Step by step how to fix leaky valve cover on a 2002-06 MINI Cooper S (R52, R53). Similar process for Cooper non-S (R50). Buy the valve cover gasket here: amzn.to/2RIZzcO Mod MINI's Tools: amzn.to/2QEMznK Gen 1 MINI Cooper Parts: amzn.to/2AMemOk Mod MINI Tip jar: www.fundly.com/mod-mini-tip-jar See all the Mod MINI Videos on my channel: kzfaq.info

You are a GOD amongst r53 Mini Cooper owners. Thank you for your content. All hail Mod MINI.

I’ve owned my ‘05 R53 since new. Proud to say my CooperS has never been to the dealer since it’s warranty days, in part, thanks to you.. As these cars get older, this channel gets more valuable. Thanks.

You're the only place i go to look up how to fix something on my 6speed R53 Mini, Im about to replace my BPV. Ive already replaced the Alternator, and my front CV's just from your video's, they help tremendously! Means a lot, what you do, and i hope you keep making videos for a while! I love my r53 may sell it for a F-56 then get another r53 after it's paid off! again thank you for everything you do!

I did this in 1hr cause of you!!! I consider myself slightly above average at my own mechanics, but the mini s is in a class alone. I would have fucked up 4sure without you're generous tips & tricks of the mini trade! I've done so much work myself thanks 2u.! Oil filter housing gasket was more challenging but still easy enough. Thank you again......& again 🤪 Anyone who owns a 1st gen mini S knows the work go's on & on.......& on!!!! These cars are worth every bloody knuckle!!!!🤣

Stuck my iPad on the windscreen and copied this. Done in 2 hours. Many thanks

Thanks for providing these videos. You do an excellent job. You're voice and video footage is clear and easy to follow.

Thanks for showing us the underside view & pointing out the other leak possibilities

i don't own a mini. still very much like your videos. that's a fairly easy repair compared to the other jobs you showed us.

Just want to say thanks for the great MINI maintenance videos. I recently bought a cool little 2006 Cooper S and your videos have been a great resource guide.

I recently got a mini and your channel is truly a blessing especially when you list the parts you get for the mini! Thank you and keep it up!

Great video. Glad you specified that you torqued to snug. At first glance I thought you went to good and tight.

Replaced the valve cover gasket and spark plug boots on my 2004 MCS today. Thanks for another very good instructional video!

Thanks Mod MINI, you’ve saved your subscribers lots of money. Easy to follow, great tips, well laid out for anyone to follow.

Thank you! Dealer said I needed to change oil pan gasket as well but thanks to you it's prob only the valve cover. Saving me so much money because I hate getting under the car and now I don't have to pay someone to do that and just do the valve cover myself.

I was just told by the mechanic that put my ball joints on (after I over torqued the bolt right off)..ugh... that my valve cover gasket is leaking also...and that I can actually do it. with watching this and all your instructional video's this is unbelievably reassuring to me that I can just pause the play and get whatever has me stuck done because of how calm you and knowledgeable you are about these cars. I never thought being a Toyota guy that I would buy another Mini after the first one we had... but I missed the manual and the handling of these pita but totally fun to drive cars. Nothing else drives like the R53 I just got either... the super charger is freaking awesome!!! Thanks RJ

Thanks for another awesome, concise and well documented tutorial! I had a BMW mechanic R&R a leaking oil filter housing gasket (something I couldn't do myself do to logistics), = $650 Also quoted me $450 to replace the valve cover gasket. Watched your video and finished the job in just under 2hrs (I like my engines/bay super clean so 1hr for cleaning),+ Gasket = $15. Thanx for the links! BTW: For those who keep asking; The torque setting for valve cover bolts is 9ft lbs. 9ft lbs is pretty much a little more than hand tight. A firm hand tight.

Your videos are great. My 05 R53 started leaking oil like the Exxon Valdez (showing my age there) and in the 1st couple minutes of this video describe exactly what my Mini is doing. Thank you!

