I recently acquired a 144K-mile-having 2011 Mini Cooper S whose prior owner babied the interior, dropped a K&N air filter in place, replaced a tail lamp assembly with a cheap aftermarket version that was missing its reflector and full of water, and managed to melt one of the side markers by putting a 5W bulb where a 3W bulb belonged. Not to mention failing to stay on top of some other things, like the accessory belt full of cracks and the front brakes with the wrong pads and shredded dust boots.

So -- with that in mind -- I'm doing a presume-I-need-to-check-everything kind of tuneup. After the plastic coolant tee off the turbo literally tore in two while doing an oil change, I replaced the thermostat and all the coolant hoses except one I couldn't get to without disconnecting the a/c piping and/or removing the radiator. The old water pipe also did the split-in-two thing during this exercise -- at the pump-side O ring -- so I clearly had the right idea in doing the overhaul, at least for the plastic parts.

Now I'm taking care of other bits. Replacing both O2 sensors and the spark plugs -- straightforward and sensible. However, I've never had a car with coil packs before, so I know squat about whether and when to replace them. If this car were your recent acquisition, would you replace the coil packs? The wires? Both/neither?

Thanks for any and all input.

 

I would leave them alone until they fail, personally. Be sure to put a dab of dielectric grease on the inside of the boots where the spark plug is contacted when you re-assemble.

 

If they are working why replace them? Heck the pistons valves & rods have the same mileage. Should you replace them too? ;-)

 

Good tip renchjeep — I wouldn’t have thought about that re: the contact point — thank you!

Hey ashchuckton I was totally gonna replace all the bolts underhood but man that was gonna be a lot of bolts

 

I wouldn't replace them until they need it. Also only replace with original MINI coils as we have issues with aftermarket all the time.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/direct...9-r60-r61.html

 

Thanks everyone -- got the answer from all of you to what I think was my underlying question -- coil packs aren't a wear item. Just replace 'em if they go boom. Well, until they fail, not "go boom."

Appreciate the guidance. My other vehicle's tech is a generation older so I'm coming up to speed -- fast -- on the maintenance aspects of the goodies I haven't laid hands on before.

 

So replacing the plugs was a good move. #1 and #4 were not good. #4 was very not good. None fouled to the point of not firing at all, but... well... (also, apologies for the giganto pics, apparently I need to figure out how to resize these).



Plug #1



Plug #2



Plug #3



Plug #4

All four plugs were Denso SG20HR11 Iridium. Plug #4 was gunk central, or at least had more gunk than I expect to find on a functional plug. No idea how long they had been in there. Replaced them with Beru Z332s (12ZR6SPP21) picked up from Way Motor Works. First start was crisp, clean, and power-laden. Have never heard the vehicle kick up like that before. Anecdotally, it seemed smoother on first ride out; giving it a second run today.