Differences Between The MINI N14 & N18 Engines 

Thanks for commenting and glad you liked the video on the MINI engine. Some good mods post rebuild and I hope you have some great few more years of MINI adventures. JCW definitely had the smile per hour and fun factor at heart when they built them

I have n16..with 230.000 miles n goin.

@user-el5cv1hc9k 🫡🚗

Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. JCW engine is a lot better than S given the low-end torque. HK Audio is the best thing ever. I did an article on my website for mods - jcwadventures.com/2020/06/24/mini-2nd-gen-tuning-guide-the-best-mods-for-the-r56/

It's a great engine and noise

Is the n18 reliable?

@@antonistheo4988 its a nice engine. An old engine now- developed by Peugeot and BMW. As with any ten year old ‘prestige european’ car all the parts need babying and care and refurbishment and replacement as necessary from time to time. Regular checks and maintenance is an absolute must. No shortcuts there! In fact I would even say ‘over maintenance’ is a good thing for these cars to see if there is any little trouble that can be preventively sorted. But the fact is these are beautiful cars. A real joy to drive. Use them properly and drive them daily and have fun with them and generally they will stand with you. But it is true they are a bit temperamental and finicky, like most racehorses also are. Ive clocked more than 20000 kms in the 2.5 years that I have had my R56 and yes Ive had to spend time and money to make sure its in good nick. But this is also because during the first 33000kms of its life with the previous owner it wasnt maintained quite as efficiently as it should have been. Like I said one can take absolutely no shortcuts with these cars! Engine oil and filter changes for example are better done more often than not…at shorter intervals. Better for the car and better because its preventive… And all this Im saying is based on the harsh climatic and road conditions of India where I live… such places need more maintenance.

@@Jcwadventures does that engine the n18 for 2012 have stronger internals or is it the same ones that equipped the base models or n14 overall?

@@toninhotlou4560 The JCW models had forged pistons. N18 was built better with over the N14 flaws

Glad it helped

Yes it's very much love-hate relationship with 2nd Gen R Series MINIs

Does it burn oil? Did you have any problems with it?

@@wellwh0 Nope. Within 6000km it only consumed 0,6l oil. I've exceeded 100.000km now. No chain rattling, no grooves in the camshafts.

@@Squilliam-Fancyson that's alot still. Sump is 4.2L... thanks for info

@@wellwh0 100ml per 1000km is not much at all. With a proper oilcooler it would be even less. The thing is, these engines are designed to run very hot, with oil temps. up to 120° celsius under heavy load. But thats not a big deal when oil changes are performed more frequently.

@@Squilliam-Fancyson Thanks for reply. Is there any pupose for that design that engines run so hot?

Appreciate the compliment

Glad you liked it 👍🏽

Enjoy your MINI and drive it. Make sure you look after it

No worries glad it helped

No worries. Glad it helped

Thanks. Glad you liked it

Thanks and I hope it helped you

Appreciate it - Did take a fair few days to make

Thanks. Hopefully, it will be easy motoring. Remember oil changes every 8,000 miles

Glad you liked it

My pleasure - If you need more info let me know

I have wondered that for our a few years knowing it. Should be possible as it would slot in and only issue I can see is the ECU and wiring loom working with the rest of the car - I did a post of my blog if money was no object build - jcwadventures.com/2015/10/05/building-the-ultimate-r56-weekend-road-warrior/

JCW Adventures do you know if the Peugeot 270bhp engine is similar to the N18 or N14 engine?

@@MrDellboy88 It would be an N18 Engine but the internals are changed - reinforced engine block, specific turbo and exhaust manifolds, stronger conrods and new forged pistons by Mahle Motorsport

JCW Adventures ok interesting. I have seen a few people how have swapped the N14 engine for the N18 engine but it is a huge amount of work. It basically involved transplanting the whole loom and modules from an N18 car into the N14 car. Swapping the 270bhp Peugeot engine into an N18 car may be a bit easier than into an N14 car.

@@MrDellboy88 Yeah if it's MINI N18 to N18 PUG 270 Bhp it would be easier and not so much on an N14 as you explained. Like anything car related it's how much money and time you want to sink into it.

No problem and glad it helped

Borg Warner K03 turbo. The turbos can we swapped from N14 to N18 and N18 to N14. The N18 turbo had revisions as it has an extra hole on the compressor side to support a coolant line. You won’t have any issues using either turbo.

@@Jcwadventures Thanks for the quick reply 👍🏻

R55 S or JCW will always be often overlooked as it looks weird. Enjoy your sleeper

No problem. If have any questions feel free to ask 👍

I have the N-14 r56s I want to change the exhaust manifold for jcw exhaust manifold there is code to recognize the jcw manifold??