I just wanted to take a second and thank you for your videos, I just ordered Slotted/drilled rotors, pads, braided lines, 1 man bleeder, pcv, vvt solenoid ,valve cover gasket, plugs wires (did plugs), ignition coil, fuel pump filter (maybe need pump not sure yet), brake depression tool kit and I went and bought 150 pc mech craftsman set, 3 breaker bars (1/2 3/8 1/4, craftsman torn bit set.. Along with an Think100Oobd which was referred by Scotty Kilmer You gave me the courage to do my own work but only because of your videos that I can follow along so easily....you’re the man Mod Mini. I have a basic understanding but I’m not a mechanic. After that I’ll need to fix a few more things but I’m trying to eliminate one thing at a time and trying to do it cost effective. So ty for your time on these educational videos brother, stay safe out there and hit the pedal to the floor.

Thanks for an excellent video! I came looking to just replace the intercooler boots, but you convinced me to replace the valve cover gasket!

Great to see you back! This is gonna come in hamdy when i am gonna install a new cam in the future.

Just done mine. What a rave. Definitely made easier by watching this video though. Thank you, Mini Mod. 👍

They quoted me $250 to do this job. Thanks to this video, I'll be doing it myself :). Thank You!!

Gonna do cover gasket to my 05-R53 soon n it’s my first ever to replace gasket on R53, glad to see your vid n my MCs will be happy soon for the first new gasket since 17 Years ago it has stock n reliable enough ‘till today without engine problem thanks!

I’m about to do this soon, thanks Mod Mini

Thank you so much for this video. Thank you for all of your videos. You've saved me countless $$$... actually, there have been more than one occasions where I contemplated selling, parting or trashing my mini to take another loan on a different car just to get to work the next day, but your confidence, through repairs and explanations have kept me calm and working on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I saw recently you have a tip jar of some sort. Once, my Mini isn't teetering on catastrophic failure I'll be able to thank you from the top of my wallet too. I have had my mini since it's 160K mile mark. I'm at 198K now after 2 years of ownership. Since I have had my true silver R50 04 there has been a noticeable 1 quart every 1k miles oil leak. It's fairly expensive, and I think that it's the valve seals, but since valve cover gaskets are $5 online, and $13 from orileys, I'm gonna do this repair and see if that stop this leak. Any advice you have or experience to share would be further appreciated. I'll be sure to tip you as well as I can before December; my wife and I need to replace the Mini's motor mounts (a transmission mount replacement is $60 and I'm hesitant to buy a powerflex not seeing it be placed on by someone else. After the Mini we will repair her Aveo's (mostly suspension, she did here valve cover all by her self!!). Thank you so much. Couple other questions: Is my 5 speed 04 R50 a Getrag transmission? (curious because of comments of reliability) Are the R50's direct injected? (because of valve cleanliness) Is adding a supper charger a thing? Would buying a supercharged engine be more sensible? or just go get an 05-06 R53? Not saying I want (to spend the time and money on maintenance to own) one, I've just been curious about the modification.

You’re a mini god... glad I found your channel 👍✌️

Thanks for making the detailed video. Nice work on it.

Thanks for sharing this. This is actually a job I need to do on my mini.

The only channel is subscribed for my mini. I thought I could get away with replacing the gasket without removing the intercooler but no after all.... Anyways, perfect. Thanks

Glad you're back. 🤗 love your videos

Thank you for the video. Managed to replace the gasket on my car.

I'll be doing this project with my nephew and his first car thanks great video

I'm going to be doing this soon, your videos are invaluable thank you!!

Excellent tuto. Très clair et précis. J'ai pu changer mon joint de cache culbuteurs sans problème. Merci de nous faire profiter de ton savoir faire.

Fantastic thorough video my friend! Thank you

Thanks so much for all the great videos, your work as a mechanic and teacher to all of us is superb! You can tell you enjoy what you do, and thanks for sharing all your knowledge and know how. christopher:-)

Looks easy my friend thank you

Superb video matey! done mine today you are a superstar !!

Thanks for another great video.

Excellent video! Thanks

I’ve replaced my valve cover gasket before and not any issues. This time my valve cover screws were so rusted the heads of the screws lost their shape and I was stumped on how to get these last two screws loose. I decided to force a smaller socket on them and cracked them loose finally. Unfortunately I had to call the stealer I mean Dealer for more screws. 18$ for each screw. I said what the hell.. give me four. 90$ later. 😝 I was able to put my valve cover back on. Geesh another lesson learned.

Thank for all video... 👏👏👏

Thank you so much for the vid 🤘🏽

Great video. Thanks

Nice Jack's!

Always enjoy your videos - thanks! Can you provide additional info on the awesome full length jackstand/supports you use? Happy New Year!

