Hi all -

My beloved 2010 Clubman S just started the death rattle, and upon taking it in to our local service dealer, was verified to have the timing chain issue. They told me to call our local dealer (the very pointless Tom Bush here in Jacksonville) and find out if it was covered in the recall.

I called and spoke to a girl there that told me that the recall was "only for the 2007 - 2009 production dates, so mine wasn't covered."

I replied that I was well aware that I had the same engine as those dates and therefore, should fall under the same recall.

She replied that I was wrong; my production date "would have gotten the new tensioner, so it's not covered." She then told me to "call MINI to challenge this," didn't give me the number to call, and hung up.

Helpful, helpful people.

So, my question is: Did anyone have a 2010 Clubman's timing chain replaced for free by MINI? Did you have to escalate, or did the dealer deal with it for you?

I would genuinely appreciate any assistance, as I've been quoted about $1,100 by my local service guy (which I think is reasonable, from what I've seen), but with this being a known issue on this engine, I feel that MINI should be covering this.

Thank you very much!!
Tara

p.s. I am noticing in the forums that one dealer is standing out in terms of getting this covered for their customers: Midwestern Auto Group in Dublin, Ohio - which sadly, WAS my dealer and I loved them! Nice to see they are still doing good business...

 

Sad story, but Mini Cooper is just covering themselves from a class action law suit by doing the very minimum they have to in order to lessen the possible effects of that lawsuit.
It has absolutely nothing to do with doing what's right.

 

Hi TREX -

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, that's the sense I am getting as well, which is really disappointing given that all of MINI's advertising focuses on the "MINI family" and how wonderful it is to be part of that. Don't get me wrong, as a MINI owner, the MINI family of owners are great - but MINI USA does not seem to be treating us owners as family with their response to this.

That said, I did call MINI USA and spoke to a helpful girl who said that I "MIGHT be covered because it is a known issue" but that I "would have to get it into the local dealer and have them verify that is what's wrong."

I pointed out that I couldn't drive it an hour to the dealer (I was worried about driving it 5 minutes to the local service station), and her suggestion was that I get it towed - at my expense.

I asked if it were likely that I would get it covered by MINI, and she said she thought I had a good chance - but I'd have to get the dealer to say that it needed to be done and to advocate for us to get it fixed for free.

I called Tom Bush and spoke to the Service Manager there, and she was fairly helpful but somewhat dubious that I would be able to get it covered. She said that "sometimes 'he' has covered 2010s for half cost, some for the full cost, but she couldn't say whether we'd get that or not." I asked who "he" was, and she said "our MINI rep."

So, basically, it's kind of a crap shoot if I get it covered after all this or not.

I called a towing company to find out the cost of getting it to the dealer - it's $200. So, now I start thinking about it, and if they DO think that it's the timing chain and they DON'T get it covered under the recall, then I've now paid an extra $200 and my car is stuck at the MINI service department, where I will be charged dealer prices for the chain and labor. If I decide I'd rather tow it back to our local service department, I'm out another $200 and then have to pay for it to be fixed.

I really do get that the MINI dealer needs to take a look at it, but if this is a "known issue" on these engines, it shouldn't be a "maybe we'll cover it, maybe we won't" situation. If I KNEW they would cover it, I'd definitely pay the $200 to get it in to Jacksonville, but without that assurance, I could be in an even MORE expensive situation.

I dunno. I just don't think this is the way to treat someone who has bought two MINIs and has sold at least 5 that I personally know of for this dealer. It's really unfortunate that customer loyalty seems to be seriously lacking here.

Anyway, thanks for your response. It's a tough position to love a car but feel very on the fence about the company itself. I really would like to step up to the Countryman, but I will not buy from our local dealer, and with this lack of owning up to a bad engine design that I am seeing, it makes me unsure of staying with the brand.

Oh well. I still love my MINI, and it could be worse - it could have actually had the timing chain break while I was in the mountains of West Virginia last weekend...so, all things considered, this isn't the end of the world!

Have a great day -
Tara

 

I would check and see when your 2010 was built. There is a website that you can punch your VIN number in and it will tell you. Mine was built near the end of 2009 and I haven't been informed of any recall regarding the timing chain. For this last inspection I was told that there was a recall to add a 'heat' shield for the turbo lines and they installed that.

As for the signs of the death rattle, what level is your oil at? I am constantly checking that as it can have an impact on the survival or failure of the timing chain.

As for towing, you could possibly sign up for triple A and get it towed by them. Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck!
~Matt

 

My 2010 S Clubman was built in September '09. I had my SA check on it and I was outside of the "Service Bulletin" because I had the updated tensioner, the one with the dimple on the head. I'm hoping that the "updated tensioner" will do the trick, but I've heard around here that it hasn't been the universal panacea.

 

I have a '10 Cooper S and I wasn't having the death rattle, but I inquired about the timing chain and I was told my MINI was updated therefore I wasn't going to get a new timing chain. Oh well....