N14B16 1.6 turbo
The Cooper S engine, and the same unit PSA sold as the 1.6 THP. It's quick and it feels special, and its chain and its intake deposits are what make a cheap R56 expensive.
| Configuration | I4, turbocharged | Displacement | 1598 cc |
| Fuel | petrol | Injection | direct |
| Shared components | direct injection · Prince timing chain | ||
Cars using this engine
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Power | Risk | Good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper S | R56 | hatchback | 2006–2010 | 175 PS | R4 | €5,500 |
Engine and component issues
A rattle from the front of the engine for the first seconds after a cold start, and later a rough idle or a fault code for camshaft timing. The chain and its tensioner on the BMW and PSA Prince family stretch with age and heat cycles rather than with distance. Once the chain is slack it can skip a tooth, and that damages valves.
Check: Start the car from stone cold and listen carefully through the first five seconds. Any rattle means the work is due, so ask for a receipt rather than accepting an assurance.
Rough cold idle, slow throttle response, misfires, gradual loss of low-end response. Direct injection puts no fuel over the intake valves, so crankcase vapour deposits bake on undisturbed.
Check: Not visible without a borescope. Treat it as a service item that's due unless there's a receipt. It's not a fault, it's an unbudgeted maintenance cost.
Chassis, gearbox and body issues aren't listed here. They depend on which car the engine is fitted to. Open a variant page for the merged list.