LOL ...Perfect timing..After a year of the annoying oil leak.I'm sitting here with a fan on my engine cooling it off about to start this job when this came to my inbox.. I even have the same felpro gasket from Amazon.....I'll let you know how it goes..

With all due respect and your relevant knowledge is greater than mine, perhaps American cars use a different brand of gasket but the UK definitely leak from the plug gaskets at about 70-130k miles. I just thought it'd be useful to know for UK viewers, the extra cost is negligible with labour being the right determining factor.

Thanks man doing this tomorrow it was easy on the diesel. Every time I see these tho it’s like yep that bits going to break like you said and yep mine are rusted so it’s going to shred and need drilling lol

He's back!!! Love it man!

Hello again still enjoying your channel and learned a ton on the R53 Mini S. I thought I'd ask you two questions about my 69K mile '05 S. When I turn the steering wheel I get some creaking. Control arm bushings where replaced a couple years ago and still seem tight. And second when I let the clutch out going in 1st or reverse I get this weird squeal/howl but only until it warms up then seems like it don't do it. Thank you for your time and this is the funniest car I have ever owned.

Amazing

Still awesome

Your vids are the best I have found on here all together. I have a 2005 R50 with the 5 speed getrag box that I am looking to replace. I have seen that a lot of people here in the UK have replaced with the 6 speed box out of the mini s. I was wondering how easy is this job for a home mechanic I am easy with this type but I wanted to check that is it the gearbox / drive shafts /gear linkage slave cylinder etc which I can get out of a rear end damage write off. And what is the different between the W10B16A engine and the W11B16A engine and am I missing anything please

One of those bolts you refer to at 5:41 with the long thread on it but towards the left stripped on me. Frustrating as can be they’re pretty rusty. Would there be any adverse effect to cutting the threaded part off to give me access to use an easy out socket ?

Hi modmini

Im a new mini r53 owner and gained another subscriber. I will pass your channel along not that it isnt popular already. Great videos, do you have on to remove the timing cover I think I have the rattle-but it only started right after i swapped to the 15% pulley-I mean i parked the car for the ob (no rattle)-started the car while in the air to check and rattle. I replaced the belt with the recommended one in your video/forums but not the tensioner which i have on order now. Again thank you :)

Amazing content I love your Chanel :) I’ll be doing this to my mini this weekend, however I’ll be also replacing all the valve cover bolts as mine are pretty rusty. Do you recommend using grease/ anti seize on the new bolts before installing them? Thank you so much :)

Great informative content as always. I have burnt oil around #2/3 plug boots and small amount of smoke from the exhaust on start up... Could this resolve it or is it something else? Thanks 👍

nice video; should definitely have changed plug gaskets too (labour overhead)

What are you using for your sill stands/lift?

What’s the brown crud underneath? Glue of some sort?

You work like a flat rate tech in mini. I use to work for them. Miss those days

very detailed. another great mini copper video to watch...have you ever had to deal with a rear passenger seat latch that won't release? i sure hope so because i'm having that very issue with a 2003 non turbo mini currently. it feels like the latch has resistance and it dose spring back upon release. any advise with how to address this problem would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance and keep those videos coming.

Sorry if this is not video-related I have a 2004 mini cooper S r53 and just 4 days ago it started making like a air-y sound when on, its a little loud but unable to hear origin due to aftermarket exhaust. It sounds like the serpentine belt (or however you call it) I didn't mind it but yesterday the car started overheating when idle, I did almost red lined it last week when I raced it. Do you think its something SC or water pump related? Or is it the head gasket? (Please say its not lol) or maybe a thermostat gasket. I need a little options to check. I will check fans and coolant leaks tomorrow

Its a great video to watch for guidance. Thank you. My 2004 cooper S my friend said needs to replace valve seal gasket because i always adding oil. after watching this video do you think he is right? not valve cover gasket. Please reply me asap.thank you so much.

Firstly thanks for all of the videos, you’ve helped me out a lot with working on my r53. I think I have a rocker cover leak as I have a lot of oil residue under the car around the oil filter housing and cooler. It looks to me like it’s leaking from the rocker cover as after degreasing the whole area and then driving the car it has a bit of residue around the back of the rocker. My question is could all of the oil around the back and the bottom of the engine be from the rocker leak? Seems a lot of oil! Thanks

Will be doing this job soon. How many bolts need to be removed from the valve cover ? Some of my bolts are rusty and I'm wanting to change all of them and I need a count for ordering online. Thanks!

