Help

I have a 2007 Mini Cooper Base convertible R52. I have had it for 6 years and love it but it is getting old. Runs great. About a year ago I got the check engine light with the P0340 code indicating a problem with the camshaft position sensor. I replaced that myself and the light/code came right back. It runs great, same as always. Alas it is now emissions time and I need to get the car to pass. My mechanic’s best guess is that the timing chain has slipped stretched some and that is causing it. He said there were metal shavings in the oil which is a clue. He wants to replace timing chain and says that would be about $1800. I am dubious that is the problem. I would think if the timing was off it would affect performance. The car is not worth much more than that anyway if at all.

1. Is there anything else I can try?
   
2. Is there any way to get it through Illinois emissions (check engine code is immediate fail).
   

If I cannot get it to pass I will probably just sell it and cry. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Was the replacement sensor new or secondhand, was it gen or aftermarket? you could try disconnecting it start the engine and reconnecting it with engine running, might reboot system or disconnect the "check eng light"
good luck Russ [down under]

 

Thanks. It was a new aftermarket part. My mechanic said that it appeared to be working based on his testing. I will look into that. I did reset the computer.
David

 

Metal shavings in the oil pan? If that were true, the last suspected cause, to me, would be the timing chain. Every engine is going to have debris of some kind. If there were truly metal shavings in the oil pan, you have far bigger issues than your P0340 code. I would be very suspicious of the mechanic at this point.
Stretched timing chain throwing a bad reading? I could see that as a possibility, but I'm already dubious of your mechanic. How'd he even know you had shavings in the oil pan? You would have to drop the oil pan then look at the magnet, this is not something that is obvious with a standard oil change—the oil pours out pretty fast, and usually you never look at it.
How many miles have you driven since you replaced the sensor? You need to move through at least one full cycle, and that is about 100 miles.
Here's a really odd thing that you could try: My 2007 S went into limp mode—I know I have issues with the valve body on my transmission. I disconnected the battery and then didn't touch the vehicle for over a week. With the battery fully disconnected, the left over memory in the ECU erased itself. I got back from a 3-week trip, fired up the vehicle to move it, and the code was simply gone. Maybe you have the time to disconnect the battery for a really, really long time?

 

On many cars I would agree with you but not on first gen New Minis. For starters there is no magnet in the oil pan and even the drainplug is not magnetic. So all metal particles will end up in the oil. Secondly the timingchain runs in a bit of a slot in the timingchain cover. If the tensioner fails or the chain is stretched it will slap against the cover, leaving metal particles.

Having said that, it's quite hard to skip a teeth because of the cover design. But with enough wear on the sprockets it is possible.