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6 months after Mini fixed my cold start rattles with the updated chain tensioner the nosie came back, and now its in the dealership and needs new lifters.. What up with that!! Am I the first S with internal damage from this design fault?
Dealer called today, new lifters didnt fix it. New head should be on this week. Strange sounds coming from deep within the engine - damage more than likely resulting from the cold start up issues/chain tensioner
From the little bit that I've read about the cold start-up issues people are having, it sounds like it's low oil pressure related, which can cause wear throughout the engine, especially if it you don't go easy till it's up to temp, which is nearly impossible tell for sure in these cars unless you added the gauges.
My guess is that if it was low oil pressure, then it's probably developing rod knock, at which point it may be cheaper/easier for them to do the full replacement than replace most of the bottom end.
From the little bit that I've read about the cold start-up issues people are having, it sounds like it's low oil pressure related, which can cause wear throughout the engine, especially if it you don't go easy till it's up to temp, which is nearly impossible tell for sure in these cars unless you added the gauges.
My guess is that if it was low oil pressure, then it's probably developing rod knock, at which point it may be cheaper/easier for them to do the full replacement than replace most of the bottom end.
my car went in for the cold start fix and when i picked it up it ran for about twenty minutes and blew up! new engine for me!
Yikes! Wonder how many new engines they're gonna replace over this deal? They have to be scratching their heads right about now, since the R53 motors were so good......
I had my tensioner replaced at 2K and so far so good, but I got it replaced after having the chain saw noise only a coupe of times and it hasn't done it since. I'm at 10K now......
For those of you with new engines, I'm glad they're standing behind the car, but I always wonder how much of this is due to bad mechanics rather than a bad motor design.
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'09 LB/LB Clubman S
'69 Jaguar XK-E
'04 Audi Allroad Twin-Turbo
MMC#580
I curious why you attribute the problems it now has with the cold start issue which you said was fixed 6 months ago.
Any chance you are guessing and they could be completely unrelated?
If I was a betting man, I'd bet they are related. Most documented problems with the S's Prince engine have been in the valve train, and the cold start chatter/knock/bang/whateveryouwantocallit is a valve train system problem made worse by the oil delivery system that's unique to this engine (and why the justacoopers dont get it)
Plus, bolts critical to the system's integrity have snapped in these engines, causing catastrophic failure. If I was a MINI SA, I'd be a tad nervous right now.
__________________ I say, boy, you dont seem to be apprehendin' the general gist of what I'm tryin' to convey here. Maybe you oughta take a second, let your head catch up to your tongue before it gets all sunburnt. That was a joke, son, I say - a joke! Nice boy, but he's about as sharp as a sack o' wet mice.
Plus, bolts critical to the system's integrity have snapped in these engines, causing catastrophic failure. If I was a MINI SA, I'd be a tad nervous right now.
I can see why MINI and BMW executives might be nervous, but why an SA. More work just means job security. Or, are you thinking that owners will start going ballistic at them?
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Robin Casady Bombadil: 2007 MINI Cooper S, R56, Pure Silver, LSD, Wood Shift Knob, Rota Slipstream 16x7, NAV, HIFI...
I can see why MINI and BMW executives might be nervous, but why an SA. More work just means job security. Or, are you thinking that owners will start going ballistic at them?
yeah, ask any SA that's tried to help a customer get the cold start knock resolved, only to have it recur. Like my SA said, "if this happened to me, I think I'd lock myself and cry over frustration for an hour."
IOW, nervousness over a possible serious mechanical problem can trickle down from the top to the bottom pretty fast Also, I think customers would go ballistic if the dealer attempted to deny or downplay the problem, as opposed to admitting there is one.
__________________ I say, boy, you dont seem to be apprehendin' the general gist of what I'm tryin' to convey here. Maybe you oughta take a second, let your head catch up to your tongue before it gets all sunburnt. That was a joke, son, I say - a joke! Nice boy, but he's about as sharp as a sack o' wet mice.
