2nd Gen JCW Most liked posts in thread: Need help! Motor problems.

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  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #12 Nathan, Sep 30, 2015
    Give Helix a call. There is a MINI savant there, don't be put off by his demeanor or blue mohawk.
     
  2. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #3 Metalman, Sep 30, 2015
    Did the dealer indicate what broke?

    If it was timing chain related and you had the dealer do the work, isn't there some warranty period involved?
     
  3. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #6 Minidave, Sep 30, 2015
    Sounds to me like you overheated it - driving 4 more miles to the exit after the temp light came on - find a used motor, whatever went wrong is now your fault, not the dealer's.

    When the warning lights came on you should have stopped and called for a tow truck.

    I agree, find a used engine and motor on......

    Anyone wanna take any bets on whether there will be a second post from the OP?

    I hate these one post "my car blew up right after the dealer worked on it" threads.....they just sound so much like trolling for business from a lawyer.
     
  4. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #29 MCS02, Oct 20, 2015
    Of course some people buy a totaled GP make a cool GPR, first ever. Take it flying do some rolls. gets up the next day, buys another totaled convertible starts over undaunted by his set back. Crazy? Genius? You decide. :lol::lol:

    To bad that guy does not live near you he would have the swap done before lunch. :D
     
  5. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    #2 DneprDave, Sep 30, 2015
    Put a used engine in it and have it done by an independant MINI shop.
     
  6. Goldsmithy

    Goldsmithy MINI Alliance Ambassador
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    #16 Goldsmithy, Oct 15, 2015
    What kind of warranty comes with the engines? I think that putting 7 grand into a new engine for an '09 is questionable UNLESS it comes with a great warranty. Also, if it were me, I would go with Helix, even if it is more $. You don't get the reputation Helix has by doing bad work...
     
  7. Amphib0410

    Amphib0410 New Member

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    #18 Amphib0410, Oct 20, 2015
    It's become painfully clear that I screwed myself big time by not stopping the instant I first saw the overheat warning light. Apparently just because the light went off didn't mean that the engine wasn't still overheating. The Service Manager explained to me that the light would have gone off when the coolant level dropped too far.

    At this point, it seems that going ahead with the repair at the dealership is my best option. Used JCW motors are few and far between and they're not cheap. My loan balance is too high to make junking the car a viable option. I lose Mini USA's $1,000 contribution to the job if I go to an independent shop.
     
  8. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #21 MCS02, Oct 20, 2015
    I am sorry to hear there is not a better resolution. I know this is no consolation But the longer I have had my Mini the less I want to get rid of it. I use to go through cars, get one I like and move on to something els I wanted a couple of years or less later.
    Now I have Moded my Mini so much that I just don't see me ever getting rid of it. I look at first Gen GP's all the time and would like to get one but I know I will have to part with my Mini and I don't think I can. Its like an old friend. I guess my wife knows this better than me because the other night at dinner I was talking about a GP and she said just keep your Mini when you get a GP. She is a very good wife!:D
    So all I am saying is if your stuck with a car you are stuck with the best. A MINI! So let the Moding begin! Make it a car you don't want to get rid of.

    I don't blame you for having the dealer do it, $1000 is a lot of coin. But it would have been nice if Helix could do it, they are a great bunch of guys that really support us.

    Good luck I hope it works out well!
     
  9. _iD

    _iD New Member

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    #23 _iD, Oct 20, 2015
    I'd still press both the dealer and Helix for a firm quote, along with the added costs of "what if" depending on what they find once it's torn apart. In my experience, quotes from independent shops are usually pretty accurate, and often they will honor the quote even if their cost comes out higher, up to a point. My MINI dealer has a history of quoting x and billing 1.5x

    That $1000 gap may not really be what you think it is.
     
  10. _iD

    _iD New Member

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    #24 _iD, Oct 20, 2015
    And even if it is, I'd pay a little extra to have Eric and his crew do the work rather than the dealer. Those guys love what they do and do it well. Dealers tech skill and attitude can be a crap shoot.
     
  11. _iD

    _iD New Member

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    #26 _iD, Oct 20, 2015
    Both estimated $8k before good will. I'd still pay an extra $1k to have helix do the work instead of the dealer.
     
  12. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #28 BlimeyCabrio, Oct 20, 2015
    It's too bad you don't have a buddy who is handy enough for an engine swap. Because the most cost effective way to address this would probably be to buy a wrecked salvage car with a good motor and do a swap, then part out the rest of that car. BY FAR. As long as you could find a suitable car. Even with shipping across the US, you'd come out ahead. I can swap an engine in a day now, in my garage... It's a weekend project for someone who's capable.
     
  13. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    #4 Zapski, Sep 30, 2015
    Smells fishy to me.

    Also, Welcome to MA!
     
  14. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #5 Nathan, Sep 30, 2015
    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.
     
  15. Amphib0410

    Amphib0410 New Member

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    #7 Amphib0410, Sep 30, 2015
    I'm in north New Jersey. Does anyone know any good independent Mini shops nearby? The dealer can't tell me what's wrong, other than the motor severely overheated. They're definitely in the 'remove and replace' mode, rather than repair.
     
  16. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #8 MCS02, Sep 30, 2015
    Welcome to MA! why can it not be rebuilt? I would call an independent shop and get a second oppinion. But I agree I would go the used engine rout.
     
  17. Crashton

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    #9 Crashton, Sep 30, 2015
    Call Helix they are in Philly. They are a VERY good shop. It will be worth the tow to have them do the work.
     
  18. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    #10 00Mini, Sep 30, 2015
    An independent shop that is not a stranger to MINIS will serve you well and save you a decent amount of money. Good luck with your repairs and Welcome to Motoring Alliance !!
     
  19. Rawhyde

    Rawhyde Active Member

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    #11 Rawhyde, Sep 30, 2015
    Welcome to MA. I wish you didn't have to look for us under such horrible circumstances. Like several others, I think your best option is to get a good used engine and either install it yourself or hire a trustworthy independent shop.

    Try to get the dealership to give you some more specific diagnosis than it overheated and needs replacement. It could be rebuildable.
     
  20. Amphib0410

    Amphib0410 New Member

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    #13 Amphib0410, Oct 15, 2015
    Thanks for all of your replies. Here's where things stand right now.

    First, the dealer reduced the quoted price for replacement of the motor from $12k to $8k.

    I contacted an independent Mini shop (Helix) and they ballparked the motor replacement at $8k. I also contacted a local mechanic who's done some other work for me in the past (not on the Mini). He also quoted $8k, but his price was for a used motor with 21k miles on it.

    Since $8k is still a truckload of dough, I called Mini USA. They offered to throw $1k into the pot, reducing the cost to $7k.

    Here's what's really bothering me. About 5k miles ago (and three months before the timing chain replacement) I had the car into the dealer's shop for an oil change and brake job. They reported that the water pump was leaking and its drive belt was cracked. I had both of these items fixed. Now, here I am only a few months later with a cooked motor. It seems to me that the overheating had to be caused by either a water pump that wasn't working properly or loss of coolant - the two things that I paid to have fixed only a few months ago.

    It just doesn't seem right to have to pay $7k for a repair brought about by the failure of a system I recently had repaired and for which I had such little warning. Am I missing something or looking at this the wrong way?
     
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