Ok, since the car has been back to the shop, even wife has noticed the diff and that says alot, when the car is started cold, or luke warm, the first 30 seconds or so I am now hearing a clattling from it. It is not the timing chain rattle I think (that was fixed on the car) but more of either a injector noise or valves/lifters??? It goes about after about 30 or so seconds and then motor is quiet as can be. The oil was just changed in the car last weekend at the Mini dealer. It was not doing this before the change. The oil level seems fine.

 

Does it sound like rapid tapping? I was told this is normal and is intermittent, I have had this, since I purchased the car new in 2009. BTW my engine is NA and does not have the turbo.

 

Does it sound like a New Years/party rattler clappy thingy or like a fast "tick tick tick"? Rattler clappy thing.....re-check the oil level (I know this from experience Lol). Tick tick tick is most likely the injectors.

And although it sounds crazy, don't trust that the MINI dealership put the correct amount of oil. My "free" oil change would have cost me tons later if I did not check.

 

Well the oil level is fine. The noise is back the last two days. Sine my orig post this is the first times it has happened again. The car does sit on in incline, noise pointing down. Could it be an oil not getting everywhere in the motor at cold start. It is usually always gone with in a minute or less. But when you start it up and it is idling you don't hear it but if you goose it it rattles, valve or injector clicking/clacking noises. Once you drive off it is gone soon after.

 

my 09 (55k) doing same for awhile... oil level fine, tensioner replaced 2 yrs ago
un-educated guess: clacking valves until carbon is heated up ????

 

Could be the valves.
R56 uses direct injection so carbon build up around the valves not like the traditionnal injection method that was "washing" the valves.

You can buy a spray that you put in the intake that should remove / reduce carbon build up.

Maybe you can try that

 

From pics I've seen... don't think a "spray" will do that much.
Walnut maybe, but $$$
Curious: how much is a refurb head?

 

Indeed spray isn't a miracle..
Technically you need to remove most of it with a brush and tools and after that apply the spray in case some residue got stuck in the valves and they are staying open.

For the price IDK, maybe at leats 1,500-2,000$

 

5-600 for the walnuts...

 

My car was walnut blasted less then 10k miles ago. It does not do it all the time so I will live with it till it happens every start up. I don't feel it is a rod or anything, more top end clattle/rattle/valves tappin/injector noise.

 

blasted 10k ago and still clanking?
are the listed symptoms what lead u to have it blasted?
what did you pay?

 

Prev owner had it done at his dealer in Indy while they owned it. It is noted in dealer records. This noise issue I have picked up is only since March (first post in this thread).

 

Honestly you might still have the early signs of the timing chain rattle. Just keep a close eye on it. Also watch for leaks on the back side of the engine. That's where the tensioner is. If the noise seems to get worse bring it in. they can always at least measure the slack in the timing chain and see if it falls with in tolerance.

 

The timing chain issue was addressed with the correct must up to date parts less then two years ago. I had my shop open it up and check it again when I got it to verify all was ok, they said it was, that was a 6 weeks ago or so. I have heard chain rattle in another car, this is not the same I feel.

 

For it to be timing chain why would it do it a while back then start again then stop for a day or so, etc.

 

All the ones I have come across always did it at cold start. So in your case I wouldn't think its the timing chain then. I am curious though on the noise you are hearing. Specially if it comes and goes.

 

it is not there every morning or any cold starts during the day where it has sat for a bit. I just does not seem like a TC issue. This weekend if it does it I will have the hood up and jump out and see if I can see where it is coming from.

 

.

 

Cool out this morning. No noises from the motor. I did have the car parked up hill this time though if that makes any diff. I don't think it timing rattle.

 

Well the Mini is at the dealer and go figure they say they don't hear anything out the usual from the motor. It has almost done it everyday for us of late. So it stays for as long as it takes for them to hear it. It was doing it most everyday in the morning (not the rest of the day??). So I am going to the dealer in the morning before they fire it up so I can be there. I will go the rest of the week till WE hear it. Ha ha ha
I have been reading up on this issue. I read someone saying it could be a air pocket in the oil system (I do park it on an incline, nose down).

 

well went to dealer today for first start of day. NOTHING. Running just fine no noise. ARRRRRRG. Was doing it almost every day, two days in a row quiet as can be. Even parked similar to how it is at home.
They replaced the high pressure fuel pump which they showed me it was up on top side of motor, that it ran off the cam????? I wonder if that is the issue. This NEVER did this until after they replaced that pump. They say they checked it and all was ok. That is the only change to the car, it never did this before we had that fixed.

 

it is the timing chain. Car prev had recall work done on the car, dealer talking to MINI to see if they will fix it. Chain is WAY past max spec for looseness!

 

they finally measured timing chain?
did they give you details? measurements? curious as I want to have mine measured

 

Timing chain issue fixed by prev owner in Oct 2012 (good will fix I guess??) at a Mini dealer. At that time I am told they just replaced one of the tensionsers, that was it. At that time chain was at 70.8 mm which at that time max spec was 72mm.
Well the recall came out Sept 2013 I am told. Today my car is opened up, there is rattle because chain is at 72.8mm and advised the new MAX SPEC is JUST 68mm now.
My beef/concern is what caused my chain to stretch more since fix?

 

Original timing chain replacements were made with the same crappy chain (stretches easy) the most recent chain replacements were made with a thicker heavier gauge chain.

I got this straight from my sa mouth. Mine is rattling. It's an original. Glad I waited.