Clubvan

[scrw.]

Well I have pulled the trigger on another R55 with engine issues, this time a Clubvan with an N47 diesel with some woes.

461755789_1058398202406532_3428542907389592120_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr

461953267_1058398212406531_6163760883508706439_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr

459421006_3545785855721653_365568229046904309_n by Old_Chad, on Flickr

It runs, isn't rattly, but I am assuming worst case that in needs a stack of work, but I got it cheap. It has written in the engine bay it had a cam chain 20k miles away, but I think it will get swapped out regardless. The crank sensor could be the induction ring behind the fly wheel, so if a new crank sensor doesn't fix it it will be the box out for a new timing chain, clutch and anything else easy to do while I am in there.

I hope for the best, wallet is braced for the worst, whats the worst that could happen on an engine with a worse reputation than the N14? LOL

[scrw.]

I am tempted at lifting this one and sticking some larger AT tyres on it. After the engine is sorted the list is leather front seat, android head unit, some de chroming, decent tyres (will be doing a bit in fields), front spots (have a set of PIAA's sat on the shelf waiting for a car for ages) and getting it stickered up for my business (yay, vat back on the parts this time!)

inspiration....

[scrw.]

Engine bay is clean which is always nice!

20241013_170630 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Not really worked much on diesels before, it this sign of a good DPF?
Screenshot_20241013_165632_BimmerLink by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Screenshot_20241013_165617_BimmerLink by Old_Chad, on Flickr


Plans for tomorrow, get the cranks and brake sensors swapped. I am hoping that the crank sensor error is not the tone wheel and I can get away without dropping the gearbox right now. If it is just the sensor I will do the timing chain over the xmas shutdown when I have lots of free time.

I am more concerned about 2 things, the 4868 code, looking it can be all sorts of issues from a failed turbo to something cheap, and I am not sure if the engine is noisy on the front side (not timing chain end) reminds me somewhat of when my N14 lost the friction material off the water pump. Not had a diesel Mini before so is it noisy? (click image below for video)

20241013_170638 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[TownIdiot]

We've got one on these and really like it.

Perfect little dog and field wagon.

Ours is the absolutely pov spec petrol one - it's on 50k miles now and we use it every day. Can't really think of anything to replace it. Maybe a Jimny but they are a lot more money and probably not as nice to drive.


Love the look of the lifted one as well - will have to look into that.

Edited to add :- how do you do an android head unit on one of these?

[E-bmw]

Soot & ash content look high. Not sure if it is truly relative but mine is 4g of soot, no ash.

[MadCaptainJack]

scrw. said:

I am tempted at lifting this one and sticking some larger AT tyres on it. After the engine is sorted the list is leather front seat, android head unit, some de chroming, decent tyres (will be doing a bit in fields), front spots (have a set of PIAA's sat on the shelf waiting for a car for ages) and getting it stickered up for my business (yay, vat back on the parts this time!)

inspiration....

Oooh, that looks nice.

looks thoughtfully at the Clubman parked outside

I guess lifting it wouldn't improve the handling...

[TownIdiot]

MadCaptainJack said:

Oooh, that looks nice.

• looks thoughtfully at the Cubman parked outside*

I guess lifting it wouldn't improve the handling...

This is what I'm thinking but tbh we pootle around town and down the lanes to the animals and up to the forest.

Probably better in most of the stty weather we have up north. And being the base model ours isn't exactly a rocket ship.

[scrw.]

Ohhh, so some youtubing may has pointed me to the airflow issue....

20241013_170736 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

This breather pipe has some ducktape around it

one on ebay... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184967986587

[scrw.]

TownIdiot said:

This is what I'm thinking but tbh we pootle around town and down the lanes to the animals and up to the forest.

Probably better in most of the stty weather we have up north. And being the base model ours isn't exactly a rocket ship.

You are more likely to crack a wheel or burst a tyre these days, this one is a van and will be used on a smallholding so some ground clearance and gripper tyres is worth the trade off with corner speed

[scrw.]

E-bmw said:

Soot & ash content look high. Not sure if it is truly relative but mine is 4g of soot, no ash.

Will get the sensors and breather changed and give it a can of DPF cleaner....collective crossed fingers peeps......have I got a cheap fixer upper???

[TownIdiot]

scrw. said:

You are more likely to crack a wheel or burst a tyre these days, this one is a van and will be used on a smallholding so some ground clearance and gripper tyres is worth the trade off with corner speed

Yes ours is a van and we use it for the dogs and tip run.

We live in town now but still have some land nearby so country lanes to the field with feed etc and the same into the forest to walk the dogs.

Already started looking into it so thanks for the nudge!

[scrw.]

The lifted one above is running 215-65-16 tyres (27") , I want to keep the 15s and not go quite so big. Standard Minis run about a 24.5" tyre, can easily get 205-70-15 AT tyres (26"), looks to be a 3mph when running 60mph, so the speedo will still be fairly accurate.

[vikingaero]

You're a sucker for punishment scrw.

[scrw.]

Cant be worse than an N14....can it?!

[scrw.]

I hate waiting for the parts fairy to arrive. Try to use my local factors as much as possible but the don't do that breather pipe or the brake vacuum sensor, so both were ebay buys. They do however do LUK clutch kits which seem to be the best one to go for if I have to do the tone ring for the CPS. Much time has been spent on youtube looking at EGR & DPF stuff on the N47, seems most garages misdiagnose issues with these engines as blocked DPF when they are sensors, air leaks or turbo actuator stuff. Is the N47 getting a bad rap due to clueless technicians? we shall see LOL

Edited by scrw. on Monday 14th October 14:51

[scrw.]

Breather pipe and a few non essentials arrived, CPS is at the factors too, will get that in a bit, hope the breather sorts the air issue and allows it to regen

20241015_131807 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[scrw.]

so found 2 lift kits, 1 from Orranje https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154332334923 And one from Journeys Offroad in the states (which is the one used in the image above) https://www.journeysoffroad.com/store/p26/R55-56-5...

Have asked for a shipping quote from JO as they may come in cheaper even with the duty.

And yes I have decided to lift this one LOL

[Trophy200]

scrw. said:

Have asked for a shipping quote from JO as they may come in cheaper even with the duty.

I'm very interested in this option too.

Wonder what they'd do on pricing for a couple of kits?

Trophy200

[scrw.]

Spannering afternoon, brake servo sensor done, breather done. Just need to find where the crank sensor lives....

[scrw.]

Good news bad news.....

Good news, timing chain was done 13k miles ago, and the brake servo issue is sorted....

20241020_165639 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20241020_165907 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20241020_163620 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20241020_163743 by Old_Chad, on Flickr


Bad news, breather pipe didn't fix air plausibility issue

20241020_164530 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20241020_164658 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

And crank sensor swap hasn't cured the crank fault....worryingly the old crank sensor was covered in grease, hope some muppet hasn't screwed the tone wheel behind the flywheel by greasing the crank sensor to get it in (they are a tight fit)

20241020_173248 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

20241020_173256 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

need to invest in a scan tool that gives you the crank sensor graph to see how good it is, not an option in Bimmercode

So will look to sort the Air plausibility 4868 issue first, annoyingly there are no other codes to help what is causing this issue.