Hey guys i just picked up my 2005 r53. I have test driven it off the lot, motoring around, no noise, get back to the dealer with a rattle coming from the engine bay, couldnt figure what it was although it was RPM dependent. Turn the engine off, then turn it back on. it was fine. no noise at all. test drove it again, nothing. I buy it thinking something just hasnt moved in a bit and got a good deal. i drive it to my parents hosue to drop off my other car. nothing. drive from my parents house to mine. i get it again i can only hear it when i arrive at my destinationin side and outside of the car. Its never on startup and made sure it was warm before moving anywhere. didnt get it this morning either.....

i can try to take a video of the next time it happens, but i feel like its a tensioner wether its the CAM or the belt that needs a little loving. any insight would be great

 

1st welcome aboard. MINI's dont have belts they have chains. If it was the tensioner the noise usually wont go away. I hope you purchased an extended warranty if it is the tensioner. Next time it happens pop the hood and listen to where the noise is coming from. You could have an issue with the supercharger. Ususally the noise will come from the right side of the engine on the waterpump side of the supercharger. Good luck and keep us posted.
Remeber to wave

 

Most likely the timing chain tensioner piston, it works off of oil pressure, could be early signs of it getting ready to fail, or could have simply had a slight pocket of air or debrit in the oil passage.

Over time they develope a slight lip at the end of it's throw, could have simply sat for a while & got a little stuck, the sound is very much like there is a bag of gravel in your valve train, good thing is, if it is this, it's a fairly simple fix.

Good Luck.

 

You might want to check the serp belt as well. A bad belt can cause the same symtoms as a bad tensioner.

 

I like this answer the best. If this is the case, the fix is relatively cheap. The part is under $100 and it's easy to replace. That having been said, any time the motor is rattling, that's a bad thing. Have the car looked at immediately.

 

Exactly

 

yeah i figured as much, i do have a 30 day warrantry from the dealer and a 3 year 360000 mile bumper to bumper, its jsut wierd thats its not all the time, and i did get to wave at my first fellow mini owner this morning

 

360,000 mile warranty. That's a helluva warranty!

 

Bwahaa, can't cut you slack just cause you're new.

 

Did you check the oil level in the engine?

 

what if it was a 360,00 warranty? i could be a cross country driver

 

Too funny

 

Well I have a bit of an update. It seems as if when I just throw it in neutral coming to a stop at about 2500 rpms it seems to happen. But if I ease the rpms down I don't get it....

 

I have nothing useful to add to this thread except I want that 360K warranty. So you have no worries my friend, motor on.

My serious advise is if you have a warranty drive the crap out of it really hard and see if something breaks. If it doesn't, life is good. If it does, make them fix it.

 

Why would you take that kind of risk instead of getting it fixed? He could risk them claiming he was at fault for some unknown reason and then he has to pay for the repair himself. Just get your MINI to the dealer if you are unsure and it is under warranty. Why turn a wrench or second guess yourself, when it can be on their dime?

 

My experience with dealers is "cannot replicate" when you bring the car in and describe a problem. So if there is an issue, it has to be right there in front of them. How is it his fault, he just bought the thing and drove it?

 

That is not always the case. It is not his fault, that why I suggest he take it back and have the check it out since it is under warranty.

 

I still say it's the chain tensior, did you buy it from a Mini dealer, or other?
If you bought it from a Mini dealer, just go in and speak to them, this is a common problem & they shouldn't have a problem fixing it at all.

 

Take the dealer for a spin and show him the problem - go on from there.

 

here is a link on how to replace the timing chain tensioner
http://www.minicooperspeed.com/mini-...ation-r50-r53/

If noise is coming from top of passenger side then its probably tensioner
If noise is from bottom of driver side then its probably supercharger/water pump related
If noise is from the passenger side in general it could be something with the serpentine belt

If its not any of those then you could have a bigger problem (camshaft, timing chain, ...)

 

Welcome, Saltysalt! Concur that you should take it back to where you purchased it, let them hear it, have them diagnose and fix it. If they can't, then tell them, since you have their 30 day warranty, that you will take it to a MINI dealer, have them diagnose and fix it and send them the bill. BTW, how many miiles on the car? Do you have any service records and location/s where it was previously serviced?

 

i bought it froma VW dealer, and the salesman actually heard it the first time when i test drove it, neither of us knew what it was, stopped the engine, restarted it and it was gone... bought the car knowing i would havea warranty and this problem would be fixed some way, i have to bring it back to them for an inspection sticker anyways so ill ba able to call them to have them order the part for when i go in

 

Keeps us
posted and good luck.

 

finnally got it to happen again, the last few days i havent gotton it and have been trying, the last few days were in the teens for temp, this morning the onboard said 34*F

** EDIT **
The sound was coming from the airbox side to my ears, not sure how good the video dipicts that

 

Sounds like you may be catching it very early!!! Usr that dealer warranty, show them the video. Almost certain the gears are going. Good luck!