I just bought a 2008 mini cooper just the basic model i was told the head gasket but when we got home with it and took a few thngs on top of the motor off we found (this piece of round metal wich goes on the side of the motor and keeps the colant and the oil seperated ) something like that my bf said lol now the question is could the problem just be replace that piece or it really might be the head gasket the oil was all mixed with the colant but could be just from that piece that came off just wondering if it hapen to someone else

Thanks The piece that was found

 

give it a shot. could be a chance that's all it needs. but if the car overheated because of this then could possibly be a headgasket. I'd start there with that freeze plug. clean everything as much as possible. flush flush flush. and run it. see what happens.

 

+1

Freeze plug. Check which one missing.

 

most likely the one by the VANOS units at the front of the engine.