recently when it's been cold in the morning (32F or or lower) I've had a rattle when driving (not idle). The transmission seems fine. It's as if the Turbo is not working. I go through the revs, & Turbo kicks in then it's quickly dies out & I only have the power of the 4banger.

the rattle sounds like it's coming from the front right of engine bay.

After the engine warms up, 10+ min of driving, it goes away.

ideas?

Although not as widespread as the "cold rattle" issues, there have also been a few turbo failures. Your's doesn't sound good. Assuming it's still under warranty, I would have it checked out at dealer ASAP.

I hope I'm not spreading misinformation, but I read somewhere that MINI won't "use" the turbo until the engine has heated up. I'm not sure how you make a turbo engine "turn off" the turbo, my guess is keeping the valve open and maybe the open valve is where the knocking is coming from (complete speculation).

Mine did the same thing last winter and is doing it now, but during summer the knocking noise is none existent. So I won't read into until the knocking happens all the time. If you live close to a dealer, it couldn't hurt to drop it off overnight and have them listen to it after a cold morning start.

That is not true. It's always best to warm up an engine to operating temperature before flogging it, but nothing in the software is keeping you from it. If you've got mysterious, intermittent knocking noises, that is not good.
A friend of mine has had the turbo replaced on his 2007 MCS. At around 40K miles, his engine imploded due to issues related to the cold start stuff. It was replaced and then around 15K miles later, his engine went into limp mode again. This time it was the turbo which luckily he had replaced under an extended warranty plan at minimal out of pocket expense.
Again, turbo failure is not common, but there have been a few documented here.

I was hoping this limp mode was a common thing. I might have to get mine checked out.

thanks for the info. going in for checkup ASAP (when I can get a loaner, which isn't till January)

If the turbo isn't covered, I maybe looking for a new car

If you're still in your warranty period and you haven't done any crazy engine mods, the turbo will be covered.

Sounds like what my 2009 JCW Clubman was doing after about 15K miles. Basically it was the same loud rattling especially when the car was cold. Lucky for me the dealer noticed it and replaced the Timing Chain and a whole bunch of other related parts. You definately should consider looking into it quick becuase if your timing chain goes it's going to take a bunch of other parts with it.

So I just had the same type of sound on my '09 JCW, 13K miles. It went away when the RPM's passed 3K. I brought it to the dealer and they said (I'm not very mechanical so this is the best I can re-tell) that there is a hydraulic pump? that operates a tensioner for the timing chain. This pump failed and the timing chain stretched. They replaced a bunch of parts like 1car-nut's including the timing chain. Last winter I had what I thought was the "Cold Death Rattle" but when I brought it to the dealer they couldn't replicate the sound, I guess it took until this winter for it to really fail.

Car sounds great and I'm super happy to hopefully put this behind me, especially under warranty.

Good Luck and I would definitely bring to the dealer.

Why would you be looking for a new car? Don't run from the car just because it has one problem. Do you hate the JCW that much?

I had the same problem and had to have the timing chain replaced in my `09 mini clubman at 15k miles. I currently have 28k miles on it, and it's back in the shop again having the timing chain replaced again. Fortunately it's still under warranty... but what about the next 15k miles? Will it need replacement again? I've never heard of a car needing the timing chain replaced so much.... aren't they suppose to last for about 100k miles?

i'm new in mini but do you think the new model of jcw 2011 still have the same problem of the timing chain?

i had the same with mine and it was the timing chain.identical noise and loss of power when reved out. its a common world wide problem but of course mini had to wait for it to be cold enough to happen again so they kept the car for a week and then it took them another week to get parts and fix it. they gave me a loan 120d the whole time which i hammered so it wasn't that bad.