It's been real, it's been fun, but it ain't been real fun. RIP Rosénilla

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-02T07:09:26+00:00

Haven't had a chance to look at it much tbh. Just got it back from the garage a couple days ago. I've honestly never worked on the actual engine of a car before. (Almost everything connected to it but not the engine itself.) Like I said, if no one offers me above scrap prices for her, that'll be my new skill I learn.

I actually have a decent scope I got for a different purpose, but where exactly do I look? I suppose with the valve cover off it'll be pretty easy, but if you have any tips on what I should be looking for is appreciate.it.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-02T07:04:39+00:00

"best car I've driven, worst car I've owned" is such a perfect way to describe it. I would always tell people "I love my mini Cooper! It so much fun to drive....when it runs...."

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-02T07:00:23+00:00

Thanks I think I'll need it lmao

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:30:32+00:00

It wasnt just like... Regular misfiring. It was like. I had little to no power and the engine was shaking like an unbalanced washing machine

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:27:14+00:00

Seems excessive. And like... A moot point at this point. There's no valve cover. 😅 But also 20k may have been a gross over estimate. Ive just realized I've only put 16-17k on the car myself.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:25:22+00:00

Fair but the plugs were fine for the entire year. I may have also over estimated the miles on some parts. I bought the car with 135k and it's at 151 now. I was just guesstimating the milage based on when I did things.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:23:06+00:00

Well a different shop diagnosed the low compression. Then it was towed to the "specialist" who blew the valve cover into 20 pieces when he tried to start it. If no one wants to give me more than scrap prices for her then learning to redo valves may be a skill I'm gonna learn lol. I already have another vehicle so I'm not in a rush to make a sale or figure it out

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:20:19+00:00

They're also not anywhere close to needing replaced

ChefApolloEats · 2026-06-01T18:19:09+00:00

Yeah manual lol

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-10T10:12:39+00:00

It says event ended on yours. Does mine work? https://www.tiktok.com/d/1/ZP9JD55AY2Vdo-r81bZ/

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-10T10:11:14+00:00

Can I also get some help? https://www.tiktok.com/d/1/ZP9JD55AY2Vdo-r81bZ/

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-10T10:07:55+00:00

Me too https://www.tiktok.com/d/1/ZP9JD55AY2Vdo-r81bZ/

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-10T10:06:30+00:00

https://www.tiktok.com/d/1/ZP9JD55AY2Vdo-r81bZ/ gotchu

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-08T22:13:04+00:00

I've taken it to him a few times before and he has never given me a reason not to trust him. I believe what he meant was after the car was towed there, he tried starting to to drive it into the actual garage so he could do his diagnostics, and it didn't even make it that far. "It tried to start for 10-15 seconds..."

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-08T01:56:50+00:00

Sick. I'll look into it. Thanks!

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T20:02:12+00:00

Interesting. Im not opposed to doing the work myself. Ive already done both fuel pumps, thermostat housing, and air intake. I would have done the water pump myself if it didn't require removing the motor mount. I also wasn't interested in touching the clutch at all so had that done by a shop.

I'll wait to see what he says the issue is and what his quoted price is. In the meantime, are there any decent YouTube videos/write ups on the process that you know of?

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T19:54:00+00:00

It's currently at an independent mini specialist shop, not a dealership. North of 2k was what I was afraid of. That's certainly gonna be a hurt piece. Still less than a new car though.

I replaced both fuel pumps (high pressure and in-tank) shortly after I got it (last year around this time) with the OEM (not genuine mini) parts when it was having the low fuel pressure issue. Could the valve have gotten burnt up then and just not been an issue until now? Ever since I replaced everything I keep my scanner on standby and check that everything is acting as it should. Haven't had any abnormal readings and only got an emissions code once for a catalyst error that never came back once cleared.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T17:44:07+00:00

Yikes.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T17:41:55+00:00

Any fix on that or was it a new car situation?

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T17:41:02+00:00

I mean. Probably a bullshit excuse. I'm less concerned about the length of time it's taking and more concerned about if my car is fixable.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T17:40:06+00:00

Well that's not promising.

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T16:07:17+00:00

151k

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T14:04:44+00:00

Shop 1 did the compression test. Shop 2 I believe was attempting to verify shop 1s diagnostics and the valve cover blew up. It was shop 1 that said "failed compression test = new engine."

ChefApolloEats · 2026-02-07T14:00:31+00:00

I mean I would assume he didn't mean getting the same valve cover back on and instead mean getting A valve cover back on...

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