White Roof Radio #306
Engine failures by water and lack of oil, plus a new contest for you today. Before doing anything, right now, go out and check your oil then come back and listen. We are getting reports of oil pan gaskets failing on R53s with just over 50k miles on them. Don’t let yourself be the guy in our story, **check your oil now!**
Are you on Facebook? Post a photo of your MINI to our Facebook Page and you can win a Motoringbadge. You have until the end of September, so no rush. We aren’t looking for anything in particular, just MINIs on our page. Winner will be picked at random.
After news from MotoringFile like we like to do, we talk engine failures and then move on to tires for the GP among other things. Classic WRR here gang. Just Gabe, Todd and I talkin’ about MINI stuff and mullets just like the good old days.
Stick around. Later today we have our first thoughts on the MINI Roadster Concept plus we talk to Michael Talley **live** from the Frankfurt show! You can some photos now with more to come!
And, because I told Gabe I would, go listen to the BimmerFile Podcast, especially if you are looking for lots of cool stuff about BMWs!
Woofcast 306: [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.whiteroofradio.com/podcasts/woof306.mp3]
If you missed it last week, I posted a bit of Black Roof Radio over at dbmini.us last week about dealer service. That may well be the new home of Black Roof Radio for the time being, so subscribe and watch out for it!
Finally, I’m looking for independant service centers that are MINI friendly. Leave a comment over there with your favorite shop including all the contact information and address. I’m hoping to get enough to build up a database at White Roof Radio that everyone would be able to use.
Woofcast 306: [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.whiteroofradio.com/podcasts/woof306.mp3]
Download | WRR @ iTunes | 22.9MB | 50:00
<p>Yep, just replaced my “sweating” oil pan gasket at 60k KM.</p>
<p>I am going to have to replace both my oil pan and valve gaskets on my ’05 R53. I’ve been trying to remember to check my oil weekly.</p>
<p>My oil pan gaskets failed twice when the car had less than 45K miles on it
(2005 R53 S). Both times it was replaced under warranty.</p>
<p>Just before my warranty expired, I had my car inspected and MINI replaced my oil pan gasket under warranty. BTW, I live in Vancouver…..not Toronto. Toronto may be sometimes referred to as “the centre of the universe” by those who live there. </p>
<p>Cool C7</p>
<p>I enjoyed the podcast. I haven’t been able to get away from the runflats….although I’d like too. I can’t stomach the idea of being stuck on the side of the road without a spare tire.</p>
<p>Eerily timed podcast! Just last weekend a friend’s father-in-law had his 2002 R53 give up the engine ghost on the way back from the track and it looked like oil starvation was the cause. He was enthusiastic about his MINI but very negligent of basic maintenance and couldn’t recall the last time he checked the oil, sadly. But I guess it is possible the oil pan gasket could bear some culpability? Will have to check the old engine (my friend has already tracked down a new motor with SC).</p>
<p>Everyone needs to listen to this coming week’s show. I, myself, checked my 2003 MCS and the oil level was below the dipstick measure which means that it was at least 2 to 3 quarts low. This is a serious situation and could cause catastrophic engine failure if it goes unattended.</p>
<p>My personal recommendation is to check the oil every 2-3 weeks especially if you have more than 50K miles on the clock. MINI officially considers the use of one quart of oil every 750-1,000 miles within normal operating parameters. If you wait to check it every 10K miles, it could be too late.</p>
<p>Good advice Todd (my friend’s dad’s car was at 100K km – 80K miles).</p>
<p>By the way, not all of us Canuck MINI drivers are in Toronto! ;)</p>
p>@Todd</p
<p>Nitto makes NeoGens in the OEM size for the GP.</p>
<p>I had to put a set on my (ex) GP at 12K miles.</p>
<p>Don’t get me started on getting tires off the GP rims, though. I had a bad experience.</p>
<p>Jimtraitor</p>
<p>That bad experience includes finding out that the GP rims are roughly $450 each</p>
<p>I was told the same spec on oil consumption on the R56 at my dealer – something like a quart each 500 miles. Combine this with the on board computer calling for oil changes at 15k intervals or more, if your car actually goes through oil that fast its a recipe for disaster.</p>
<p>In the end that sounds like a lot of oil for 500 miles, and seems like more of a cop-out warrantee loop-hole to me.</p>
<p>Yeah, the basic message is, check your oil frequently. Just because a MINI “could” burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so, doesn’t mean they all “will”. The underlying factor in our discussion is the failure of the oil pan gaskets. Count yourself lucky if you can get it replaced under your 4 year/50K mile warranty. Our research shows that dealers charge anywhere from $550 to $800 for this particular repair. It’s not a quick job, somewhere around 4-5 hours labor.</p>
<p>BTW – my 2003 MCS was exactly 2 quarts low and it had an oil change 6,500 miles ago. Then again, I have a leaky gasket…</p>
<p>Like I said, I had my oil pan and seal replaced under warranty TWICE during the warranty period at no charge to me. The oil leaks were discovered during routine tire rotations with the car up in the lift. The oil leak was minimal and probably not very noticeable but it was there.</p>
<p>If you are still under warranty, do not foot the bill for yet another poor quality factory part. The MINI is a great car that is saddled with some parts made to last the time of the factory warranty.</p>
<p>About 2 months ago my stock crank pulley came apart in traffic. Car went into limp mode immediately. Fortunately, the problem happened in bumper to bumper traffic. I cringe to think what the outcome would have been if the crank pulley had separated during my regular expressway commute at 70MPH?</p>
<p>Had it replaced to the tune of $500 including labor at my independent MINI mechanic. Instead of paying money for another OEM piece of crap crank pulley replacement, I ordered a new Ultrik aluminum lightweight crank pulley from MINIMania and had that installed (With the full endorsement of my independent mechanic as he had raced his MINI using the Ultrik at Homestead Speedway with no problems).</p>
<p>Could not be any happier. This year, my out of pocket warranty expenditures have mounted to $3,500 all because of poor quality MINI parts that are designed to fail prematurely. Shame on you MINI!</p>
<p>I am beginning to think that if you are planning to keep your MINI beyond 50K miles an aftermarket extended warranty IS A MUST!.</p>
<p>So far this year I have replaced:</p>
<p>Suspension, engine and transmission bushings with quality aftermarket Poly equivalents.</p>
<p>A/C compressor</p>
<p>Dual engine fans</p>
<p>A/C high side line that was leaking</p>
<p>Engine crank pulley</p>
<p>All is sorted now and the car is running like a champ at 62K miles. Fortunately, I still have the MINI Extended service contract and the car is scheduled to get its 62K mile check up and oil change (plus new front brake pads/rotors and new engine belts all paid for) in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>My R53 has just recently passed 75K Miles and I have had my Oil pan seal replaced 4 times (twice under warranty and twice out of warranty). Thankfully the dealership that replaced the oil pan seal since the work they perfomed was still under thier warranty.</p>
<p>I also have had an issue with the crank pully this time around as well. The seal between that and the engine was going and the crank pulley was loose. I am surprised that can happen.</p>
<p>As result I have begun to use aftermarket to replace worn items to hopefully prevent myself from having to replace the parts more often.</p>
<p>I really like my Mini but the oil pan seal leaks and the auxillary input jack cutting off when it gets warm outside really annoy me.</p>
<p>Had my oil pan gasket replaced yesterday under warranty on my 2005 R53 with 33,000 miles.</p>