MINI Cooper Turbochargers

Background

The turbo is a marvel of technology - it allows more performance to be extracted of an engine with better fuel economy. The downside is that it is a wear item - due to its construction and delicate parts, it will need to be replaced eventually.

The Issue

The turbo parts that generally fail are the bearings, the wheel, and the shafts. You see, the turbo spins are very high speeds all the time, so naturally those internal parts are subject to tremendous wear and tear.

Popular MINI Cooper Models With a Turbo

As a general rule, the 'S' designation in a MINI Cooper indicates you have a turbo. This depends on the generations, though:

1. First gen, R50/53, the R53 engine is equipped with a supercharger that generally requires service but not replacement
2. Second gen, R55/R56/R60, the N14 and N18 engines are turbocharged, the N12 and N16 are not.
3. Third gen, F55/F56/F60, the B38 and B48 engines are always turbocharged.



Symptoms of a Failed Turbo

• Diminished performance - you'd feel the car is lethargic, especially at higher RPMS
• A check engine light on, either sporadic (when the turbo begins to fail) or permanent (when the engine computer detects a certain number of failure events during a specific timeframe)
• Code P0299 stored in the engine computer (PCM - Powertrain Control Module). This can be read by any generic scanner. A more sophisticated scanner will give a sub-code.

 The Repair

BMW  (like most German manufacturers) doesn't make their own turbos, contrary to what the Service Advisor at the overpriced franchised dealer will tell you. For their MINI brand, BMW sourced the turbo from BorgWarner, a trusted manufacturer from Germany. They also provide turbos for other brands, like BMW, Audi, and Land Rover. That's the brand we always use.

It's important NOT to use a re-manufactured or cheap knock-off turbo - those never last, leading to duplicate labor or engine damage.

The correct job needs also:

• Oil and coolant lines and gaskets
• Bolts and studs, clips, nuts
• Flange gasket
• Fresh LiquiMoly 5W30 oil and blue BMW coolant
• LiquiMoly turbocharger additive - used to protect the turbo as the first spins will have no oil or coolant. This increases the longevity and reliability of the new turbo.

This is a pretty complex job best left to a trained mechanic. It entails putting the car in service mode, removing engine cover, catalytic converter, air box, clips, crankcase ventilation system, oil and coolant lines, and more.

A final inspection for air/oil/coolant leaks and erasing of the codes with a Euro specific scanner ensures a great result.