2008 Clubman S, 77,000km
I bought this car used a few months ago. Prior to purchase, I took it into a european-specializing mechanic who gave it a clean bill of health. Last week, I started getting this sound on cold starts.

• Sound would be very audible for the first 5 minutes of driving
• In the last few days, I've noticed it even after 30 minutes of driving at much narrower RPM ranges, even at cruising speeds
• Always use 91 octane from Shell.
• The night previous to the sound showing up, I had filled up at a different gas station, and can't be 100% certain that I didn't put a low octane in by accident.

Assuming it was the gas, I've been driving the tank empty to go back to Shell. However, after reading about the Death Rattle, I've started to get mental images of my engine exploding in front of me, and am a bit wary of finishing off the last 100miles of fuel in the tank before taking it in.

Here's a recording of the sound on a cold start at idle (car has been sitting for 3 hours)

 

Can't comment on the sound except to say that with low octane you would typically get pinging or knocking when accelerating or going up hill. I'd advise to fill up now in any event as an average octane of 89 in the tank is ok and lower isn't.

 

Pretty sure that's the timing chain rattle. I think the only similar sound you'd hear on start up is the waste gate rattling, which sounds totally different.

 

That sounds like the timing chain rattle to me. The gas would not have been the cause, it was just a coincidence. Just take it to whatever specialist or MINI dealer around as soon as you can. Try and avoid driving it until then.

 

Does not sound right to me, but does not sound like the timing chain rattle.

 

That was sitting in idle. It's worse when driving after a cold start.

 

Definitely the chain hitting the guides..

Sent from cellular device.

 

Turns out the engine was low on oil. I'd been checking the oil as described in the manual, and only realized after checking these forums that there's a bit of a trick to it ... instead, I was pulling oil up into the dipstick tube, which always created the impression that the oil was full.

 

Don't be so quick to assume it was the oil.

My 08 MCS hatch had that same sound, sounded god awful when accelerating (until it warmed up) so I contacted the dealer and scheduled an appointment. They told me to make sure I wasn't low on oil, to which I flippantly replied of course I check it frequently and that's not it. Truth be told I wasn't low on oil but I could do with a change so I promptly got the oil changed PRIOR to the service and the sound went away. I almost canceled my appointment. Thankfully I did not. Having a good and plenty amount of oil seems to be able to cover up the noise but definitely not fix the problem.

Another part of my motivation to change the oil was I am not under warantee and didn't want to give them any excuse why not to help cover the cost. I was very fortunate, MINI covered everything, suggested that I should change my belt too and said that the man hours for the belt was covered under the timing chain maintenance, all I has to pay for was the belt! I scored.

Anyways, get it looked at. If it's not the problem consider yourself lucky and shrug it off. If it is you'll be thankful

 

I can clearly hear the chain hitting the upper guide rail just under the valve cover. Mine sound worst in the first 5 seconds on cold start-up, it was so loud I thought it was the end for my engine. Took it into the dealer and next morning found upper guide rail in oil pan, several different pieces were found.

 

Are you sure it is not the vacuum pump? I thought mine was making the Death Rattle and it turns out the chain is fine, as are the guides but the pump is toast, full of oil on both sides. The vacuum reservoir going to the turbo actuator was also saturated.

 

Not a mini mechanic nor do I play one on TV, but I do have a '10 JCW with a bad timing chain and it sounded like that. It was intermittent at first only at cold starts but went away, then 3 days ago after a solid 30-45 min of driving, I ran in to the store and came back outside to what sounded like bubbling bolts on the passenger side. Sorry man and I hope I am wrong, but you should get it checked out regardless, and if it isn't the rattle of doom, at least you will get some peace of mind

 

Can you repost the video? It says it's taken down and i'm curious what to be listening for. I have a 2010 Justa and on the first start of the day, it has a strange sound for 2 seconds, almost like the starter is hanging on too long. My dads 2009 Justa does the same thing... Also, when i'm getting up near 3k rpms, I hear what sounds like a lot of valve noise. It goes away if I'm driving for a long period of time (it's been in the 20's and 30's here). Just wondering if this sounds anything like whatever this death rattle is.

 

surfandjet, I think the noise you are hearing at the first start up is the sound of the vacuum pump. I heard this for weeks after I bought mine and wondered too. It still does it, but I no longer pay attention to it.

If you search Utube you should find plenty of examples of the death rattle, which is extremely rare with the Justa.

 

That makes sense. Thanks grgramps

 

What is this about the vacuum pump? I have heard of others state that unplugging it makes the noise go away, but no difference for me unplugged or plugged-in.

 

It's the coupler connecting the camshaft to the vacuum pump. It's part of the pump drive so it can't be changed without changing the pump. I guess there is a little play there and when the engine warms up it's less noisy. When you disconnect the vacuum hose it changes the resistance to rotation, lessening the noise. Some must be worse than others. There's a detailed thread on here by one member who removed the pump and installed an electric one.

 

So this noise when cold is the vacuum pump when it has some wear and tear on it? I never heard a noise from my vacuum pump when cold and disconnected.

 

You may hear it better by removing the oil filler cap and then check. I've read on here some people go ahead and change the vacuum pump thinking the noise would be gone and it's still there with the new pump.
This is the thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp-delete.html

 

I listened today even with oil filler cap removed and no weird sounds, at cold start-up I can clearly hear exhaust valve train lifter noises that goes away after 5-15 seconds after oil starts circulating. Ambient temperatures determine how long the valve train makes noises. When it's hot it goes away in less time than 5 seconds.