The problem is definatley related to the cold start chatter. The noise was identical to the first time it happened - this time it sounded no different, just like all the other cold clanging diesel sounding S start ups. Just to update,the dealer says it needs a new head , mini is telling them to run 20 hours of tests on the thing before they will ok the head replacement. The dealer is pissed off with mini because they say the tests are a waste of time. I'll have test results on Monday and post more info. So far since leasing this S in 98 I've been in a saturn astra for over 5 weeks...I don't remember seeing that in my lease agreement
Last edited by PERNOR56; 10-23-2009 at 08:55 PM.
Reason: spelling typo
They may well be related - I'm not saying they aren't. However, there is a possiblilty they have nothing in common.
It just amazes me how many people will "think" or "be sure" of something and go around stating it as a fact and try to convince everyone else of the 'fact' (while being completely wrong).
__________________ Laser Blue/White MCS delivered 3/8/07. Off lease 5/17/09.
Tigger - 2009 JCW delivered 4/27/09, FMIC, boost gauge, Striped and tinted
Alta AccessPORT tune - 267wtq & 219whp
MINI #3 - 2011 White Silver/Black MCS. Delivered 5/11/11. All glass tinted;bobcat pads;OZ Ultra Leggeras;205/50/16 Starspecs
The dealer gave the results to Mini Canada. All normal according to them. No new head. They suggest to replace the timing belt , guide rail etc etc. 3 weeks in the dealer. What a waste of time. I'll drive it hard once I get it back, I'm not babying this car anymore, they can have it back at the end of lease
update. A new engine has been ordered today. cars been at dealer for 4 weeks now. Mini finally agreed to just put a new engine in it. hopefully i can now go back to enjoying the car. Again, only symptom was the cold start chatter.
This is insanity. Why are they letting incompetent, undertrained stealerships futz around with expensive "experimental" repairs, taking days or weeks while the customer is without his/her car, only to then find out that they haven't solved the problem? At the first sign of something that seems like internal engine damage, they should swap out the entire shortblock and be done with it. Then do careful analysis of what failed, to hopefully correct whatever is wrong, or if a freak occurrence, determine exactly what happened.
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'10 MCS "Jethro". All PW, aero kit, carbon black lounge leather, anthracite h/l, Cream White c/l, convenience, cold weather, xenon, rear fogs, nav, h/k sound, white turns, H&R touring cup kit, BBS LM's (aka "Let's Motor"), Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2's. '07 Z4M Coupe, bone stock.
I won't have the car back until end of next week, if I'm lucky. That will be 6 weeks without it. I asked Mini about compensation and they said "you are getting a new engine" and "we gave you a loaner" . The car is a lease, so technically they are getting the new engine in their car. I making my lease payment for a mini cooper S and driving an saturn astra. go figure.
Am I the first S with internal damage from this design fault? 
Mini Me - 2008 Laser Blue/Black MCS - 6 sp Auto, Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Piano Blk/Anthracite, Black JCW R105 Double-Spoke 18-inch Wheels on Pirelli PZero RF
2006 CR/B MCS JCW, RMW (Newman) Cam and RMW Street Header, JCW Suspension, H&R 19mm rear anti-sway bar, IE fixed camber plates, Mason Engineering lower strut brace, Continental ExtremeContact DW Tires, Red interior, Chrome, HK, RMW Tune, 223 WHP / 200 WTQ
Laser Blue/White MCS delivered 3/8/07. Off lease 5/17/09.
I say, boy, you dont seem to be apprehendin' the general gist of what I'm tryin' to convey here. Maybe you oughta take a second, let your head catch up to your tongue before it gets all sunburnt. That was a joke, son, I say - a joke! Nice boy, but he's about as sharp as a sack o' wet mice.
Also, I think customers would go ballistic if the dealer attempted to deny or downplay the problem, as opposed to admitting there is one.
