Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.
Thats not a lot to go on, but the 1st Generation MINI's, which this is, are clearance engines. Meaning that the valve train is not likely to get all bend and ding pistons if the timing chain has really broken. That does not happen often in these cars either.
If it just the belt that has broken the fix is rather easy. Since that belt also turns the alternator it is possible that is why they think there is an electrical problem as well.
I'd go back over there and take a good long look at the car again. Take some pictures too. Possibly we can help diagnose the issue and get you running. This could be one heck of an opportunity for you.
GET A MANUAL! ! ! Doesn't matter how well you take it apart if you have to try and put it back together right. Best investment available for a DIY mechanic.
What nate said-if it is the SERPENTINE belt, the cause copuild be a bad crank pulley (harmonic balancer) or tensioner or idler pulley-all relatively inexpensive, easy fixes. OTOH if you dont want it for 1k I'll take it!
I guess it depends on how much of a project you want to make this. You have it down this far, why not pull it all apart and rebuild. If you are into that, have the time and the space. Would make for a nice winter project. You'd have a fresh engine instead of a possibly questionable used one.
GOT IT! 1000$ for the car and 125 for a tow truck. i got the battery out right now chargeing over night . it turns out it only has 70,XXX miles.... so hopefully there really is nothing wrong with it.ill do more investigateing tommorow when its light out
You stole that car for that price....I think everyone on here has that secret fantasy of finding a MINI that wont start for a low price , only to find out it just needs a battery.
Take the head to a machine shop and get it pressure tested, hopefully its a blown gasket but I am not so sure. Notice any water in oil when you changed it? Any way you slice it you stole the car for 1k, worse comes to worse put one of Ways new motors in it for 4 or 5 k.
Well a questionable used one or possibly a questionable rebuilt depending on who is doing the work. I'd tackle a BMC A series engine, not sure I'd tackle the one in my MINI.
Do your research. There are some good MINI tech's out there who can do a good rebuild.
Well only you can make that decision but it was me and it was not my primary car and I had the funds I would save for a stroker motor and have one nice play toy in the end.
If you are looking for the least expensive road just have it rebuilt with new rings and all the new necessary quality parts. ARP bolts and head studs are absolutely worth every penny unless you want to do the whole project again in the future.
I'd do all 4. Before you do measure the cylinder bore, could be worn & maybe not even round in those 2 cylinders. You have to find that out before you do anything. Most likely honing will be enough, but by all means check & make sure.
Like x 5
