I recently purchased an '05 MCS with 49,000 miles at auction (I am a dealer). I got it at a great price because no one else would bid on it because of the terrible noise at idle. Sounded like a diesel. Sounded OK when revved up. I researched on the internet and found a YouTube video that sounded exactly the same with a bad timing chain tensioner. I took a chance and bought it and replaced the tensioner. Not easy to do (an offset box wrench is your friend!) but when i started it after replacing the tensioner it ran and sounded great. Yeah!

I then drove about 25 minutes to Classic Mini in Willoughby, Ohio (very helpful people) to buy an oil filter to change the oil and some other parts. Drove very well, no noises, good power. On the way home the oil light went on and the oil pressure gauge went to zero (chrono pack). I immediately stopped. I waited about 10 minutes and restarted. Oil pressure was fine for about 30 seconds and then again went to zero. Oil level is fine, maybe a little high. I had the car towed to a BMW/Mini specialist where it is now waiting for diagnosis.

Any ideas?

 

What did they find?

 

Did the oil pressure relief valve break?

 

The timing chain bounced around so much that parts of the cover broke off and bits of it clogged up the oil intake. The engine was shot, I replaced it with a used one. I don't know how the previous owner could ruin an engine in 49,000 miles. When I bought it at the auction it still had the window sticker from a Mercedes dealer who was trying to sell it for $16,499. What a deal!

 

What did you have to pay to purchase the used engine? I have an 02 MCS with a failed engine and decided to buy a complete parts car from an insurance salvage auction instead of buying just an engine.

 

Ive heard other cases of failed tensioners. Could be from poor service history, although could just ne from a faulty tensioner. In either case the engine was obviously driven for a while with the chain noise.

Unfortunately for you it couldnt hold out for just a few more miles to get that oil change it desperately needed.
I also hate to say it, makes me sound mean but im glad that you bought this for cheap instead of some poor s.o.b for that almost $17k sticker price. Hopefully you got it cheap ebough that youll still break even or make a little after selling with a used engine..

Having been a dealer tech for a handful of years I can honestly say all the horror cars we worked on all came from auctions. I know dealers get lucky sometimes there but I honestly would never buy a car from an auction. Too many times i saw our dealer take only the cars not worth repairing to aution and too many times did I see customers come in with neglected nightmares of molested vehicles needing more repairs than the poor car was worth!

I sure hope your case turns out better than the pessimism I have for auction cars!