[CarsOrBikes]

fwiw ~£480 here for basic head gasket plus parts and engineering,

no two cars are the same of course and stuff gets discovered so costs can change, some cars are a gooey mess and cleaning costs apply differently, or just other work while its apart as I'm sure you can imagine.

I've read of a few estimated north of 1.5k, a Prince motor might be 1.2k~ perhaps but not these really. It would be more if the head is fully stripped and stem seals changed and valves lapped but not by much, just did one with all new OEM springs replaced, stem seals, and exhaust valves lapped ~£800, no skim, crank sensor o ring also, on an R50. Another similar on R53 with a skim and all valves re-lapped but no stem seals, that one though had other discoveries and the basic job reassembled regardless pending a better planned repair of a more detailed nature soon, customer choice and still much better than it was now it's not running hot (found to have had cylinders sleeved, one of which has dropped which will have contributed to the gasket issue), facing duplicated cost perhaps but better than an unplanned rebuild or leaving in bits pending one.

 

[NigelStap]

That's a bit steep and more then i was expecting. What does that involve for the £1400? A head skim, fluids, gasket set and labour ?

Yes it does. I'd definitely want them to source all components.

 

[NigelStap]

fwiw ~£480 here for basic head gasket plus parts and engineering,

no two cars are the same of course and stuff gets discovered so costs can change, some cars are a gooey mess and cleaning costs apply differently, or just other work while its apart as I'm sure you can imagine.

I've read of a few estimated north of 1.5k, a Prince motor might be 1.2k~ perhaps but not these really. It would be more if the head is fully stripped and stem seals changed and valves lapped but not by much, just did one with all new OEM springs replaced, stem seals, and exhaust valves lapped ~£800, no skim, crank sensor o ring also, on an R50. Another similar on R53 with a skim and all valves re-lapped but no stem seals, that one though had other discoveries and the basic job reassembled regardless pending a better planned repair of a more detailed nature soon, customer choice and still much better than it was now it's not running hot (found to have had cylinders sleeved, one of which has dropped which will have contributed to the gasket issue), facing duplicated cost perhaps but better than an unplanned rebuild or leaving in bits pending one.

I intend to ask exactly what they do in the job. Costs go up rapidly when you have to pay for someone else's time.

 

[NigelStap]

Booked in on 7th March to be fixed.

Some say I must be daft, then if I wasn't daft I wouldn't have bought a second car to start with (yet alone a mini R53)!

 

[KeithyCoop]

If nothing was worth saving we’d all be driving EVs and queueing for hours to charge them…if we could afford to.

 

[CarsOrBikes]

we only have classic cars because a daft fucker fixed it again and again and again

 

[juffer]

Your doing the right thing. You couldn't buy a car for £1400 with the same amount of fun or as clean as yours.

 

[KeithyCoop]

we only have classic cars because a daft fucker fixed it again and again and again

It’s called passion and yes being a daft fucker is another way of putting it.

 

[NigelStap]

Sweet little face, could do no wrong!

 

[NigelStap]

These turned up today (thanks to eBay):

Dual gauges for a PFL, complete with column shrouds. They cost less then the gauges are normally listed for on their own.

It is important to get the right set as PFL and FL are different. Note that the chrono centre gauges are FL only.

They were a bit dirty, so I stripped them apart and gave them a good clean and polished the clear plastic inside and out. Surprising how filthy they get inside. Now looking almost new again.

Watch this video to see how to strip them apart (he fits new dial faces rather than cleaning the plastic): BMW R53 MINI Dial/Clocks/Speedo Upgrade / Replacement / Removal - How To!! - YouTube

 

[NigelStap]

Before anyone asks, you do retain the centre speedo. Twin dials on a PFL are fitted with sat nav.

The column shroud trim for twin dials is different. You can sometimes find them on eBay for a tenner (note the part number): BMW MINI R50/R52/R53 One Cooper Rev Counter Trim for Steering Column 67379411 | eBay You can trim the single dial shroud to fit but it will leave a small gap in the centre, that you wont see.

I think FL cars have the upper shroud moulded all into one, rather than being two seperate parts.

 

[juffer]

I like this idea. Is this a plug and play providing you have the correct pfl/fl dials for the car?

BTW how is the head gasket going?

 

[NigelStap]

It is plug and play provided you get the correct dials. I will need to retain the centre speedo.

The chrono dials from the centre are for FL only. I believe they plug and play (happy to be corrected on that one) to a FL car but you adopt the mileage from the new dials. Chrono dials into a PFL is more complicated, if at all possible (I'm sure someone may be able to say more).

Head gasket is booked for 7th March. The garage will start with a leak down test and go from there. If they do need to change the gasket then I have a new OEM thermostat and coolant temperature sensor they have agreed to fit. Oil cooler is being replaced tomorrow. That just leaves the heater matrix.

Fingers crossed, if all goes well, I will get the car back into regular use. A few more track days would be good. I will then decide to keep or sell late summertime (when I can get 12 months MOT).

 

[juffer]

Thanks for confirming. Something else for the shopping list.

Where do you usually track? I have only ever done one and that was in my sabre tuned focus mk2 st at Anglesey. Absolutely loved it and got the bug. Sold that now and bought the mini.

 

[NigelStap]

I use Snetterton as it's local. Also good to learn on.

I have kept my Mk2 Focus ST.

 

[NigelStap]

I fitted the dual gauges today. Unfortunately there is no replication of the trip computer display from the old tacho.

The warning lights on the dual gauges don't duplicate those on centre speedo. This isn't a surprise (the speedo has no need to send a signal to do so).

I have put the single tacho back on, for now.

 

[KeithyCoop]

The trip computer should be shown in the tacho as it was before, is it blank, I;m sure without the trip compter active something should be in there (outside temp)?

This is ours.

 

[NigelStap]

I have a hunch that as the PFL only had dual gauges for the sat nav (chrono fitted to FL only) there is no provision in the gauges for the trip computer display because the sat nav shows the details instead.

Unlike the FL dual gauges, the black panel on the tacho in PFL dual gauges contains two warning lights rather than a second LCD.

 

[NigelStap]

Picture to confirm my thoughts above. See item 2:

 

[NigelStap]

Dropped off at the garage. Fingers crossed, it comes back ready and raring to go.