Hi,

I did hear a very loud rattle today when I started her and get her out of the garage to pump some air in the tires... I think I heard it before but I ignored it as it went away.
Do these suffer from timing chain disease too, or could it be something else like a vacuum pump or the like which also runs at cold? It has about 57k miles now, 2012 Cooper S hatchback.
It has gone away in a about 2 minutes, and I started her up again today after my wife came back... no rattle.

Many thanks for any feedback.

 

We have a 2012 MCS with about 65k miles. It doesn't do what you describe, but it has always sounded like a sewing machine for a minute or two after start up. You're correct, I believe starting in 2011 (n18 engine) this gen is not as prone to timing chain problems, but it can happen.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It is pretty much like that, a sewing machine. For me it's a loud rattle, compared to the other cars I owned... which are very normal sounding engines. This car does manage to surprise me every month, in a bad way...

 

The R56 wastegate can make a rattling noise for 20-30 seconds on startup. There's a TSB about it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rt-rattle.html

 

I definitely sounds like timing chain.. You can pull valve cover and check for damage on the upper guide.