As a quick update on my timing chain issue, I took my 2007 Cooper S into our main dealer here in Denver last Friday, the 20th. There was some talk about a fee to diagnose the chain tension when I first dropped it off (I spoke to an advisor earlier in the week about the water pump recall and the upcoming warranty extension which they readily acknowledged).

Since my drop-off, the customer service experience has been exceptional. The service rep has contacted me multiple times to keep me in the loop. They were able to diagnose the chain issue right away at start-up (62,000 miles on my R56) and management approved the good will repair. Yesterday I received an update with the attached picture. My timing chain guides are broken and they are having to drop the oil pan to fish out all the parts. Nasty. Sounds like it will be just one more day until I have it back.

As a side note, I've been driving a 2013 Countryman All4 S as a loaner car and am quite impressed. Nice space boost inside and 80% of the handling remains. A bit heavy feeling sometimes (mainly in reference to acceleration), but sweet nontheless.

 

Good to see so many people getting good will repairs. I got "make sure your oil is topped off, nothing we can do for you" basically.

 

2010 mini cooper S convertible. Had timing chain, rails and tensioner done at Flow Mini Raleigh in May 2013. Had 19,000 miles done under warranty. Top rail was cracked luckily nothing came apart. Have 24,500 miles now. Same parts as you attached in invoice. Share your concern are these updated parts or will this problem reoccur?

 

Agreed. They got confirmation from Mini to do the Good Will repair and I will be able to pick up Winifred this afternoon

 

Hey all, I have been following this thread awhile now since my 07 S is in for timing chain. My chain let go and caused all sorts of trouble. I spoke with the SA this morning and asked him about the recall/extended warranty. He told me it is the same service bulletin that has been floating around for a long time now and nothing has ever come of it. He said that in his understanding there is nothing in the works. I do not know if this is company speak, but I figured I would let everyone know where Orlando MINI currently stands.

 

Speak to the Service manager and ask him/her to request a "good will" repair from MINI USA. Contact MINI USA as well, today.

 

I just shot an email directly to MINI USA. I really can't accept the service advisor's response basically pinning blame on me. "Well you know these cars use oil between oil changes and if you don't keep it topped off, it could cause the rattle." I check my oil at least once a week and keep it between 3/4 and full at all times. I'm not letting him brush it off like I CAUSED it and they won't/can't do anything for me when it's well documented and known it's a design/part problem and others are getting taken care of.

 

I just purchased a 2011 Cooper S with 45k miles (love it so far). Reading the replies to this thread, is it safe to assume that only 06-10 N14 engines are affected by this "death rattle"? Also, are all 2011+ S equipped with the N18?

I'm only worried because when I rev the engine while parked up to 2k RPMs, I can hear a rattle similar to the death rattle but not as severe as some of the videos i've seen on youtube.

 

Hmm, looking at the invoice for my recent timing chain repair. I have different part numbers than Quijote had in his invoice. Anyone know anything else about new vs. old?

 

So lately my timing chain has been getting louder and louder. After seeing a few youtube videos of the rattles mine isn't no where near that loud but its at it's starting age. I'm just 1 month into ownership of my 09 Clubman with now 60,100 miles.

Anyways, after reading all of the comments on here I asked my friend from a mini dealership to email me all of my mini's history with claims and such. She said in her email without saying anything about my timing chain she goes Oh looks like you have a upcoming recall soon. and sure enough on the last page I see this...




Looks like I'll park the Mini in the garage for the mean time.

 

Exact wording from the Service Associate I called. "Pending. Take no action at this time". But he also worded it as if, even when it goes active, IF it goes active any time soon, it could be months before the dealerships get all the parts specified for the campaign/recall. Sounds like someone trying to get me to penny up and pay for the repair now rather than wait.

 

Got a call back from MINI USA!

Wish it was good news. Basically their "resolution specialist"(which if you know the customer service industry, simply means "how little can I get away with doing for this customer to save MINI's money while getting rid of the trouble customer), said to me that I need to bring it to a MINI dealership and pay their diagnostic fee(because at this point, they wouldn't be able to fire it up and HEAR that it's clearly the timing chain rattling??), and then once I have a diagnosis on paper, they MIGHT HELP me with the cost. Not cover it, not warranty it, but MIGHT HELP some.... Man what a joke.

 

As stupid as it sounds I think I'd jump at that opportunity to have MINI diagnose it. My dealer here in Denver originally said they might charge me a diagnosis fee (which they cut in half to $60 something when I said i was there for the potential warranty extension). Mine turned into a full repair as I've detailed all because they could clearly hear the rattle. It sounds like your dealer is less generous, however, so that doesn't help. I wish corporate could exert more force on these dealers, but I guess we have to wait until the extension actually becomes official for that to happen.

