I just took my car to the dealer and discussed the timing chain issue. When my car is cold the timing chain sounds like it's beating against a metal bucket.

The response from the dealer was that although the "campaign" for this issue includes cars made from late 2006 through 2009 my VIN number doesn't come up as being eligible.

Here is my question. How many other owners are having the same issue and are wondering what is the exclusion about?

Solution. Why don't we collect names and appeal to Mini as a group?

A thousand names would represent $25M+ in angry customers. They might take notice. After all, who limits the recalls. Engineering or Accounting?

DR

 

I did the same repair in 2012 and they said it was not covered. Tell me where to sign and you got me.

 

Not sure how best to do this. You obviously got nicked. Maybe a collection of names, email addresses, phone number, VIN, cost of the repair and the date, and mileage on the car at the time of the repair? Does the forum allow you to post your email address?

Anyway I'm open to suggestions.

 

one more thing. I have read that Mini claims the chains to be good for 100,000 miles. If they fail at 60K there is something wrong. Either they were cheap in offering oil changes at 15K during the break-in time or they bought (the engine maker) the chains from the lowest bidder. This discussion could go on forever. We just need to throw it at them. I think the repair is about $1000. Am I close on that? -DR

 

I think the going rate for the whole timing chain cartridge is usually in the $1700 - $2000 range. Don't think I've seen lower than that but I have seen higher.

fwiw, I would not post all that personal info here on the forum.

 

Ok. Thanks for the POV. Let's keep this going and hope that others weigh in on this conversation. There must be a solution, some way to bargain with Mini. After all we are a finite group of people who want to have fun and invest our money wisely. We could be driving Hondas, or building hot rods... right?

 

Data security Internet anonymity and all that jazz; if it were me starting a petition/mob I'd make a quick page on a site like change.org or similar, forum-ers might have pause about sending all of their contact info to one user.

 

Great idea. Actually I have no use for any data. I'm busy enough. Maybe the best thing to do might be to find an inside contact at BMW and anyone with a gripe about this can email the company person. It would have to be management level so they get the gravity of the situation. While I am pretty happy with my Mini for the last 6+ years there are a few things that Mini should have done to keep these little autos out of the repair shop... Like not buying parts from the cheapest bidder.

 

I'm pretty sure MINI is already aware of the issue and that there are a lot of unhappy buyers with regard to the timing chain issues. There is already at least one lawsuit that has been filed that is trying to obtain class action status.

 

Mine hasn't failed yet but I had the rattle a while back and put a new tensioner in which has made the rattle go away for now. But I'm planning for when it actually needs to be fixed.

 

The service campaign is valid for 2007 MCS produced within a certain range of months. My 07 MCS falls under the qualifying range.

I recommend you check your production date, and give MINI USA a call to see if there is something they can help you with. It never hurts to ask since it is a common issue .. and also assuming it has never been replaced on your vehicle before ..

 

I would call MINI USA. Even if the dealer told you no, they might say yes. It seems that cars that got an updated tensioner along the way are not covered, if you have the original parts it is covered. I could be wrong. My car made it to 95k but it was making a racket. I do agree they should stand behind this issue, updated parts or not.

 

I'm of the impression that if your Min has not had the timing chain tensioner replaced yet and develop the "rattle", you would be far better off just replacing the tensioner (cheap and easy fix) on your own therefore leaving your Mini covered under the so called campaign in the event that latter you need the whole assembly (not cheap nor easy fix) replaced.
Seems to me that Mini Cooper has leveraged this so called "campaign" to allow them a possible cheap and easy out by just replacing the tensioner in many cases.
Not very ethical on their part.

 

I hear what you're saying, but I do know my car got the whole assembly covered and replaced. I don't think the first owner ever brought it in to a dealer.