R56 Do these service records look bad?
#1
Do these service records look bad?
Hey everyone, 1st post here, looking to pick up an MCS in the next week or so.
Found a car that is just what I wanted, price is right. The sales rep sent me a screen cap of what service records he could show me.
Please take a look at it and let me know if this is something I dont want to get into. 2 HPFP's and some work related to the cams and tensioner.
It is an 07 MCS with 48xxx miles on it.
Found a car that is just what I wanted, price is right. The sales rep sent me a screen cap of what service records he could show me.
Please take a look at it and let me know if this is something I dont want to get into. 2 HPFP's and some work related to the cams and tensioner.
It is an 07 MCS with 48xxx miles on it.
#2
Mindspin, Is this a MINI dealer and what used car warranty are they offering? Whatever they offer, read it carefully to see what's covered and most importantly, what's not covered.
The work orders showing what was actually done would be more meaningful. "Unpleasant Noises" doesn't tell me what was done to the car. Front brakes done at 30,xxx, so the next time will require rotors too. Rear brakes may be due soon? That's a simple inspection.
The repairs that have been made are part of owning a MINI. They do not raise a flag for me. Have you test driven the car?
Others, more knowledgeable will follow. Good luck.
The work orders showing what was actually done would be more meaningful. "Unpleasant Noises" doesn't tell me what was done to the car. Front brakes done at 30,xxx, so the next time will require rotors too. Rear brakes may be due soon? That's a simple inspection.
The repairs that have been made are part of owning a MINI. They do not raise a flag for me. Have you test driven the car?
Others, more knowledgeable will follow. Good luck.
#4
I got the service records on mine shortly after I purchased it used in Jan 11 (07 MCS). I had the same defect code for "unpleasant noises", and the dealer said that led to the replacement of the timing chain and tensioner (this site is full of info relative to timing chains and tensioners). You have two instances of similar defect codes (last four 3900), so I would assume (until told otherwise) that the timing chain and/or tensioner have been replaced a couple times.
Do your research before you buy (it looks like you are). I'm happy with mine even though it's had its share of issues (timing chains, HPFP, most recently the cylinder head cover, and a check engine light that won't go away). Repairs can be expensive, so a warranty is almost a must.
Do your research before you buy (it looks like you are). I'm happy with mine even though it's had its share of issues (timing chains, HPFP, most recently the cylinder head cover, and a check engine light that won't go away). Repairs can be expensive, so a warranty is almost a must.
#6
#7
The only thing that really concerns me is the short amount of time and the few miles that have elapsed since the replacement of the camshaft adjustment solenoid. Was the problem really fixed, or was that what drove the previous owner to finally trade it in?
The good news is that dealer-replaced parts have their own warranty that lasts for two years or the remainder of the factory warranty, whichever is *longer*. So if the adjustment solenoid or the high-pressure pump fail again in the next year or so, they should still be covered even though the rest of your factory warranty will have expired.
The good news is that dealer-replaced parts have their own warranty that lasts for two years or the remainder of the factory warranty, whichever is *longer*. So if the adjustment solenoid or the high-pressure pump fail again in the next year or so, they should still be covered even though the rest of your factory warranty will have expired.
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#8
The only thing that really concerns me is the short amount of time and the few miles that have elapsed since the replacement of the camshaft adjustment solenoid. Was the problem really fixed, or was that what drove the previous owner to finally trade it in?
The good news is that dealer-replaced parts have their own warranty that lasts for two years or the remainder of the factory warranty, whichever is *longer*. So if the adjustment solenoid or the high-pressure pump fail again in the next year or so, they should still be covered even though the rest of your factory warranty will have expired.
The good news is that dealer-replaced parts have their own warranty that lasts for two years or the remainder of the factory warranty, whichever is *longer*. So if the adjustment solenoid or the high-pressure pump fail again in the next year or so, they should still be covered even though the rest of your factory warranty will have expired.
#11
#12
Spoke to the dealer, they that was the 1st oil change based off the service light. If you dont drive it hard, you dont need a change so quickly yadda yadda.
Said the timing chain thing happens if you drive the car hard, race it, etc.. sorta blamed the forums.
Camshaft solenoid thing, said it was a one off issue, not common.
Said the timing chain thing happens if you drive the car hard, race it, etc.. sorta blamed the forums.
Camshaft solenoid thing, said it was a one off issue, not common.
#13
Spoke to the dealer, they that was the 1st oil change based off the service light. If you dont drive it hard, you dont need a change so quickly yadda yadda.
Said the timing chain thing happens if you drive the car hard, race it, etc.. sorta blamed the forums.
Camshaft solenoid thing, said it was a one off issue, not common.
Said the timing chain thing happens if you drive the car hard, race it, etc.. sorta blamed the forums.
Camshaft solenoid thing, said it was a one off issue, not common.
Oil change @ 19K is due to not driving hard.
Timing chain is replaced if you drive the car hard.
Can't have it both ways....
Scott brought up an excellent point, too...
I'd keep looking.
#14
#16
The dealer's record of the oil change is "their" record. If the owner chose to change it himself or took it to an independent shop, it's not going to show on MINI's record. (I did my first oil change at approx 5000 miles.)
I would be inclined to use a flashlight and peer into the oil fill port to see if there is any appearance of sludge. The absence of sludge won't prove anything but it may relieve your concerns.
After all of that, walk away from this car if you are not satisfied. Keep looking until you find the car that won't keep you awake at night.
P.S. Many of these cars of that vintage had timing chain problems at very low mileage, and I don't believe that driving them hard was necessarily the cause.
I would be inclined to use a flashlight and peer into the oil fill port to see if there is any appearance of sludge. The absence of sludge won't prove anything but it may relieve your concerns.
