Our dealer is going to bat for us on some more issues but they told us that the cam chain needs to be replaced. I'm really confused on this. I know they put in a cam chain tensioner 15K miles ago and after reading the posts here about optional tensioners, I don't know how a cam chain can be so badly out of spec in 31K miles on a very well maintained car. The car is babied and the oil is changed twice a year instead of once because its not driven far to work and the level is always checks and topped off.

Its a 2007. Is this a known defect? Can anyone shine some light on this? In all other cars I've owned a cam chain lasts a very very long time.

 

You won't be the first on timing chain replacement, and surely not the last.
The timing chain has been known to become too loose or out of spec, as it stretches during heat cycles.

The replacement parts the dealer now has should elevate this problem all together.
To give some retrospect, my chains were replaced at 11K miles on a 2009 model just this May 2012.

- Erik

 

Same boat here with all new timing components. You have a 2007 so I wouldn't be surprised.

 

Are 2012 models going to have these issues?

 

Thanks for the feedback. Sucks its happening so often and soon. You feel they have fixed it with the replacement parts? Does anyone know the cost to replace these?

 

The N18 engines haven't been through the wringer quite yet, but the outlook is optimistic that MINI took steps with higher materials.
But wait, your JCW has the N14... you may / may not run into the same issue.

Yes, they have updated with newer part numbers and components when the replacement is completed.

By yourself or dealer?
Parts are easy to locate through RealOEM.com or PenskeParts.com
But if there's so little mileage on your vehicle, dealer should really pull through and replace them if your chains are 'out of tolerance / specification'.

- Erik

 

Mine were replaced at 28k. I asked how much it would have cost, was told $2000-$2500