Ok I had posted about this under the r55 thread but I'd like to ask all second gen people this.

I have a 09 clubman S 6 speed manual with 55,000 miles on it. I am the third owner. Bought the car 15 days ago. When I purchased the car and during the cold mornings since then I have made a point to listen for the death rattle and have not heard it at all. Just yesterday I got in it and drove to work approximately 3 miles and as I pull into the lot I felt unusual vibration from the engine. I parked it and 3 hours later I cranked it and drove it. The vibration was still present untill I started to back up and when the rpms got to 2,000 I heard a loud thud/pop noise. Then the vibration was gone but now I have a vibration right at the start of first year right after you hit the gas. That went away by 2,000 rpms. I took it home and parked it.

This morning I checked the oil it is full. I looked all over for anything strange. I cranked the car and gave it a lil gas still had the vibration even setting still and I drove it a few feet and it would go away at 1500-2000 rpms I then parked it and I started to hear a noise from the Engine it would get louder and the softer. I hear the noise by the timing cover and also further down by the wheel on the passenger side closer to the back of the engine. I then poped the valve cover off to see if the guides for the chain had broken and all of the guides were intact.

I would love anyone thoughts on this thank you very much.

Noise from R56 motor

 

Does it get worse when you rev it? When my tensioner bolt backed out, I got death rattle immediately along with the lose of oil very quickly. I felt no vibration in the car however, so I'm not sure why you are feeling that. That sound could definitely be the timing chain though, but it should get noticeably worse when you rev the motor.