 

Which dealer did you talk to?

 

I've been following this thread with great interest since we recently had our '09 MCS delivered and on occassion have heard a bit of a rattle when my wife starts the engine.

From the number of comments listed so far it appears that since this is not an "official" MINI recall, warranty extension or whatever...yet... the folks who are getting positive results seem to have dealers who are more into customer service than perhaps others, or the MINI owners themselves have presented a well thought out rational case to the service department and have dealt with said department in a diplomatic manner thus receiving diplomacy in kind.

Yep, you guessed it! About 35 years ago near the beginning of my career I worked as a service advisor and assistant service manager for a Datsun, Subaru, Peugeot dealership. I've got to tell you that in many ways it was one of the most thankless positions I ever held as one may imagine. My point though is that when I had the opportunity to work with a customer who wasn't ragging on the product, the dealership or me I would tend to go above and beyond for that person because they made my job more pleasant and worthwhile. As for the ornory customers, I would try to make sure we could do everything possible to rectify the car's problem and get the car back to them in a timely manner so that the next time they came in perhaps things would go smoother and sometimes it worked.

I guess the bottom line is that since MINI has not issued anything official yet, the relationship that you have built with your service department may well dictate what type of result you get. One may think that this type of situation is unfair but you must consider that unless your car is under warranty neither MINI or an individual dealership is under any obligation to fix your car at this time unless they decide to make a good will gesture.

 

So I dropped off my '09 MCS on Monday with my going out of warranty laundry list of things to fix. One of them being the cold start rattle. I had brought it in 3 previous times complaining about the rattle and they only changed the tensioner. The chain measured 70mm when the tensioner was replaced 9k miles ago. My cold start rattle was very faint and never reached diesel sound levels. The last time I brought it in the SA Manager and Shop foreman both went out with me to listen to the car on a cold start and of course they both insisted they heard nothing.

This time when I brought it in I mentioned that I heard there was a recall on the timing chain. The SA immediately denied it. Then I asked if there was a recall coming up soon? And he again denied it looking like he never heard such a thing. Well, today I got a call from the SA manager stating they were able to reproduce the rattle and will be replacing the timing chain cassette etc. My rattle was no louder than it was 9k miles ago when they denied hearing anything. This time they magically heard it and replaced it with no fight on my end. Just wanted to share my experience.

 

Good to know. Probably won't get that treatment with an out of warranty car. ..I think mine might be staying to rattle. .. it was very early this morning and I want paying attention but noticed an unusual noise on start up.

 

If BMW didn't feel the need for 2 minutes of pointless dings and ****ing beeps every time you start the car, hearing a cold start noise would be much easier. I never understood why they have so many goddamn dings while starting the car. BMW has been that way all the way back to my fricken 87.

 

Tiny update on my personal situation:
I finally just said screw it, let's go in. Calling MINI didn't get me anywhere, and universally I've always gotten better, more serious and real support by talking to someone face to face rather than on the phone.

So I went into the dealership and spoke with the same Service Adviser I had dealt with in the past when I had a part that was broken when I purchased the car.(otherwise, I typically do my own work if it's work being paid for).

Unlike what MINI advised me of, my dealership actually offered a FREE diagnosis. So Thursday evening after work, I will be dropping off my car and picking up a loaner. I'm curious if they have an S Coupe loaner as that would save time on a test drive to see if I actually like them lol. His words when speaking of the free diagnosis and hopefully doing a good will repair(though he sounded like I would be the one who needs to contact MINI on that matter), was "We're here working for the customer, not the manufacturer". One of those things people say, I know, but being an over all service department, not a MINI only service department, maybe they DO operate that way a bit lol.... We shall see later in the week.

 

Seriously!

 

Had my timing chain tensioner done under warrenty around 38000 miles. I beliebe the chain had cracks in it or something I cant remember now. but my car is just obnoxious when its cold in general and perfectly fine once it warms up

 

Most likely it was the timing guides that were cracked. They're plastic and when that chain stretches and starts slapping around, it damages them.

 

so they are just replacing the busted plastic one...with another plastic one...is that correct?

 

Yes. timing guides have been plastic in every car I've ever worked on timing sets in...
Every single one.

If the chain doesn't have any issues, the guides wont either.

They have new part numbers I assume for better parts when they replace your old ones. Still a chain, tensioner, and plastic guides but higher quality I guess.

 

Oct. 9 2013.
I just got off the phone with my local MINI dealer and asked him about this and he is unaware of any timing chain recall.
My car needs a new chain, so I hope something happens soon!