Hello,

I have a 06 MCS with ~87k miles. I am getting the timing chain rattle encountered from a bad tensioner. Issue is, I had same rattle last fall, and replaced the tensioner, and now it's back a few months later. Before this I would occasionally have to start it a few times on very cold (10 degrees F) days before the tensioner would fill with oil and start working. (Maybe this wore the tensioner prematurely?)

My guide is the guides/rails that the tensioner moves are bad as well. So I would like to replace them (or the whole chain assembly). Normally as a rule I replace the timing belt/chain on every car I get, immediately. But since the chain is supposed to be life time, and the MCS is supposedly non-interference due to it's low compression ratio I have waited. Now I would like to, but after an hour or so of searching I can find no guide on it. If I can avoid it from a cost perspective, I would like to just replace the guides/rails.

My questions are:

Any guides to replacing the chain guides, or whole timing assembly?
Can it be done without putting the motor?
Any other ideas for fixing this annoying rattle?

I'm totally comfortable doing a timing change, I've done many before. I'd just like a guide to follow to make things smoother.

Thank you so much,
Matt

EDIT, it would appear it is in fact interference. I would really like to replace the whole assembly ASAP.

 

We've seen the plastic on the guides come loose and make this noise several times. Only one time had the timing chain been damaged. So if I where you I'd just do the guides and tensioner. Doing the chain will become a much bigger job as just the guides can be done in a couple hours.

Here are the guides you need
http://www.waymotorworks.com/timing-...0-r52-r53.html

and the tensioner
http://www.waymotorworks.com/timing-...r-r50-r53.html

 

What does the chain guide change consist of? From what I can see, you still have to pull the timing cover and such. My concern being that the chain has likely stretched in the 80k miles of use, and it gives me a good excuse to do a cam upgrade as well. So unless there was a drastic reduction in work, it seems best to do the chain as well for peace of mind, and an excuse to upgrade my cam as well.

Also, on the note of doing a camshaft while fixing the timing issues, what is the core charge on your NS1/2 camshafts? Is the core included with the listed price on your website? If it's not to much, I would just as soon hold onto my stock cam in case I need to go back for some reason.

 

Ive done the the guides and tensioner and they are pretty easy to do. The timing cover does not need to come off. It would be a much bigger job to also do the chain, so I would follow Ways advice and just do those.

I haven't done a cam on a Mini, but I doubt you would have to take the chain off the bottom pulley for that either. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Soooo...the chain guides can be replaced from the top without removing the head, timing cover ? I can do this while i have the valve cover off, cam out?

 

If you have an R53 (up to 2006 Cooper S) this guy on you tube is a genius.

If you are near Seattle get in touch with him.

https://www.youtube.com/user/khammo01

He has done everything to his Mini!

 

Yes

 

Great. Thanks!
....thinkin' about changin the cam. Will change the guides too while i am in there, then.