@@user-fm9xm1xv9u Do you mean the part number for the JCW manifold?

@@Jcwadventures yes mate!!

Thank u!!

Thanks for that info

What do you need help with about the N14?

My scanner 2013 mini manually always hoping of my Selection are 56? Idk I was sure it’s a R56

I appreciate listening and commenting

@@Jcwadventures is there any software available for the R56 N18 GP? It seems it’s difficult to get proper software for them? I’m in South Africa

@@ericvermeulen9853 Which software?

Glad it helped - depends really - can you see the coil pack on yours? If yes then its an N14

@@Jcwadventures Thank you so much for the reply!

No worries I am glad I helped

It is possible if it's a Facelift model - Happy to help further by email if you need any more advice

It will be Peugeot or citroen engine as per in the video

jcwadventures.com/2020/12/20/sorry-i-am-not-perfect-common-2nd-gen-r56-mini-problems/ - This will help you

jcwadventures.com/2020/10/12/modern-classic-the-ulitmate-2nd-gen-r56-mini-buyers-guide/ - Another helpful article I wrote

The only recall issue was the oil feedline and coolant pump

Alot of the issues were ironed out with the N18 but like with any car the timing chain will need replacing at some point as it will stretch over time

N14 will consume more oil - N18 is lower maintenance - All depends on budget and don't ever stretch yourself to buy any car - Always have a spare £1000 set aside

at least it does in the R60

True

Thank you

The warning signs come before it lets go with the rattling chain from a cold start. Regular oil changes are needed, along with getting the updated chain tensioner

If you plan on keeping the car stock, then get the 2012 Cooper S with the N18. However, if you are planning to tune/race or track then the 2009/10 JCW N14 is the better car to have as the engine is strong in the JCW given its different pistons etc

Appreciate the advice

N18 still uses a throttle body. The throttle body is there incase the valvetronic was to fail. Also N12, N16, and N18 series engines in America all came with valvetronic. The differences being dual or single VANOS (VVT). Oh and of course the N12/16 being naturally aspirated. Valvetronic simply controls the opening of the intake valves to tenths of a mm so that the engine can breathe at idle without the need for the throttle body. This results in smoother idle and engagement with near zero throttle lag (with a tune), as you don't have to wait for a throttle to flip open, and air to be pulled into the manifold and then the cylinder. The eccentric shaft does all the adjustments right at the valve tip, with a less restricted intake manifold as the throttle body is held in the WOT position at all times. It's not without its faults though. Eccentric shafts can fail and that's a costly repair. Also, the throttle bodies on N18's are notorious for failing and not setting codes. If you get that annoying stumble, then surge in power when you mash the throttle pedal, chances are you have a stuck TB blocking airflow.

It's the luck of the dice sometimes. I am glad I have the extended warranty as I have been through thermostats and water pumps

With the cooper S it was a safe bet that you got the N18 with the LCI R56 here in Europe (so from 2011 model onward). By contrast, I have never seen a N18 JCW R56 here, and that is certanly true for cars built and registered in 2011 and 2012. I have only seen N18 coupes, roadsters and GP2. It's like JCW hatchbacks with N18 never existed. And i'm searching for N18 JCW hatch for a while now.

Glad to hear it

How reliable was it during the 154k mileages

Good to know just bought a N18 mini cooper with 93k miles was a little nervous lol what major repairs have you done? Thanks

@@isaaclebrun5178 It's still going good. My clutch is beginning to show minor slippage, but I'm at 164k miles now, lol.

@@Z71__ The ones I mentioned were the major repairs I've had done. Also, the coil packs and spark plugs (way back). As I mentioned above, my clutch is beginning to show some slippage and I'm at 164k miles now.

N18 fixed alot of the N14 issues

Saab have a way of doing things -> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Bk5CTRu_Pzw.html

Thanks for that input and for watching the video. Peugeot did make the engine better over the years. I am surprised they are keeping it going to be fair. I still love the engine in my MINI as it's been good to me. The B series didn't start off well in the beginning but those issues have been ironed out.

hello, are you referring to the N14 engine or the N18 engine??

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uhzUs6yPOoM.html my video on how to look after an N14

Best mods are arm intake and sports cat engine wise

@@Jcwadventures Thank you, do you think it is a good engine still? I am pretty happy with it, it feels very raw, do you think it's good?

@@liamnac779 I still own mine and I love it

@@Jcwadventures Do you think the N18 is better (not for reliability) but to drive? I just want some reassurance that the N14 is good.

