Not a happy camper here... Just spent $3k within the last month (oil filter housing, water pump, thermostat, spark plugs, etc). 80k miles. This weekend, the notorious(?) timing chain broke. Dealer service said metal thru the engine - engine destroyed

Do I have any recourse here? Is the timing chain issue something they should have caught, if it was loose enough to break in a few weeks?

Or do I have an expensive trip to the junkyard?

 

Nothing they did would have caused your problem. Did you ask them to check the timing chain while it was in for service? If not it is not their problem. Just a terrible coincidence. Sorry this happened to you.

 

Shouldn't matter if I mentioned it or not, if they were following the '08 service bulletin they should have checked for it; or am I mistaken?

I'll likely just end up in the class action suit. It's a shame; this is my daughter's car, bought used, we all liked it and I had talked the Mrs into a MINI for our next new car. Doubt it will happen now.

 

Svc tech would've heard the rattling sound from the rear passenger side of the engine which is very common for the "S" models. Really thought that the Justas are usually trouble free. I hear that some dealerships (Sewell) sells previously owned, refurbished or rebuilt engines from one of the threads here at NAM. Might be a good idea to pursue it if you decide to keep your MINI. Sorry to hear this and wish you the best of luck!

 

I believe the service bulletin only applies to S models. Even if it applies to non-S, the tech is only going to follow it if the customer indicates they are experiencing one of the problems that would call for checking it out. So yes, it does matter if you mentioned it or not.

 

Fixing it would be way too expensive.

 

There have been a few threads on the Justa's, not really noted as a problem on this board but in the few cases all had as a contributing factor a high oil consumption rate,...

Sorry to hear that, real bummer. The timing chain can go very quickly, not a lot of loud rattle before things rip it is kind of subtle.

 

Just pulled up an October 2010 copy of the service bulletin (SI M11 02 07). It specifically indicates that it applies to the N14 engine.

Could be something out there for the N12, but I have not run across one.

 

Although the timing chain assembly is the same in both the N12 & N14, It appears Mini Cooper has chosen to limit their recognition of the problem to just a "select" group of those with this timing chain assembly and to only the tensioner as much as they possibly can.
Other than the class action lawsuit I doubt you have much other recourse.

 

Thanks everybody. I haven't been able to have a sit down talk at the dealer yet. I imagine they will say "tough luck", but I will ask anyway. They (and MINI USA) have the opportunity to make me happy now.

I read that the class action is moving forward so I figure I will likely get something eventually.

 

ouch that is terrible luck..

 

You should probably be prepared to be disappointed.

 

I'm very sorry for you luck. Try & blame the dealer if you like, but I can't see how it is their fault. I wish you luck with your class action suit.

I'm wondering how loud that timing chain was before it let go. They do not spontaneously break. I'd guess it was rattling quite loudly. Not to fault your daughter, but you may want to school her about cars & what sounds they should & should not make.

 

Well, not my class action, but I will jump on board if I need to.

Yeah, I schooled her on the chain rattle when we were looking at used Minis; she didn't say she noticed anything, just abnormal oil consumption started again right before it failed ( she checks the oil nearly every day). I was going to take a look at it when she came home.

Just bad luck I'm afraid. But incredibly expensive.

 

Generally speaking, how long does a timing chain last? Is there a good milestone to get it changed for preventative maintenance?