MINI Turbo

MINI Turbos: Prince Engines Shared with PSA Before the Switch to BMW's Own Units

The question most buyers ask is straightforward: is my MINI fitted with a PSA engine or a BMW unit? The answer directly determines which turbo reference to order, as the two families share no parts whatsoever. MINIs produced up to the end of the R56/R60 generation use the 1.6 engines co-developed with PSA (Prince), whereas the subsequent generations (F-series) receive BMW's own N- and B-series engines.

Prince 1.6 Engines: One Displacement, Several Different Turbos

On petrol versions, the 1.6 Cooper S receives, depending on the year, the codes EP6CDTS, EP6DTS, N14B16A or N18B16A: these four codes correspond to different generations and boost levels, and the associated turbos are not interchangeable. The 1.6 John Cooper Works 211 hp, code N14B16C, receives a turbo specific to that power output. On the diesel side, the 1.6 Cooper D 110 hp (codes 9HZ / DV6TED4) is a pure PSA engine; the 1.6 One D 90 hp (N47C16A or N47C16) is a BMW diesel. Checking the engine code stamped on the block — not just the engine capacity — is essential before placing any order.

BMW B-Series Engines: Cooper S 2.0 and Cooper D/SD on the Countryman F60

F-generation MINIs (the Countryman F60 in particular) use BMW's modular engines. The 2.0 Cooper S 192 hp receives the codes B46A20A or B48A20A, two variants of the same 2.0 turbocharged petrol architecture whose turbos differ according to the target power output. The Cooper D and Cooper SD diesels of this generation are identified by the codes B47C20A and B47C20B. These engines share their architecture with other models in the BMW group, which means that a single turbo reference may cover several different vehicles: compatibility is confirmed by the engine code, never by the model or the stated power output alone.

New Turbos: Symptoms and Precautions Before Fitting

The turbos listed on this page are new turbos sold as direct-sale items, with no old unit to return. On Prince engines, the most common symptoms of a failing turbo are a characteristic whistling noise under acceleration, blue or black exhaust smoke, and a noticeable loss of power. On N14 and N18 engines, a blocked crankcase breather circuit and degraded oil are well-documented causes of turbo failure: before fitting a new turbo, it is essential to identify and rectify the root cause — oil quality, lubrication circuit, blocked diesel particulate filter on diesel variants — otherwise the new unit will deteriorate rapidly.