After all of that, walk away from this car if you are not satisfied. Keep looking until you find the car that won't keep you awake at night.
P.S. Many of these cars of that vintage had timing chain problems at very low mileage, and I don't believe that driving them hard was necessarily the cause.
#17
Yea Im not sure. He mentioned that the previous owner of the car is now on his 3rd Mini. So seems he likes them a lot.
The advisor said that the timing chain noise/whatever is only a problem if the car is driven hard when it is cold.
I dont know, car seems pretty solid. It's not like this is the only car with the issue. The car has about 1 month remaining on its factory warranty, plus the dealership sells it with a 6wk/6k mi warranty. As well, I am considering an extended warranty.
The advisor said that the timing chain noise/whatever is only a problem if the car is driven hard when it is cold.
I dont know, car seems pretty solid. It's not like this is the only car with the issue. The car has about 1 month remaining on its factory warranty, plus the dealership sells it with a 6wk/6k mi warranty. As well, I am considering an extended warranty.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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If you go for it, the extended warranty will give you peace of mind. I purchased a refundable warranty that covers nearly everything but wear components (clutch, brakes, etc.)
If I don't use it over four years, I get ~80% of the cost back. Money in the bank, almost, and I don't need to worry about any big ticket failures. If I have a few hundred dollar repair, I'll go out of pocket, but anything bigger than the refund, I'll use the warranty.
If I don't use it over four years, I get ~80% of the cost back. Money in the bank, almost, and I don't need to worry about any big ticket failures. If I have a few hundred dollar repair, I'll go out of pocket, but anything bigger than the refund, I'll use the warranty.
#19
If you go for it, the extended warranty will give you peace of mind. I purchased a refundable warranty that covers nearly everything but wear components (clutch, brakes, etc.)
If I don't use it over four years, I get ~80% of the cost back. Money in the bank, almost, and I don't need to worry about any big ticket failures. If I have a few hundred dollar repair, I'll go out of pocket, but anything bigger than the refund, I'll use the warranty.
If I don't use it over four years, I get ~80% of the cost back. Money in the bank, almost, and I don't need to worry about any big ticket failures. If I have a few hundred dollar repair, I'll go out of pocket, but anything bigger than the refund, I'll use the warranty.
#20
The dealer's record of the oil change is "their" record. If the owner chose to change it himself or took it to an independent shop, it's not going to show on MINI's record. (I did my first oil change at approx 5000 miles.)
I would be inclined to use a flashlight and peer into the oil fill port to see if there is any appearance of sludge. The absence of sludge won't prove anything but it may relieve your concerns.
After all of that, walk away from this car if you are not satisfied. Keep looking until you find the car that won't keep you awake at night.
P.S. Many of these cars of that vintage had timing chain problems at very low mileage, and I don't believe that driving them hard was necessarily the cause.
I would be inclined to use a flashlight and peer into the oil fill port to see if there is any appearance of sludge. The absence of sludge won't prove anything but it may relieve your concerns.
After all of that, walk away from this car if you are not satisfied. Keep looking until you find the car that won't keep you awake at night.
P.S. Many of these cars of that vintage had timing chain problems at very low mileage, and I don't believe that driving them hard was necessarily the cause.
#21
Join Date: Jun 2010
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I bought it through the dealer where I got the car, a Toyota/Lexus lot. It's offered through First Canadian Group. It's pretty simple. It's a four year, 100,000km warranty (I think, off the top of my head.) If I make any claims against it, then I don't get anything refunded. There is a $200 deductible for any repairs. It includes roadside assistance, towing, etc. At this point I'm not clear if towing/roadside counts as a "claim," and would therefore void my refund, but I'm going to look into that.
The warranty is transferable, so if I were to sell the car to a private buyer, they would have the benefit of the warranty but NOT the option of a refund: The refund option only applies to me, the original warranty purchaser.
If I keep the car, and make no claims against the warranty for 4 years, my $3300 (ouch.) is refunded, less an "administration fee" of a few hundred dollars. Since it was rolled into the car payments, it isn't a big burden, and I get to rest easy.
The warranty is transferable, so if I were to sell the car to a private buyer, they would have the benefit of the warranty but NOT the option of a refund: The refund option only applies to me, the original warranty purchaser.
If I keep the car, and make no claims against the warranty for 4 years, my $3300 (ouch.) is refunded, less an "administration fee" of a few hundred dollars. Since it was rolled into the car payments, it isn't a big burden, and I get to rest easy.
#24
I feel like more than half moderately older R56's had the tensioner or chain done. Maybe I did not read this right, was the tensioner/chain problem fixed? If so then I would say you are fine. And screw what the dealer oil change says. That owner is on his third MINI. I'm sure he changed it himself (as do I). When I almost traded my last MINI in to a MINI dealer he tried to say my car was worth less because the service said 23k miles since last change and I said that's BS youll just reset the service indicator once I trade it in and then offered me what it should have been. So I would listen for anything sounding bad, drive the **** out of the car on the test drive. And if its solid I would say okay as long as the tensioner and chain had been replaced.
#25
I feel like more than half moderately older R56's had the tensioner or chain done. Maybe I did not read this right, was the tensioner/chain problem fixed? If so then I would say you are fine. And screw what the dealer oil change says. That owner is on his third MINI. I'm sure he changed it himself (as do I). When I almost traded my last MINI in to a MINI dealer he tried to say my car was worth less because the service said 23k miles since last change and I said that's BS youll just reset the service indicator once I trade it in and then offered me what it should have been. So I would listen for anything sounding bad, drive the **** out of the car on the test drive. And if its solid I would say okay as long as the tensioner and chain had been replaced.