MINI Cooper S 1.6T R56 — Reliability

R56 Hatchback City 2006–2014 2 engines

Reliability Summary

Best engine N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) — 63/100 CAUTION
Worst engine EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) — 40/100 AVOID
Average reliability 52/100

Engine Comparison

Engine Reliability Score Verdict Known Issues
N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2)
1.6L Turbo I4 		63/100 CAUTION High-pressure fuel pump failure +5
EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1)
1.6L Turbo I4 		40/100 AVOID Timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure — chain can jump +6

Engines in this model

CAUTION 63

N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2)

1.6L Turbo I4

Second-generation Prince turbo (MINI N18 from 2010, Peugeot/Citroen/DS THP 155-270, PureTech 180/225...

View details →
AVOID 40

EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1)

1.6L Turbo I4

First-generation BMW/PSA Prince turbo (MINI N14, Peugeot/Citroen THP 150-175). Timing chain and tens...

View details →

Known Issues Across All Engines

Issue Engine Severity Onset
High-pressure fuel pump failure N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) high —
Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear (improved, not cured) N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) high 60,000 km – 120,000 km
Thermostat / housing failure N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) moderate —
Carbon buildup on intake valves N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) moderate 60,000 km – 90,000 km
Electric water pump failure; auxiliary turbo pump recall (2011-12) N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) moderate 80,000 km
Oil consumption - valve stem seals and piston rings N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) moderate —
Timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure — chain can jump EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) critical 40,000 km – 110,000 km
High oil consumption — piston rings, valve stem seals, crankcase breather EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) high —
High-pressure fuel pump failure (THP) EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) high 70,000 km
Turbo oil-feed line coking and turbo bearing damage EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) moderate —
Carbon buildup on intake valves EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) moderate 50,000 km – 100,000 km
Thermostat housing and water pump coolant leaks EP6DT/EP6DTS THP · N14 (Prince turbo, gen 1) minor —

FAQ

Is the MINI Cooper S 1.6T reliable?

The MINI Cooper S 1.6T has 2 engine options with reliability scores ranging from 40/100 (AVOID) to 63/100 (CAUTION). Average reliability: 52/100.

Which MINI Cooper S 1.6T engine is most reliable?

The N18 · EP6CDT/EP6FDT/EP6FADTX (Prince turbo, gen 2) is the most reliable engine in the MINI Cooper S 1.6T, scoring 63/100 (CAUTION).

What problems does the MINI Cooper S 1.6T have?

Across all engine variants, the MINI Cooper S 1.6T has 13 known issues. The most common are related to High-pressure fuel pump failure, Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear (improved, not cured), Thermostat / housing failure.