Hi everyone I have a 2002 r53 Mini Cooper S with about 175k. For the past few months I’ve been having a weird issue where when I cold start, I get a lot of(what sounds like) top end ticking. I know this is normal with higher mile cars, but my car will not stop doing it unless I restart it after letting it run for 20ish seconds. Sometimes it takes multiple restarts. I have suspicion it may be a bad oil filter housing/cooler. I’ve seen that they have small plastic ball valves in them and was thinking it may be getting clogged. If anyones dealt with similar please let me know, thanks!!

 

More than likely a lazy hydraulic lifter. I had same issue. Just replaced my lifter's.