Great Video Super Helpful. QUESTION- Can you clarify if it is (necessary) to replace the Valve Cover bolts at all? Seems there is a lot of info on Mini blogs suggesting that (they should "always" be replaced). But i haven't seen any videos yet where folks are actually replacing them (except when they really rusted). Mine are in good visual appearance. I appreciate you feedback.

Question, I’m taking off my headers and replacing them....is it easier to install the new header with the VC removed???

Hello, quick question from your experience do you remember any that sometimes the valve cover where the screw is can be crack? I replaced he gasket and new screw and I have one screw hat has a leak . If the screw below the distributed by the exhaust side middle of the valve cover. I replaced the screw with the gasket and still leaking from the screw . Any advice appreciated

Hello Mod Mini, do I need to change the o-rings on bolts for valve cover or it Is not necessary? Thank you for any feedback.

Hi man, my bolts are all very rusty, do you have any idea where can i get new ones? Thanks and keep going with your amazing job

So my mini has just conked out on me, it lost power and the engine light came on. I have found that my spark plugs have engine oil on them. I assume that the Valve gasket cover is the problem. Could you give me some advice on what will have to be done to get her back into working order? 👍❤ cleaning, changing gaskets etc

Hi Mod mini! Question about your Milwaukee tools you used on this job. Did you have to break the screws and bolts that you took off with a ratchet first or did these do the complete job by themselves. I see the torques are around 30ft lbs. Also is the torque adjustable? Thanks and as always great videos!! John

What kind of preventive replacement/maintenance should you do When you do This job? Car is 15years old so:)

Any idea why mine will try to start but won't turn over? I've replaced the gasket and the spark plug seals

First bolt of the first black intercooler brackers fall down.. I cant blind find it with my little pickup up magnet cable... Dont know if I will need remove more stuff to find it...

Hello sir New owner of a old 02 r53. Will be doing this soon due to leaks. Question is, can I inspect condition of timing chain visualy? No rattle of any kind for now. And also, while changing crankshaft pulley, how hard is to change cover gasket, do I have to move engine up-down? Thank you and respect!

Broke my pcv valve, should have taken your advice and been careful. Also, I have a little bit of oil inside the two rubber pieces holding the intercooler. Is that indicative of anything?

I changed mine via your old video... it still leaked. I got a mechanic to fix it along with some other stuff. He used some sort of black sealant... Leaking again. Do you think this black stuff will pick off? As I want to try it again myself as its leaking more than ever!

All the screws that hold my valve cover are rusty and rounded. I have a tough time swallowing $200 in just a couple of screws. Have you tried any alternative screws from eg: Home Depot, etc?

Hi!! What is the tighten order of the bolts?, i know the torque, but not the order.

Hi, what are the torque settings for this job? Thanks

What was that wired plug on the oil pan drain plug ?

Hey man thanks for the video. I'm doing my r53 valve cover and plug seals next weekend. I noticed when I did spark plugs that there was some oil down the one tube and the front of the valve cover was moist. I have an 04 jcw with the other valve cover plate. Have you noticed any differences between the normal r53 and the jcw r53 valve covers?

do i need to drain engine oil beforehand?

Do I need spark plug tube seals?

Hello Mod MINI do I need to change my valve cover if my oil and air separator is damaged. and on the inside of the valve cover i see some silicon like its been reapired before.i can send you a photo of my value cover. please help

Is it at all possible to remove the valve cover without removing the driver-side intercooler bracket (4:24)? The bolts for it are quite fragile and BMW decided to thread BOTH PARTS (sigh), so if you break a bolt head off you're pretty screwed (no pun intended) - you'd have to remove the entire intake manifold at that point?

To replace the valve cover gasket, do I have to drain the coolant?

0:39 what is that in place of the oil plug?

If you can smell oil sometimes burning it's the rocker cover.

Can i put a blow of valve to my mini cooper 2005 s convertible?? Where are u?

How did you know?

I bet your car will Not start, you forgot to mention the coil pack plug hook up underneath the coil pack, other then that a good Video, Thanks you.

Great Video, my spark plug boots are stuck, all 4 of them, I'm pulling up so hard the thing stretches but no click, the entire engine is beginning to move as I pull and nothing. What do I do? I'm worried that I'll snap the spark plug in half. Please advice.