Yeah I'm very relieved. They were very cool about it overall. Service tech that would be working on it talked with me for several minutes (half an hour before my scheduled appt. I might add - 7:00AM), went through the history since I got it, he got in, started it, heard the noise and automatically said they would be replacing the chain and tensioner. She was running for less than 10 seconds, and he didn't even pop the hood to check the oil level or anything (I knew it was topped off, but since they said it was low last time I figured they'd check it before making a determination), I guess based on the conversation and his experience he automatically knew. I left the dealership at 7:15AM with them saying they'd take care of it all. They called at about 1:30PM and said they'd finished the chain and were checking out some other things I listed, issue with one of the speakers and another squeak possibly related to the throw out bearing. Said they would keep it overnight, do a cold start test on it tomorrow morning bright and early. If all goes well they'll give it a wash, then call me to say it's ready! Too bad I'm back up at school and can't pick it up until friday afternoon. I already miss driving it! Can't wait to hear what she sounds like healthy!

 

Don't mean to bump this thread to the top again, but I thought I would update it with what was replaced for those searching in the future that come across it.

I had a 7:30AM appointment at MINI of Concord, I did a night drop the night before to ensure the engine would be on a cold start and noted on the form that the car was not to be started without the tech and customer present. I got there early just to be sure, all was good. Lead service tech, the SA, and myself were there when it was started and it made the noise in the video I posted earlier.

My sheet says they measured the chain to be at 69mm, so they performed SIB 11 02 07 and 61 00 720 PROGRAMMING WITH CAS.

1199000 TIMING CHAIN REPAIR
329 WWM
1 11-31-7-597-895 TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER: 113050
1 11-31-7-516-088 TIMING CHAIN: 113030
1 11-31-7-568-241 GUIDE RAIL: 113056
1 11-31-7-534-833 CHAIN TENSIONER: 113055
1 11-31-7-534-771 BEARING BOLT: 119500
2 11-31-7-534-768 BEARING BOLT: 119500
1 11-31-7-550-461 GASKET RING: 118526
1 11-31-7-546-697 SLIDE RAIL: 113057
1 11-21-7-588-996 SPROCKET: 11209921
1 11-21-7-585-184 HEX BOLT: 119500
1 11-36-7-545-863 TORX BOLT: 119500
1 11-36-7-572-851 TORX BOLT: 119500
1 11-12-7-572-851 SET OF PROFILE GASKETS: 118513
1 11-31-7-534-251 GASKET RING:118526
1 11-31-7-507-432 GASKET RING: 118526
43611 SEE LINE B (line B says: B TECH 329 CAME UP TO LISTEN TO VEHICLE WITH CLIENT ON A COLD START - SEE MIKE PLEASE)

Everything was covered under warranty. My 2008 R56 had 43,611 miles and the time limit for the factory warranty expires April 8, 2012 according to my paperwork. The started the work on a wednesday morning, and had completed it by early wednesday afternoon. They kept it overnight to check it the next morning on a true cold start and all was good. They performed a visual inspection for free, washed it and I went and picked it up after class Friday afternoon. Top notch service at MINI of Concord. They gave me no troubles this time around, SA even called me periodically on wednesday to update me on the car's status.

EDIT: I'd also like to add, that the car drives COMPLETELY different. I'm not sure if it is because I went 3 days without driving my mini, but it is literally like a whole new car. I have a feeling it's been doing this since I bought it about a month and a half ago. I took it in the first time 3 days after purchasing it and they we're unable to replicate a verry slight rattle I noticed since it would only do it under the perfect circumstances. It slowly got worse until I took it in again this last time and they fixed it. Car is much more responsive, and not as luggy at times. I'll see this tank if there is any change in gas mileage. I've been getting about 25 (25 actual MPG, the car said 27) combined city/highway.

