R56 Cooper S, Prince Engine woes etc
Discussion
Hey guys, recently picked up an R56 for giggles, didn't particularly look into some of the quirks beforehand.
By sheer luck, turns out it had a timing chain replacement 30k kms ago. Score. But when I picked it up by the time I got home the oil light flcikered on again.
I assumed it used a bit, and was gobsmacked to find an empty dipstick.
Or so it looked.
Turns out they have the most useless dipstick Ive ever used and it must have had oil. So after topping up and going to bed, the next day I started her to lots of smoke.
Bugger.
Instantly off, drained the sump of what was clearly far too much oil, topped up with fresh oil and she runs a treat.
Onto the Q and A
a - Did any of the minis have a dipstick that was more useless than a teapot made of cotton wool that I could sub in? maybe it is just me but I could not for love nor money read the dipstick even when full
b - Reading about the prince motors, seems like oil gets used and the chains grenade themselves; but what I can't sus is whether the oil use is 'normal' for them or if it's a sign of something else? No smoke - apart from the idiot moment above, no leaks..
c - she has phone buttons suggesting there is bluetooth. But I can't find a setting for it.. Surely BMW wouldn't be so callous to include the buttons and no module?
On the plus side - with the coilovers it came with and sticky rubber - SO much fun
By sheer luck, turns out it had a timing chain replacement 30k kms ago. Score. But when I picked it up by the time I got home the oil light flcikered on again.
I assumed it used a bit, and was gobsmacked to find an empty dipstick.
Or so it looked.
Turns out they have the most useless dipstick Ive ever used and it must have had oil. So after topping up and going to bed, the next day I started her to lots of smoke.
Bugger.
Instantly off, drained the sump of what was clearly far too much oil, topped up with fresh oil and she runs a treat.
Onto the Q and A
a - Did any of the minis have a dipstick that was more useless than a teapot made of cotton wool that I could sub in? maybe it is just me but I could not for love nor money read the dipstick even when full
b - Reading about the prince motors, seems like oil gets used and the chains grenade themselves; but what I can't sus is whether the oil use is 'normal' for them or if it's a sign of something else? No smoke - apart from the idiot moment above, no leaks..
c - she has phone buttons suggesting there is bluetooth. But I can't find a setting for it.. Surely BMW wouldn't be so callous to include the buttons and no module?
On the plus side - with the coilovers it came with and sticky rubber - SO much fun
A . Standard dipstick is hard to read, cut some notches, or drill holes in it to make reading it easier.
I just dip it and place it on a kitchen towel, works for me.
B. They do like a drink of oil , and it varies between cars, low oil will give low pressure on the cam chain tensioner, it's imperative to keep it topped up.
C. Yes some cars came with steering wheel buttons for telephone use, but not capable of using them.
I just dip it and place it on a kitchen towel, works for me.
B. They do like a drink of oil , and it varies between cars, low oil will give low pressure on the cam chain tensioner, it's imperative to keep it topped up.
C. Yes some cars came with steering wheel buttons for telephone use, but not capable of using them.
Ref (a) the dipstick issue, it is a well documented issue on the R56 so have a look at this forum thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock...
Ref (c) Bluetooth, IIRC the only multi function steering wheel option was one with phone buttons so that doesn't mean you have BT fitted. If you have BT then pressing the phone symbol on the head unit should bring up something on the display (assuming no Nav fitted). You don't say the age of your car - is it a pre LCI model with silver radio/heater controls? In that case BT was a combined BT/USB module and there will be a USB socket under the centre console. In the LCI model (2010 on with black controls) the different audio options were built into the head unit itself.
Ref (c) Bluetooth, IIRC the only multi function steering wheel option was one with phone buttons so that doesn't mean you have BT fitted. If you have BT then pressing the phone symbol on the head unit should bring up something on the display (assuming no Nav fitted). You don't say the age of your car - is it a pre LCI model with silver radio/heater controls? In that case BT was a combined BT/USB module and there will be a USB socket under the centre console. In the LCI model (2010 on with black controls) the different audio options were built into the head unit itself.
yeah id just sell it tbh haha
2006-2011 models are N14
2011-2016 models are N18
i have had 7 minis now , and two prince engines. both grenaded themselves. Timing chain rattles, two separate issues with pistons breaking, high pressure fuel pump, leaky waterpump and associated parts as they are a b
d to get to behind the engine.
