said:

Chain drive, not belt.
N14 isn't without issues, but can be very reliable if looked after.
Regular checking oil will go a long way to extending timing chain life, as low oil pressure on the tensioner, will allow it to slap and stretch.

It depends on the type of owner you are. If you check and maintain your cars each week and can do some of the maintenance, then it's an OK car. If you're expecting never to lift the bonnet like a Japanese car then you're in for a shock. Think of it as a British Alfa Romeo and you won't be disappointed with the constant niggles - HPFP, thermostat housing seals, oil seals everywhere, valve covers, constant oil leaks (fix one and somewhere else will leak), timing chain/guide/tensioner, oil pan leaks, and the piece de la resistance - oil consumption. I used to constantly scout for offers for 5w30 oil and still have half a dozen 5l bottles in the garage. At the end my tenure, my N14 was on about 1litre/400miles. I haven't put any oil in my other cars for 2 years!

And for every owner who's had issues, there's multiple others who haven't, no one ever protests their car does not go wrong. The N14 was a multi manufacturer cross development, and was placed in many different models in big numbers.
As an opposite story to yours, I've had my jcw for 10 years, its now just on 80k, and its bone dry, needs topping up every now and then, and only had the thermostat housing actually fail and leak.
Fitted a tensioner myself (cheap) when I purchased it, for a later longer version, and had the chain itself replaced about 7 years into my ownership, couldn't persuade the previous owners to be so interested in its maintenance regarding oil level.
Are there better engined cars out there? Yes, lots without the stigma the N14 carries. But its not the stbox the internet wails it is.

You've just summed up what I said! If you care about the car and can do odd jobs yourself, it's an OK car. Most people wouldn't lift the bonnet each week to check the oil level and it would probably run dry. I had a bad phase where the car went back to my mechanics every 3 weeks when it was just one thing after another. And the N14 has consigned just as many Pugs and Citroens to the early scrapheap.

I have a N14 in the clubman and the previous got stung for a new timing chain tensioner, and getting the valve stem seals replaced as well. Not a cheap fix, and in the end he wanted rid so I got a bargain.

I regular check and change the oil in mine, but it does give me the feeling of being fragile and could break anytime.