I am new to this forum and have spent hours searching for an answer to this problem. I have a 2007 MCS r56 with about 120,000miles. The car has ran great with no issues for the last year I have owned it until about 3 months ago it began to rattle once over 3,000 Rpm, it continues to rattle until settles down to under 2,000 Rpm. Then it is quite until I climb back up to 3k. This only happens once up to operating temp so I do not believe it is "death rattle". At first I thought it was what sounded like exhaust vibrating or a heat shield. I checked everything and tightened what I could on the heat shield and this was not the problem. So while jack up I had someone rev it while I was under listening. It sounds like it is coming from the tranny. And I have slight main seal leak. I checked tranny oil level, it was good but I changed it anyway. Has anyone had this problem and solved it!?

 

Morning bump. No one has had this?

 

Check the engine cover.

We had a student with this same issue on his Mini. A firm hand on the cover was the "fix".

 

My guess would be the timing chain issue..lol.. the 07s seem to be the worst the way I understand it..

 

Thanks for the reply. I am missing the engine cover. It hasn't been there since I bought the car. I wish it was that easy though

 

Doesn't the timing chain rattle happen on start up? That is what I've gathered from the searches I've done

 

Does it change sound if the air conditioner is on / off?

 

I had the timing chain rattle manifest itself as a rattling noise right around 2700 rpm. This only occurred once the engine was warmed up.

fwiw, the second time I had a timing chain issue there were no symptoms until I threw a CEL and some stuttering of the engine one morning as I came to a stop.

Don't be fooled into thinking the timing chain problem symptoms only occur during cold starts. While that is the predominant way it presents itself, it is not the only way.

 

Check your oil, it makes a very similar sound to a timing chain problem when it is low, and when I say low I mean 2+ qts low

 

No it doesn't change

 

Ok I was hoping that wasn't the case. How expensive is it to myself? Or is it worth changing in order to rule that out?

 

Does the timing chain rattle increase with rpm? Or speed? I'm looking for a way to determine if that is what it is

 

Payton,

When mine was making the rattling noise, it would consistently do it as I was slowing down. It would start up at about 2700 rpm and continue until about 2400 rpm. iirc, it would only rattle when I was off the throttle (i.e. coasting). The noise was very pronounced, but once I got above or below the small rpm band where it occurred, the motor went back to sounding like normal.

I doubt you'll be able to figure out a way to rule it in or out just by the sound.

As far as a fix, I've seen prices anywhere between $1700 - $2500 depending on dealer or mechanic.

You could try to replace just the tensioner. You should be able to source it for less than $50 and it is about a 30-60 minute DIY (depending on how much resistance some of the tubes want to give you) that is very easy. If you replace the tensioner and it appears to fix the issue, just keep in mind that you have probably only forestalled the inevitable.

 

Thank you for your help.

 

There are a lot of good points here.. One other thing to note is even if the tensioner is replaced it is very likely the timing chain guides may be bad and or broken off from the result of the chain being loose and slapping on the guides.. This had happened to my friend.. Arent they doing a goodwill replacement on this issue? Or did they end that?

 

I have no idea in the goodwill replacement, but I did tear her apart tonight to find broken chain guides. So I went ahead and ordered everything. Chain guides, chain, tensioner, cam sprockets, crank sprocket, and gaskets. Everything should be here Friday.