31 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

~~~~~Please delete this text before posting the topic~~~~~~
Please give your topic a title that quickly describes your problem. Just putting 'Help my Mini doesn't work' is useless to anyone trying to help.
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Model: All 'Big-Bore' engines 1275 and bigger
Year: All years
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):

Recall of head gaskets


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?

None


I just tried to order some BK450 (TEM1521) black composite head gaskets only to be told that all stocks held by dealers have been recalled due to quality issues.
Apparently after manufacture was moved to South Africa, the wrong materials were used and early failure can occur.
Presumably we will all have to revert to the AF460 gasket until supplies are again available which is likely to be 6 to 8 weeks.

[Cooperman]

Sorry, posted twice as my computer is playing up

[dribble]

This is the PAYEN black yeah?

I fitted one to my new engine and within 200 mile it went pop yesterday on the way back from the Beaulieu Cooper day.

Where did you get the information from, who should i contact?

[MRA]

Hi,
We have stocks of the BK450, we deal with Payen, they haven't told me that there is an issue.... I have however just got off the phone with my sales contact who will be talking to the technical manager to confirm or deny any issue
Regards Martin
MRA Minis
07789 872368

[dribble]

The issues i have now is what to get now? Can someone recommend a good alternative that's not silly money?

[Pooky]

[Paul Wiginton]

Does anyone know if these dodgy ones have Africa written on the packaging?

Mine says made by Payen Belgium, does it make a difference?

Paul

Edited by Paul Wiginton, 15 June 2009 - 05:46 PM.

[mike.]

Tut i've just bought a pair of these gaskets!

[Cooperman]

I think that it's the South African ones which were made using the wrong material.
I got the info from Mini Spares when I tried to oder some this morning.
I guess we will have to use the AF460 until we get new supplies of the Bk450.

[MRA]

Hi Guys,

Be sure about the facts........ I have often heard these rumours...... Payen has just more than doubled the price on an order for 1000 which makes them something of a record for price hikes. Within the last 18 monthes they have quadrupled in price......
I am unaware of a quality issue, I have been told that PAYEN sales also know nothing of this issue, however once I have spoken to the tech department I will update you guys.

Although what I have heard is that some of the major stockists don't want to pay the extra £££ I just wonder if this is why the rumour was started ?

Thanks
Regards MArtin

[minidaves]

thats sounds more like it, the trouble is volume has gone down so costs go up, tough life, and thats how it is. We are now talking about a car that has been out of production for 10yrs, and was not made in the final yrs in a massive quanity, example of approx 7million mk1 corsas were built between 1994-1998 compaired to 5.5million minis is 40 yrs.

dave

[Paul Wiginton]

Please keep us up to date Martin.

I have heard of a few people having HG failures lately on engines that dont usually suffer from it, though it could be down to fuel quality getting worse from the pumps. Also these 'rumours' seem to be coming from a lot of different sources.

Paul

[Sprocket]

Its not South Africa, its the Belgium ones that are faulty. The BK450 and now apparently the AF470 have issues. There is obviously a range of batch numbers where the problem lies,, its not with them all, and, its difficult to see where the problem is just by looking at the gasket. I myself have looked at where the problem might be, and I think it has something to do with the thicknes of the backing materials used. I measured 4 old used gaskets and 3 of them measured ~0.98mm thick and there was no distortion in the fire rings at the bore intersections. The 4th gasket measured ~0.94mm thick and the fire ring was distorted at the bore intersections, this IS one of the dodgey ones, as confirmed by the batch number.

[jaydee]

So the AF copper gaskets are fine? I've just got a couple of them..

[Cooperman]

I had a defective BK450 about 9 months ago. It ran for 4 miles before failing between 2 & 3 due to a faulty fire ring. It seems like poor quality control at some stage of manufacture. As for price being the real issue, we shall see. Mini Spares definately said it was a product recall due to QC issues, but time will tell.