It would be a Puretech engine which is essentially an updated N18

I have an N14 and I have done 135,000 miles plus in mine from new. I love my N14 over an N18 as its rawer but the N18 is better engine maintenance wise due to the fixes.

@@Jcwadventures I wish you many more fun miles with your n14..in my country, Greece, a good maintainanced n14 is about 8000€ and a n18 about 12000€..we will see;-)

@@Pantheo36 If the N14 has been looked after and all the maintenance has been done then it's fine. If not then get an N18

@@Jcwadventures thank you so much for your answer!

Engine replacement are always expensive. Hence why the extended warranty

It's complicated but do able as the N14 has variations in ECU and Vanos systems. I know it has been done as Lohen did a N14 to N18 swap for a customer in the UK

It would work but might work out cheaper just to get a Cooper S or JCW engine or just trade up

It possible but the n/a block doesn’t have the oil return feed built into it so that would have to be addressed along with advisable internal upgrades… so not financially beneficial

Personally, I would avoid that as there might be so more work to do to make it work

Depends on inspection time or mot because catless will fail emissions. I have sports cat in mine for that reason

@@Jcwadventures is sound/performance similar?

@@are56s Less turbo lag and sounds a lot better especially when it pops and bangs

N12 Engine

​@@Jcwadventures, Is the N12 just as bad as the N14 when it comes to timing chain issues?

@@johnharrisonschulz Not really as the N12 doesn't have the torque to completely ruin the engine like an N14. However regular oil & filter changes are needed along with updated tensior. Like a cambelt it will be need to be changed at some point so be aware of it. Nothing is ever lifetime and it will be need replacing. Stick with all the advice in the video and you will be good. I will be shooting a video soon on the timing chain so I will try and give as much as advance as i can as per this video. Thanks for commenting, subscribing and watching the video

The S got it first the JCW got it later

I did think about addding in a N12 engine for N/A fun as 120bhp would be enough. N14 runs really hot naturally so gonna be quite a challenge to cool it

@@Jcwadventures any high power applications produced a lot of heat and need managing, that the key to reliability. I have an N12 in bits at the moment and can see the tuning potential. Anyone needing a compact engine for motorsport, Hillman Imp, classic mini, Citroen or maybe Peugeot 106 should consider one of these?

What is your mileage and how often do you change your oil and filter?

63000 mile now and change every 5000 mile

@@ewenchung8253 You should be for a while as mine started to fail at 89000 miles. If you getting large amounts of rattling and no power delivery on a cold start it will need to be changed.

thanks for the information.

@@Jcwadventures your N18 engine timing chain started to fail at that mileage?

If the pulley is wobbly it will slack the belt causing noise. Do the pulley along with belt

Yes, it is, but the DS3 Racing has a different gearbox to the MINI hence why it's slower than the MINI with the same engine

@@Jcwadventures Understood! Wich mod would you recommend for the N14 engine and keep it reliable? Thank you!

@@Jcwadventuresbonjour j’ai une mini gp2 de 2013 , une question comment se fait t’il que la Peugeot rcz r sort 270 cv ? Merci 🙏

Regular oil & filter changes. Use Liquid Moly Ceratec and always be checking your waterpump

@@fredericberthou heavy duty bigger pistons , bigger intercooler & revised Turbo

What year?

@@Jcwadventures it's a 2011 model

@@sel508 Within knowing the build date it will likely be the N18 Engine. A simple check would be looking at your engine cover to double make sure

@@sel508 Without knowing the build date it would most likely be an N18 Engine. A simple check would be look at the engine cover to double make sure as explained in my video

@@Jcwadventures cheers I'll let you know soon

N18

JCW has a different cover to other models as has the JCW badge in it on the N18

@@Jcwadventuresmany didn’t have badges on the covers

@@paulharrison2351 If it was a replacement one the badge was not included and had to be brought seperately

@@Jcwadventures many didn’t have a badge from the factory so that’s an irrelevant comment and to be fair I’ve seen more new brand new cars without a badge than with one

Thanks for that info

N13 is without a turbo and it will have different internals but the block is very similar

PVC system & pipes are different

⁠ Does it bolt up tho lines can be ran how ever. Am I missing something

@@single_cam9199 Honestly i am not sure as i havent heard or seen someone do it

Both direct direction - N14 is worse on carbon build-up on values and will need doing every 2 to 3 year depending on your driving

@Jcwadventures give away signs or sounds that it's time to change them?

@@2uneek I am still on my orginal injectors after 155,000 miles - I would use Redex Fuel system cleaner every 2 years like I have for the last 10 years

Niceee!

Yes N18 Engine - Cooper S -> 181hp / 191 ft-lbs and JCW power levels officially stayed the same 208 BHP & 260NM

@@Jcwadventures Thanks for the info, and I appreciate the work you put into the entire video!

