I didn,t think anyone from Mini/BMW read this site. I'm now convinced they do. I'm begining to think some of these remarks defending Mini's position are people on their payrool. The guys got a common Mini engine problem and people are suggesting he has bad or altered gas. Sound like dealer talk to me.

 

I can assure you that some people at MINI do read these forums but that they are not allowed to comment as that would be a conflict of interest and thus cause all kinds of other problems. I.E. them getting fired just for one. But I could be wrong on not commenting part. As for the reading this stuff I am sure they do. (both my MA and SA read this forum but are restricted from commenting on anything by their dealership)

Now I can assure you I do not work for MINI either and work for three companies all owned by the same person. MR Resources, Magmedix Inc, and Lab Gear Inc. as a web designer and marketing agent.

But I will defend MINI as this is NOT a very common problem (less than 1/100 of 1% have this issue), AND two of the videos the OP put up do not sound like the timing chain issue. In fact one of the videos has the engine coughing in it (that's what he is complaining about) and THAT IS NOT the timing chain causing that.

So don't go saying that people here are on the MINI payroll without substantial evidence.

 

Thanks Jerry. This is the same type of stuff I heard from BMW's engineer and my dealership's "master mechanic" at the hearing. They wouldn't even admit that they have had to change a lot of timing chains or tensioners on other cars. If I have bad gas, why would this problem have started two years ago when I purchased the car new? I thought it was agreed to long ago that the Prince engine had a few engineering foibles...

For all those watching, I have not yet heard from our arbitrator re: the decision, nor has MINI contacted me in any way since the date of hearing, though I suspect I am no longer welcome at Manhattan MINI ... If I hear anything, I will post it here.

 

I had the timing chain replaced on my 07 Cooper S; the sound that led me to take it to the dealer and ultimately resulted in the timing chain replacement sounded nothing like what is in the video. My sound was a tinny rattling at startup plus a diesel-like growl under acceleration. Best description I could give would be a cross between a diesel and a Citroen 2CV.

After the timing chain was replaced, the noise was gone, but the car seemed underpowered. I didn't think much of it. Now, the sound is back and worse than ever. I am a bit concerned as I am approaching warranty expiration. I hope I face the "cooperative" dealer. I also hope that should this problem reoccur after the warranty expires that it will be treated as a warranty of the original fixes.

 

I totally understand now why you are upset....that sounds terrible and these guys need to step up and fix this!

 

Still no real update for those watching. I've pretty much stopped driving the car though .

I'll report back when I get the decision, or anything from MINI deciding to make good on this.

 

I had a brand new Mercedes 350 SLK that burned a quart of oil every 500 miles from new. Smoked worse then my diesel truck at start up. MB siad it was within specifications. My responses was for a 67 Nova with 250K on the clock. Just quality German engineering and customer service. They finally replaced it with an 06 but it was not easy or pleasent. I will never own another one. I have cost them plenty of sales and will continue to do so for
any car shoppers. I never had a problem getting any Chevy I ever bought fixed. Me I would just drive it through the dealers window with the media alerted to film. Try that on the evening news to see how it effects sales. Foreign car makers get away with a lot more BS then is allowed a US manufacture. I lot more gray areas and cutting corners because they can.

 

My friends, clubmates, fellow MINI owners whatever you want to call them. Don't want me to touch their MINI's for I am like walking death to all things MINI. I in 3 1/2 years of MINI ownership have had 20 service trips for problems.

 

Ya know... I don't remember ever having a problem until you came to my shop and said "nice mini"


Hmmmmmmm






Mark

 

 

 

I'm not quite sure which I dislike more, the car or the dealer -Tom Bush in Jacksonville, FL.

Oh please let me buy a Mito, a Giulietta, an Abarth SS, a Polo GTI ... no wait, Tom Bush is the VW dealer as well.

 

buying a used '07 (my first Mini), but after reading this thread, I'm beginning to have second thoughts. Do 06's have this problem?

 

No the '06 has a completely different engine with its own strengths/weaknesses.

 

Getting the latest done to mine next Tues. I still have the noise currently, only when it get cold, the other day it was 50 or 60 here, and I herd it for the first time since early last spring.

Hope this fixes it.. the noise sounds scary, something is definitly getting damaged in there when it's occuring....

 

After all the conversation on this thread I can't believe no one is curious as to the outcome? I sure am, just spent 30 mins reading this. so what happened??

edit: i had my chain tensioner replaced in my '07, they were very good about it though.

 

lol... me too!

I kept telling myself not to skip to the end and what a cliff hanger.

Regardless, I too have gotten my chain tensioner replaced and it was annoying as hell (another story) We shall see if it holds up this winter

 

I remeber reading this a month or so ago and wondering what was going on with it. It popped up in the related threads at the bottom of the page. I guess the original guy either lost the case and didn't want to come back and admit it or won so much money that he is now living in Key West and hanging out on the beach all day.

Who knows.

 

Yeah, he settled and bought a Lamborguini,and took off to Italy