Oh the official mini oil usage that the dealer will tell you is around 700ml per 1000 miles which takes the piss.
currently my wife runs a 2012 clubman S N18 and we have spent at least £2k on Maintenace including the above items. All these incidents have happened on 4 different cars.. all are completely standard and serviced every 12k miles / yearly. Poor poor design
best engine was my B48 2016 mini cooper S i had from New . love that car
2006-2011 models are N14
2011-2016 models are N18
i have had 7 minis now , and two prince engines. both grenaded themselves. Timing chain rattles, two separate issues with pistons breaking, high pressure fuel pump, leaky waterpump and associated parts as they are a b
d to get to behind the engine. Oh the official mini oil usage that the dealer will tell you is around 700ml per 1000 miles which takes the piss.
currently my wife runs a 2012 clubman S N18 and we have spent at least £2k on Maintenace including the above items. All these incidents have happened on 4 different cars.. all are completely standard and serviced every 12k miles / yearly. Poor poor design
best engine was my B48 2016 mini cooper S i had from New . love that car
I'll not go into my woes again with the N14 engine.
I was filling it with 1 litre per 400 miles at the end of my tenure. I was buying 5 litre oil containers whenever there was a special offer. I still have 5 or 6 5 litre containers in the garage because none of my other cars use a drop of oil.
I was filling it with 1 litre per 400 miles at the end of my tenure. I was buying 5 litre oil containers whenever there was a special offer. I still have 5 or 6 5 litre containers in the garage because none of my other cars use a drop of oil.
Pent said:
yeah id just sell it tbh haha
2006-2011 models are N14
2011-2016 models are N18
i have had 7 minis now , and two prince engines. both grenaded themselves. Timing chain rattles, two separate issues with pistons breaking, high pressure fuel pump, leaky waterpump and associated parts as they are a bd to get to behind the engine.
Oh the official mini oil usage that the dealer will tell you is around 700ml per 1000 miles which takes the piss.
currently my wife runs a 2012 clubman S N18 and we have spent at least £2k on Maintenace including the above items. All these incidents have happened on 4 different cars.. all are completely standard and serviced every 12k miles / yearly. Poor poor design
best engine was my B48 2016 mini cooper S i had from New . love that car
That's a very impressive commitment to the Mini brand. There's a LOAD of people who would have called it quits after one had lunched itself. 2006-2011 models are N14
2011-2016 models are N18
i have had 7 minis now , and two prince engines. both grenaded themselves. Timing chain rattles, two separate issues with pistons breaking, high pressure fuel pump, leaky waterpump and associated parts as they are a b
d to get to behind the engine. Oh the official mini oil usage that the dealer will tell you is around 700ml per 1000 miles which takes the piss.
currently my wife runs a 2012 clubman S N18 and we have spent at least £2k on Maintenace including the above items. All these incidents have happened on 4 different cars.. all are completely standard and serviced every 12k miles / yearly. Poor poor design
best engine was my B48 2016 mini cooper S i had from New . love that car
My lad had a N14 Cooper S and I had a JCW, both held up fine and my JCW was seriously fun to drive despite not being that quick (by modern hot hatch standards). My JCW was main dealer bought and did start to develop a rattle but caught it early and the dealer changed all the belts etc under warranty.
I'd happily have a newer JCW
nordboy said:
That's a very impressive commitment to the Mini brand. There's a LOAD of people who would have called it quits after one had lunched itself.
My lad had a N14 Cooper S and I had a JCW, both held up fine and my JCW was seriously fun to drive despite not being that quick (by modern hot hatch standards). My JCW was main dealer bought and did start to develop a rattle but caught it early and the dealer changed all the belts etc under warranty.
I'd happily have a newer JCW
yeah we love how they handle and i have modified them alot - we might even end up in a JCW clubman but when prices get a bit better. 30-35k is a little steep at the moment but it does give a lot of bang for your buck if you dont look to other cheaper brandsMy lad had a N14 Cooper S and I had a JCW, both held up fine and my JCW was seriously fun to drive despite not being that quick (by modern hot hatch standards). My JCW was main dealer bought and did start to develop a rattle but caught it early and the dealer changed all the belts etc under warranty.
I'd happily have a newer JCW
The list price of the JCW Clubman now is crazy and puts you straight into the luxury car tax band. Ours is due its first service next month and hasn't missed a beat after 2 years. I've had more issues with my BMW's from new.
Even crazier is we only paid £28k as it had an £11k discount from Park Lane.
Even crazier is we only paid £28k as it had an £11k discount from Park Lane.
We’ve sold tons of R56’s. Some have been fine, a lot needed money thrown at them, some became massive money pits. One in particular had just under 6.5k spent on it. That’s trade price. It has had so many issues.
One Mini Cooper auto had a new gearbox and a new engine and still had issues.
They’re really a massive gamble. Such a shame as they’re fun little cars.
One Mini Cooper auto had a new gearbox and a new engine and still had issues.
They’re really a massive gamble. Such a shame as they’re fun little cars.
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