@@kenthogan7516 Appreciate it. Always happy to help : )

What year does Mini start to install N18 fully? I'm looking forward to buying a mini. I want a good reliable one. I don't care about speed, so which year should I look into.

I was under the impression they all had 3 piston rings. The oil consumption is down to pcv system and different cyclinder linings plus valve stem seals. I have actually found a product that has literally solved my oil consumption problem. Review of it coming soon…

They all have the same amount of piston rings

2013 onwards in the 3rd Gen MINI

Cooper S N18 won't have the JCW power levels even if it has the JCW tuning kit. The max power it has with the tuning kit is 200 BHP. It's definitely a mistake.

@@Jcwadventures Thank you very much!

@@gastontudela4667 No worries

Cooper (non-turbocharged) 2007 - 2010: N12 Cooper (non-turbocharged) 2011 - 2013: N16 Cooper S (turbocharged) 2007 - 2010: N14 Cooper S (turbocharged) 2011 - 2013: N18 Cooper JCW (turbocharged) 2007 - 3/2013: N14 (turbo, compression ratio, and other components differ from the S model) Cooper JCW (turbocharged) 3/2013 and up: N18 (turbo, compression ratio, and other components differ from the S model)

Thanks buddy n12 ! Is the mini one .

@@johncarr1358 No worries

It is more reliable than the N14 but again you need to look after it with regular oil & filter changes every 8 to 10,000 miles or 1 year

R56 JCW has the N18 engine but not the same as GP2 as the internals such as the coating to the cylinder walls are different slightly and it has a different turbo

JCW Adventures I’ve heard the engines are the exact same ?, I’ve looked at both my jcw and a go the turbo was the same ?

@@Jcwadventures what about the R60 Countryman does that use the same N18 turbocharged 1.6 (4 wheel drive) or is it the N14?

Everything I have read says it’s the same N18 engine that is in the JCW of the same year

@@kiaranyt771I’ve read loads of spec sheets and they all say the engine is the same spec in both the GP2 as the JCW and that the extra power comes from slight different mapping of the ECU

N18

I can understand you just find I’m getting irritated Whoever you are go watch a different video for Pete’s sake’s

You can easily tell by the engine cover - can you see the coil packs?

@@Jcwadventures no

@@Jcwadventures I mean the coils under the cover

@@abh1945 N18 Engine

@@Jcwadventures thank you what model did have n12 n14 n16 year and type if it possible. Thank you

June 2012 onwards

@@Jcwadventures thanks!

@@Jcwadventures thank you very much! Thanks of this vid i bought an N18 Mini Cooper S 2013. Very happy

@@danielabrego5480 Glad to hear and here is too many happy years of MINI adventures

@@Jcwadventures 2011 Mini has a 170,000 miles. How much more can I expect from that engine? Just used in short runs by wife.

Depends on what's it's been used for? Daily, track car or weekend fun?

@@JcwadventuresDaily short driver. 6-25 miles a day. 2011.

@@2007vwbeetle N18 would be better for short drives opposed to N14 as they hating town driving

@@Jcwadventures which is in the 2011?

@@2007vwbeetle What does the engine look like? Can does it have a cover or have the coil pack showing?

There are only 2 camshaft sensors on the N18 whereas the N14 has one. It was done to gather more accurate information from the engine to make the vanos work better

The models were announced at the same time the new engines were shown

@@Jcwadventures It still had the N14 engine in the JCW R58 untill they started to fit the N18 mid 2012

I have the extended warranty for that reason…

Lol

The write up is on jcwadventures.com

Pay closer attention then

Each to their own and mine has been good to me, Subaru fair even worse

@@Jcwadventures Sure buddy..lmao Mine had under 50k miles when the vacuum pump decided to seize up which locked my cam in place destroying the engine. The n14 has so many common problems. Go to any mini forums for the n14 and you'll see what trash this engine is.

@@Ds-pw7gd Mine has 137,000 miles and still going strong. Anything mechanical can fail anytime regardless of maintenance like any other engine even great engines like RB26 has its faults with factory poor oil pump which can fail and kill the engine.

@@Jcwadventures Please, you telling me you haven’t changed the timing chain yet? Mine was changed twice with under 50k. Also the high pressure fuel pump, Vanos, and just about every sensor. Fact the n14 has heat and oil pressure problems.

@@Ds-pw7gd Timing chain was done at 98k. No timing chain is lifetime piece. Fuel pump went at 60k

In theory yes as the block is the same but vanos and everything would end up being out and the ecu wouldn’t know what to do

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