 

Glad that they replaced the timing chain parts. I have a similar noise on startup the last couple of days and this is after the timing chain parts were replaced three weeks ago. Checked the oil level which was fine but the oil is pitch black and smelled burnt. The PO had it in back in May and 9K ago for an oil change under the free maintenance agreement. So when it was in for the timing chain they would not do an oil change because the car was not telling me it needed it. So Just picked up a Mann filter and a 5 liter of Liqui Moly 5w30 from Bavauto. Going to to do it myself.

 

I have noticed that twice over the past two weeks at cold start up the motor sounds like it has a chain dragging and bouncing over a piece of plastic inside the motor. The unbelievably horrid noise stops after about 30 -50 seconds (after startup). Should I take the car to dealer? The car has 3000 miles on it.

It sounds like this (not my car) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W5aokYUO9w

 

Take it in now.

 

+1

OceanMini, take it in immediately! You may even call your SA beforehand, because mine had me tow it in. I had gotten the rattle once before; probably 2 months ago. Then Thursday night I got it and again on Friday morning. I videod it with my phone and emailed it to my SA. He asked if it got louder with RPM's. Well, on Thursday I started it up and took off as usual, and it was, so I pulled over in front of my neighbors house and let it warm/lube further before doing what I needed to do. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have and taken my wifes car instead. Since it was getting louder with RPMs, he very decisively told me DO NOT DRIVE IT and to have it towed immediately.

Which brings me to another issue. The JCW Aero Kit is about a quarter to a half inch too low to be put on a flatbed. The wrecker took two quarter sized gouges out of the bottom of my lip as I sat there and watched, and pleaded with her to not pull my car up if it would scratch it; to which she assured me it wouldn't. I'm sure she picks up MINIs all day, working for MINI Roadside, but she must have never towed a JCW. Now I have a second issue to take care of in getting the wrecker to pay for the damages.

It's going to be hilarious (<-- sarcasm) if it decides not to do it tomorrow morning when they go to start it. I did video it, though. I just hope they don't tell me it's low oil, because even though I haven't had to top it off in 5,000 miles since changing it, I'm reading full every time I check and have used every method suggested on this board, from pulling it in and out 3/4 of the way 10 times prior to checking it to pulling the dipstick out completely for 2 hours and then checking. Not to mention, the last time they changed the oil, they never mentioned it being low. I think I'm lucky in that my MINI doesn't burn any oil.

 

Thanks for your responses.
I have not noticed it getting louder with RPMs. Only notice it at start up after the car has been sitting for two days or more. I attempted to record it but the motor did not do it as I was recording. The motor normally sounds like twelve elves banning small hammers inside a diesel motor (mine is a Gas motor). The two times that I noticed it, it sounded more like gently shaking a can with a chain and some ball bearings inside (as twelve elves bang small hammers inside a diesel motor).

I sent a message to my S.A. about it.

 

Louder was the wrong word. I believe he asked it if was increasing, rattling faster, with the RPM as it increased. It is more audible, I suppose....or noticeable.

 

Flickr: MINI chain tensioner noise

Can someone confirm that this is the correct diagnosis? It was just above freezing this morning when started. Oil level is correct (BTW love the dipstick, so much better than '03).

I posted this because every time I've taken a car to a mechanic, it never exhibits the problem.

The 1948 Chevy pickup I had made the same noise all the time because no oil on the rocker arms. A car that is 59 years newer shouldn't!

 

Does not sound like the chain tensioner to me. Does seem to be a bit on the loud side, but lacks the harsh, pebbles in the engine sound. Will be interested to see what others think.

 

The second gen Mini motor is not a nice sounding motor at all. I think that Mini should send out a DVD telling customers what the motor is supposed to sound like.

This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7pNMhQJs7w
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B14kHZTGnHk
this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJloXocudrw
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3pQia-6vRE
is what the second gen Mini motor sounds like to me.

 

The video above sure sounds like it to me...

How about this one? Sounds just like all the other videos on youtube to me, though not as bad as some, and if you were to hear me drive away, it sounds a lot like when you were a kid and you would put a baseball card between your spokes; or the first video OceanMini listed above haha. The dealer is telling me they don't hear anything wrong. I hear what sounds like a marble bouncing around in my engine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2952480...n/photostream/