Walnut Blasting Machine
Our new Walnut Blasting Machine.

We’ve been servicing the new style Mini Coopers since their domestic release in 2002. They have become so popular, we decided to open a business dedicated solely to servicing Minis. We call it Central Coast Mini Center, and we’re the only shop in the San Luis Obispo area that specializes in Mini Coopers.

With the introduction of the R56 Mini Cooper S in 2007 and the all-new direct injection motor, we’ve started seeing a large number of cars with rough running issues, along with random misfire codes stored in the ECM. This is caused by carbon build up on the backside of the intake valves. With the fuel injector now located directly in the combustion chamber, there are large increases in horsepower and fuel economy. The downside to this is you no longer have fuel keeping the intake valves clean and cool.

Walnut Blasting Machine
The Walnut Blasting Machine hooked up the Mini, blasting the back side of the valve.

Here at Central Coast Mini Center, we have just purchased a walnut blasting machine that allows us to clean the back of the intake valves without doing damage to the motor. This is the same tool used by all Mini Cooper dealers, and is the only way to safely and correctly clean the valves of carbon.

Intake valve before walnut blasting.
Carbon build up on the back of the intake valves on a Mini Cooper S intake valve before walnut blasting.
Intake valve after walnut blasting.
Intake valve after walnut blasting.

We’re proud to offer this, along with many other Mini services, at a fraction of the price you’d pay at a dealer.