So at cold start my car sounds like a diesel. I had the HPFP recently replaced under warranty so I thought that might fix the issue. The car performs fine after it warms up a bit. Although, after it has warmed up it can still doesn't really idle as smooth as I would think it should. I have honestly never been in another MINI turbo other than mine nor have I heard any up close and personal so is this normal? I know some people have had their timing chain tensioner replaced so I'm not sure if this would be the result of a weak tensioner or what.

 

No, it is not normal. Check out the sticky in the Stock Problem / Issues section: Cold Start Issues Database

 

It depends on what "sounds like a diesel" means. The timing chain tensioner problem (cold start chatter) gets worse at higher revs. (Don't go above 2,000 if it chatters). It sounds like a chain being dragged across bare metal, which is exactly what it is.

A ticking noise at idle is normal. It is the injectors.

My MCS runs quite smoothly at cold start, now that the chain tensioner has been fixed, and I started using Castrol Syntech 0W-30 European Formula (Made in Germany) motor oil.