1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Fluid Leak <pic>

  1. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Sorry Crash, I didn't mean to be correcting you, but I guess it did look that way. It isn't often I know an answer, so I wanted to get it on the table. :cornut:

    Jim
     
  2. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

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    Your always right, right:Thumbsup:

    Mark
     
  3. bullet1

    bullet1 New Member

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    Yea, I can change oil, I usually choose not to though. I find it more of a pain than it is worth and dealing with the used oil afterwards is just a nuisance. I'm getting lazy in my old age :)
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Time for a new fluid filled motor mount. It's that silver thing above the leak. Happens to all MINIs. How many miles on your MINI?

    I've heard denatured alcohol will remove that sludge...
     
  5. HRM

    HRM New Member

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    You are correct, that is a bad mount. Very common and easy to fix.
     
  6. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Doesn't happen to ALL MINIs (some aren't made that way), but does happen to all MINIs that have that mount.....sooner or later!

    Easy to change, less than an hour's work, but you do need a couple of tools..... a floor jack to hold up the engine and a special socket to get the lower bolt loose.

    Search for a DIY in the library.....

    Denatured alchohol is about the only thing that will remove the liquid, fortunately it's cheap and readily available (at your drug store or grocery store).

    There is a solid replacement mount available from some of the vendors (Way?) but I have no experience with it as far as it compares to the factory for NVH.
     
  7. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    I think most MINIs have the fluid-filled mount but I don't know the percentage. It does seem to be a fairly common failure.

    Here's a link to Aaron's write-up in the Library. Don't worry about the transmission mount aspect, he explains which steps to take and which to skip if you're only replacing the motor mount.
     
  8. bullet1

    bullet1 New Member

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    Thanks for the info folks, the car is a 2005 and I'm sure they are original as the car is just now nearing 30,000 miles.
     
  9. bullet1

    bullet1 New Member

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    Anyplace anyone has dealt with to order these online? Or anyone local up for an install some day :)
     
  10. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    You can buy one from Aaron at Outmotoring. He has moved, but he ships parts are PDQ....
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    These do have a propensity to fail again. There is an aftermarket solution that many of the M/A have available. The TSW Motor Mount. However, if you are sensitive to NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) this may not be the solution for you.
     
  12. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I had a TSW engine damper & all it did for me was increase NVH. I could stand it less that a week. I know it is not the same as the supposed improved mount. My best guess is the TSW replacement mount will be more of the same. If one could buy one & try it with the expectation that the vendor would take it back for a refund if not satisfied it would be worth a try.

    My original mount lasted under 30,000, the replacement is still good at 96,000.
     
  13. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    If I remember correctly, this is a 1st Gen problem. I believe it was addressed on the next go around.

    Jim
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I was corrected in post #4, but thanks again.... :beer
     
  15. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    The newer style mount that has a propensity to leak was put into service from 12/2003 on the R53. The part number is 22-11-6-778-610 With a MSRP of about 90 bucks. Anecdotal evidence shows that sometime around 2009 the replacements that MINI offers stopped leaking, possibly there was a redesign.
     
  16. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    There are a few M/A Sponsors who sell OEM parts -- pricing varies -- click the Sponsors drop-down at the top of the page. :Thumbsup:
     
  17. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

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    Almost 120,000 miles on my original 03 justa mounts. Now watch, I'll find a leak tomorrow:ihih:

    Mark
     
  18. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I believe the 03 justa mount is not liquid filled. If I'm wrong you'll know in a few minutes... :lol: Wait for it Mark. :D
     
  19. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    :postcount

    Jim
     
  20. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Now there is a first time for everything. Thanks for throwing me a bone Mark. :biggrin5: