PCV Membrane/Diaphragm Replacement 2011 Mini Cooper S R56 

Best of luck Marcus, if you pull your dipstick while your engine is on and the whistle dampens, most likely your diaphragm is shot.

Thanks Chrno, hope my video helped.

what did you do after? mine broke too but we just put it back on and after a year its finally throwing smoke from there

David, I have heard of some Mini owners deleting their PCV valve from their engine with Delete Caps but I have no experience with that mod. If I were you, I'd continue trying to replace the PCV valve. Did you purchase the PCV with the black cover or without? If it came with the black cover then my tips below may help. For your Clubman I notice the tabs look a little different from mine. Check out this ebay link below and look at photo #6 www.ebay.com/itm/New-PCV-Valve-Cover-Repair-Kit-Fits-02-19-Mini-Cooper/202807734480?fits=Year%3A2011%7CSubmodel%3AClubman%7CMake%3AMini&hash=item2f384870d0:g:BSQAAOSwH51dssG2 Using these photos as reference, use a marker and mark all 4 tab locations so you know at all times where they are. Dedicate one hand to keep upward force on the cover or get a big flat head screwdriver and keep a constant LIGHT pry on the bottom of the cover, while the other hand is focused on moving the tabs outward. The second tab can be reached with an angle pick if I'm not mistaken. You can WEDGE the cover upwards to expose the other clips and unclip it with a pick one by one. Assuming you don't mind about the appearance, your original cover won't look nice with all the prying and wedging but it's the diaphragm that's sealing and that's all that matters. Oh yeah hope you have a good flashlight, seeing what you're prying is always better than "prying and hope nothing breaks". Patience is key. Study the photos of the cover and know where the other tabs are. Once you have two of the clips loose, you've passed the hardest part of the job. Remember to clean off as much sludge as you can before reinstalling. Lastly, I recommend an Oil Catch Can for our Mini engines since they tend to burn a few ounce of oil each oil change if not more. Make sure to purchase the higher quality ones with a screen inside so the oil vapors collect and drips down to the bottom. This should reduce the amount of sludge that forms in the engine. Hope this helps. Take care, Wayne

Jared, I did a little search and couldn't find any PCV kit with the spring included. In your situation you will need to find a similar spring with 3 coils and with similar diameter and thickness of the coils. Check @2:58. I notice a lot of European kits (audi, land rover, vw, bmw) comes with the spring but I can't guarantee it'll be a perfect fit. If you end up finding a spring and repurchasing the cover, make sure all 5 clips are snapped in. Get a good grip on the cover and tug on it hard, it should be really secure once it's snapped in. Let me know how it goes.

Anthony, ideally you shouldn’t be seeing any oil buy these engines are prone to have a lot of oil lost thru blow by. It’s recommended to install an aftermarket oil catch can in these engine and drain them every oil change. If you installed one, you’ll notice about a few ounce to half a quart of oil in the catch every time you drain it.

Kevin Pando, my engine is N18 for a 2011 model. Yours may be N14 but look up google images and verify. Take care

Yes the PCV system is different between the N14 and N18. For your N14 you will need to remove the long rectangular cover on top of the valve cover to expose two small valves that either open or close. Those could be plugged up. Check out these links below for more info: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7i3x1TiB2DY.html www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/215891-valve-cover-replacement-plugged-pcv-valve-2.html

For a 2009 mini I believe you have an N14 engine and the pcv is different from my n18

Hello MySho, That sounds more like a leaking valve cover gasket but a plugged/restrictive pcv can contribute to that condition. If you have high mileage then it’s normal wear and tear. I recommend installing an oil catch can in these minis because every oil change you collect anywhere from a 1/4 to 1/2qt of oil that would have been burned through your engine.

@@waynesgarage8579 Thanks 4 the quick reply - actually the opposite - just under 23k miles on 2017.....I'll look to see if VC is leaking.......don't think so. Oil Catch Can = where would it be positioned? I never have a reason to look under the hood & was surprised how many soiled areas I found the other day........oil soaked dirt spots majority toward the front of the hood even on the hood locking hooks. Thanks again for reply

Oil catch can is best mounted next to your master cylinder. All the special hose and fittings could be purchased separate but there are kits ready for plug n play you would have to pay a premium for the convenience.

The clips are quite fragile so it’s possible but If you can snap it on and you cannot open it with your fingers then it’s tight enough.

The plastic can be quite brittle as it’s exposed to all the heat. Just ease each corner to minimize any possible damage

Frederico, if you type in "mini cooper pcv membrane kit" in either amazon or ebay you'll see a bunch to choose from. Make sure you know which engine you have, (n12, n14, n16, n18). If you're unsure make sure the cover matches the one on your valve cover before purchasing. Should range from $15 to $30 shipped. Take care

Roel, the only time I’ve ever experience an abnormal vacuum like sound during acceleration is when I accidentally left the air box not fully seal. Other than that I would inspect your whole intake system. From airbox all the way to the throttle body. Check for crack rubber, loose clamps, loose screws, cracked box. Hope this helps.

Adeel, I don’t think it’s the PVC system at all. Do you have any aftermarket electronics installed in your engine bay? Describe the beeping a little more please, is the engine idling / off / cold / warm? The more info the better

@@waynesgarage8579 everything is standard on the car and nothing has been modified. The beeping is loud and continuous when it's a cold start and then starts to faint when it gets to normal temperature. It's a 2017 430i with only 27k miles

Cameron, where did you get the other membrane from? If it’s for a BMW there’s a slight chance it’ll work but depending if the sealing diameter is the same or not. Do so at your own risk and best of luck.

I didn't get it yet Wayne. If the diameter is the same and the 'inner-ring' diameter is the same, should it work? This seems to be the case. I don't see why it shouldn't for the time being but I obviously don't want to take a chance and sit without a membrane. I'm just a bit worried that I saw some membranes with the inner-ring being filled on the inside while the original for this car isn't filled. Is that a factor?

I have a Peugoet 3008 GT and I bought mine from mini cooper and it kinda worked but you have to cut some of the corners out

@@hollysaga I'm glad I know that now thanks. Well did it work properly? I ended up finding the exact one though after quite a mission

Braeden, The cover could be remove just to inspect the diaphragm’s condition. If it’s not torn then you can at least clean the build up around it. Just take your time around the clips. If the shop has specific test results indicating a valve cover then please let me know in detail. Keep me updated with your diagnostic.

If you use a hair dryer or heat gun carefully, it will remove much easier !!!

Stilianos, concept is the same as the F20 N13 engine but I believe part number will be different. Check out this link, hope it helps you out. f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1522560

Yosef, for the code I would first double check the head gasket job to see if any old vacuum hoses might have cracked or loosen. Does your scanner have live data option by chance? For the pcv clip I had to put the camera down to wiggle the cover loose. Once I got the first two on the left side loose you can rock the cover gently and feel the other clips loose.

@@waynesgarage8579 the I checked all the hoses and didn’t any loose ends or crack sections. Is the actual PCV valve for this model built into the valve cover? If yes, how do clean it?

If you have exactly the same engine as mine it there’s the pcv valve should be removable exactly like how the video is and you clean the orange diaphragm inside out. The cover and the cavity will need be hardest to clean all the corners so just a little patience.

@@waynesgarage8579 thanks sir for your feedback. I have N18 for my R56 (2011 Mini Cooper S). When replacing the head gasket, the Manuel recommends replacing the fuel line that comes from the high pressure fuel pump to the back of cylinder head. I did not replaced this fuel line, since I verified it was not leaking any fuel. Is the code P0171 due not not replacing the fuel line possibly since it was one time use??

I don’t think it can be a hose that was only recommended to be replace that could be an issue. The code is for lean condition so one way would be a fuel line getting maybe pinched when things were putting back together to cause the code. Or a vacuum leak allowing unmetered air into system. Just remember to always ask yourself does what you’re suspecting cause a lean condition, almost like reversing a math equation. Does your code reader have live data?

I believe that code is for the heater circuit being open not the pcv physically being open. There’s nothing built in the system to monitor that. So I would first check the connector on the pcv hose located on driver side of the valve cover. The hose connects from the valve cover to turbo intake tube

@@waynesgarage8579 omg...I see the two hoses are barely connected. I pushed them against one another and heard a click sound. I started the car and ten seconds later cel went off. Dumbfounded of what could cause this. Thanks Wayne.. probably saved me a $125 diagnosis charge.

Focus on the point where the clips are, if you can pry on two point at the same time and in an outwards direction it’ll eventually pop loose

I will try

Thank you very much, for the p053a I had a viewer comment on the same thing. Please check the hose that connects from the valve cover to the intake tube. The connector might not be seated all the way

Just saw this helpful tip. Mine countryman did pop up the code once. But had to worked itself out because it hasn’t come back on since 🤷🏻‍♂️. I thought it could be possibly from my 15yr old daughter with drivers permit. Started car up and engaged in gear almost as fast as the car turned over 🤷🏻‍♂️had to give her a crash course on mechanics and how bad that was to do for any engine.

Unfortunately I didn’t. It sure would make the video much more helpful.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-R6EsmEXlHzo.html

I ordered mine on ebay. Amazon has it also.

Hey man, same problem here. Same car as you mentioned. I have tried to open it almost one hour with no results. Have you resolve your problem already ? What was the solution in your case ?

@@yanivanov1719 Nope still there. Couldn't get out.1719 😞. I'm afraid to break or crack it the valve. I went dealership, they want it$450 to replace it . Nop! * You have any idea how to get off please let me know thank

Yanivanov!! What if I grind it out the pcv valve with the grinder it's useless anyway. What you think???? You done your already.

​@@sirisackx1582 Hi! I thought about it as well. But I was able to open it sucessfully! So I tried a couple of time with the screwdriver. I found another guide, with different clips order. In my case the upper right clip was the second one. Its hard to explain how, but: After snapping the first one, move on to the second one from the top right. You need to accurately insert the screwdriver between the membrane cover and the base right next to the second latch.Then, when you have found this place and inserted the screwdriver correctly, you need to carefully turn it clockwise. I had no problems with the other clips. Take a close look at the latches on the cover; if you have one in your repair kit, this is a good clue. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LG_8MY8yKBs.html

Joe, is it a darkish or lighting grey? Also any drivability issue? These turbo engine likes to run on the rich side so I’m curious how your fuel trim looks if you have access to any scanner with live data.

@@waynesgarage8579 light grey, no issues otherwise, here’s a link to a video of it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TjMsK7QtzYY.html

I see I see, by chance do you know if you’re losing a certain amount of oil per week or month? Other than your car running on the rich side I’ll monitor your oil consumption. If excessive then I recommend installing a oil catch can which greatly reduces the oil circulating in your pcv system

@@waynesgarage8579 uses a bit of oil but not excessive imho, I have had a catch can on a diesel car I own but ended up taking it off as it was causing too much pressure in the engine, was causing oil leaks.I went to a 5w30 oil last change to see if that would help, but haven’t followed the mini anywhere yet to see if it made a difference. Thanks for the info, I thought it may have been a common issue

Did you ever figure out the solution of why the code popped up?

plastifix works really good ...use it for all sorts of applications

@@wellsyaknow It held for me as a temporary fix, but I ended up replacing the whole valve cover. Just didn't sit right with me, I dunno - and it was also leaking oil from it.

Not hard at all, simply remove the diaphragm clean all surface and spring. Make sure new diaphragm is seated in the cover and snap the cap back on. I really with I had the footage but at the time it was the first video I’ve ever made so a lot to learn from there.