1st Gen R50 Cooper Is it worth it?

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by M1N1, Dec 7, 2016.

  1. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

    Jan 5, 2014
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    Chris. I'm watching that cyl head that you posted a link to. Only has 7 miles on it!!!! That would save me having to have any machine work done to the original. Would just need gaskets, seals, timing chain/guides, Etc.

    Justa is in the shop right now being checked out. Dropped off after work this morning.
     
  2. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

    Mar 12, 2012
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    there's a reserve on it so it might be expensive. I would search Ebay for other heads. My head I got from a chap doing a JCW conversion. It was like new. don't forget the hydraulic tensioner too
     
  3. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    Have the tensioner, picked that up with a lot of other spares that a guy was selling on NAM.

    Confirmed that it is cyl 3 valves. Cyl has 85 psi. Mechanic did the oil check to confirm that the rings are okay, and also did a leak down test. All pointing to valve/s on cyl 3.

    I'll think about it tonight, but I think that I'm going to trade the bloody thing.
     
  4. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Noooooooooo
     
  5. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    double noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
     
  6. bigjas

    bigjas Member

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    I feel your pain! My $/miles driven ratio is off the chart right now. However, I have a blast when I drive it. You need dependable transportation for your daily commute, but do not underestimate the benefits of making it in a car you enjoy. I just made an 1800 mile trip in a Hyundai, and it was a chore (vs. a pleasure).
     
  7. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    I feel like you're going to take a bath on a trade vs fixing it. Yeah, there may a tax benefit but I can't imagine it making sense.
    Good luck either way. I know the situation you're in very well.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    The premise of my original post was "is it worth it" to spend many hundreds of dollars to have repair work done on a 2006 R50 Justa, with 130000 miles on it. To have the head work done would represent a good portion of the total value of the car. Money that I could put toward another car. If it were a low mileage, weekend only JCW or GP, then the cost of repairs is a smaller percentage of the value of the car, and would make more sense to have done. To me, it makes very little sense to sink $2000 into a car that is 10 yrs old, with 130000 miles and climbing, and is not one of the "higher end" MINI's out there.

    Having said all that, I am taking the darn thing to Detroit Tuned to have the valves/any necessary head work/timing chain done after the Christmas/New Year holiday. :Thumbsup::D I justa can't see me ever driving anything else but a Gen 1 MINI. I love the bloody thing!!!! All reason and logic are lost when I drive the MINI. My wife and I were headed thru town last week, and she made the comment that the MINI still turns heads. The car itself, apart from the aforementioned valve problems, is in great shape. Apart from stone chips to the front end, the bodywork is excellent. Not as good as "The Mistress" but it still shines!!!
     
  9. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    Here's to many more enjoyable miles !!
     
  10. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    Just got home from taking the Justa to Detroit Tuned to have the valves, and any necessary head work done. :D
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Chad & company will fix you up. They are very good at what they do. :Thumbsup:
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Good decision! The cheapest car to buy is the one you already own....investing some money now to get years more use out of it is smart IMHO - not to mention you still like the car!
     
  13. beken

    beken Well-Known Member
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    I had a intermittent misfire in Cylinder 2. Pulled the sparkplug and found it had a bit of oil wetness on the threads. Last year, I was told my head cover gasket probably was getting close to needing replacement as there was some wetness around that. So last week, I went and bought the valve cover gasket, I noticed there were spark plug tube gaskets that also needed replacing. So I replaced all of them. About $60 for gaskets.

    Also, for the R53, check your ignition coil pack on top of the engine. It is quite common that the #3 cylinder jack corrodes. That may be the source of your misfire. I pull it and clean off the corrosion at least once a year and am still on the original coil pack. Not sure why it is only the #3 though.
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    ^^^^

    No one has ever figured out why only #3 on the coil gets rusty and the other ones don't. It's a mystery of life.
    I do the same thing and clean them with steel wool twice a year and put a little dielectric gel on them.
     
  15. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    ^^^^^^ x2.

    When I first got the misfire code, the first thing that I did was to replace the coil pack/wires (genuine MINI), and the plugs (NGK). When the SES light, and code persisted, that's when I had a compression test done. That showed about 85 psi on cyl 3, and that it was the valve and not the rings.

    While the head is off being worked on and having Cooper S valves fitted, Chad is going to do other PM work. Timing chain/guides/tensioner, thermostat, front crank seal, etc. Should get the MINI back on Wednesday. :D
     
  16. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    Just got home from collecting the Justa from Detroit Tuned (a 280 mile round trip). To say that I am happy with all at Detroit Tuned would be a masterpiece of understatement. :D:Thumbsup:
     
  17. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    How's the new shop?
     
  18. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    Looks good. Quite easy to get to from I 75.
     
  19. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    great, how's the Justa?
     
  20. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

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    #40 M1N1, Jan 16, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2017
    Running good, ready for another 130000 miles. :fingerscrossed:
     

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