New Mini starter motor

[Crater Creator]

Just fixed the wife's Mini Cooper starter motor/solenoid.
I would not suggest anyone attempt this job unless they have a lot of patience and tiny hands. It tested my patience to the extreme.
Getting the thing out is an absolute bugger of a job - it's in the back of the engine, behind the intake manifold. Took about 4 hours to get the thing out - but if I did it again I could likely do it in 2.
A new starter was going to be 330 quid - which spurred my perseverance considerably. Eventually got it out, then it was just a case of stripping the solenoid, lots of WD40, bit of grease, back in. Working a treat now.
Feeling quite pleased with myself that a job which would have cost me a fortune at the dealer cost me £0.00.

 

[pedrobedro]

Feeling quite pleased with myself that a job which would have cost me a fortune at the dealer cost me £0.00.

How many knuckles though ?

 

[Robotstar5]

I thought modern cars needed a main stealer with a laptop to open the bonnet these days

 

[MCKDAVID]

I'm with robotstar, you mean there's an engine under that black plastic cover thing Under the bonnet? who'd have guessed... not obviousl signs on mine

good on you for not paying their extortionate rates.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Odd.
Our neighbours daughter has a 4 year old BMW Mini with a starter motor issue.
She took it back and made a complaint that a 4 year old car with a 100,000 miles warranties needs a new starter motor. At first the dealership tried, it is second hand etc.
She went Don't care.
They replaced the starter motor under warrantie.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

And it'll only get worse as the stop/start function nonsense proliferates.

 

[pedrobedro]

And it'll only get worse as the stop/start function nonsense proliferates.

Stop starts use a combined starter and alternator that should be easier to get at but will be dearer to replace till they become more mainstream.

 

[Crater Creator]

How many knuckles though ?

All of them. But I can live with the pain for the price....