I have read many posts on this issue and I have only one questions. The service bulletin says:

"In higher ambient temperatures (between 64° and 86° F), the turbocharger wastegate stays fully open duringa catalyst warm-up. This condition produces a rattle type of “acoustic feedback” and is created by therotating wastegate valve face. Valve rotation is required for proper valve seating."

Does this occur when the temps are below the noted 64° mark? This morning was 21° and yesterday was around 32°. On start up the RPM's are a bit higher at around 1,200 - 1,300 rpm's. That is when I am hearing the sound. Once it idles lower, below 1,000 rpm's, the sound goes away and all is well.

Thanks

 

I've noticed it on a 2012 R58 S and a 2013 R57 S, temperature was of no matter, and it went away just as you described once the engine stabilized.

-FS

 

Normal.

 

That's normal, now stop worrying and enjoy your new JCW CM



If you ever go catless it sounds beast on start up!

 

Yep. All the time at start up.

Today on the radio Mini introduced a new commercial to try to "sell" off the 2013's. The commercial has an old car (your big old car that junks up the garage) with a slow starting motor and then they have recording of a Mini starting its motor. The Wastegate rattle is as clear as day! I wondered why they used that recording.

 

Not trying to hijack but what if you have a 2009 N14 and you get that exact same rattly sound while driving at lower rpms cause thats what I get. It randomly does it at start up too. I have been trying to find out on here for over a year now and asked the dealer several times. Couldnt find any vids documenting "my sound" until i just youtubed N18 wastegate rattle. That is the sound exactly. Is my wastegate effed up?

 

Any N18 vehicle does make significantly louder wastegate noise than the N14. The CM are noticeably louder than other models, but normal nonetheless. The noise will be heard most during the warm up phase (hence why you relate it to the higher engine idle speed) and will gradually calm down as the exhaust warms up. It's the difference in rate of expansion of the turbo housing and wastegate valve itself. It has to be designed with a certain degree of play when cold as both metals will expand at a different rate but the valve cannot be too tight or it can cause improper sealing at the valve face. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure somebody spent a few hours designing this stuff
Junkie, I'm gunna put my money on your N14 noise being something in the valvetrain...more likely than not chain rattle. Especially if you are hearing it while driving.

 

So if it is chain rattle then how do i diagnose this? The *******es at the dealer refuse to admit that they hear anything. One tech suggested it might be that after riding with me, then kept the car for 3 days and said nevermind i didnt hear anything. It got the entire new chain and surrounding parts lil over a year ago and has been doin it since a few months after. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

First and foremost, check and recheck your engine oil level. Chain rattle is by far the most common on a cold started engine. But the best way to reproduce the chain rattle if you hear "something" on cold start but don't know what it is.....blip the throttle briskly to 3k or so and quickly let off the gas pedal with the car sitting still. The chain rattle is very prominent on cold start and engine decel. Do this several times back to back letting the engine reach idle speed after letting of the throttle. If the chain is causing the noise, you will hear a significantly more prominent noise on the engine decel then right after it's started. This process usually will produce a very good result for isolating chain noise within about a minute of first starting the car cold.

 

Mine had a broken guide rail but once inside the motor you might as well do the hole kit. I have also seen a loose tensioner bolt!