Hey all,
Recently I took my 2008 r56 to my mechanic and he told me it's the timing chain tensioner issuse. He told me to go to MINI dealer and complain to the service department about it. And he printed out bunch of TSB stuff regarding this issue.
Now, I've search and read up but I can't really find a recall on this issue. I've only read about personal stories which I may not get successful with MINI dealer here.
Is there a legit information on this issue that I can take it to the dealer and have them fix it for me? Paying close to 2000 dollars just hurts me..
Any help is appreciated! Thanks!!

 

Search timing chain on here
There are several threads about
It's a campaign not a recall I think I remember

Various stories are posted about how to go about this and the years covered

If you can drive to your MINI dealer just have then check your VIN and FOB and see what they say!

Easy peeze........

MOTOR ON

 

I have a 2013 MCS @ 26K the I had to have the timing chain tensioner replaced….

 

Several THOUSAND POSTS on the subject.....
Often handled as a service campaign.... But there are a few posts on recalls....
Due to age and miles...you may/may not be covered....but doesn't hurt to ask...

 

Searched and found nothing?

The TSB your mechanic speaks of is exactly that - a bulletin. Bulletin does not = recall.

There are a ton of posts on here about it, but also, if you call MINI USA or your local MINI dealership, they can definitely provide you with further details about this.

Good luck!

 

Really

It's posted under the stock problems/ issues thread just 3 or 4 under this thread

And it's almost 27 gazillion posts long

It's always in the top because someone is always posting

 

Mini treats their customers cheaply, while charging top,top,top dollar! I had windshield wiper, that after three thousand miles, started to leave black rubber marks, and patches of unwhipped water on my wind shield! The SA actually tried to tell me to go away… She wanted to charge me! I had the GM involved…. I found a new mechanic on my way home! I don't trust Mini, and basically haven't used them since. That windshield wiper has cost them thousand's of $$$$!

 

Wow, for a windshield wiper?
Were you under warranty?
Just had my 1 year check up (R55fJCW) and they replaced the wipers for free. Said they didn't look too bad, but better safe than sorry!
I was like, ok sure replace them.

The wife's R56S is 2 years old and they have done gets both years also she states.
Mine did squeak a bit a while back but I found out that it was my fault.....RainX!

Anyway, I'm always amazed at the horror stories about dealers and the PEEPS calling them Stealerships.

Not saying you had anything but bad luck, I'm just saying that there seems to be a butt load of posters here on NAM who hate the folks who sold them their Dream Car in the first place!

 

3000 miles on a brand new '13 Mini S. The SA pitch a fit and I demanded that the GM become involved. You have to rember that the SA's work on a commission type program. The more they sell, the bigger their take… I do not trust Mini!They seem to be ethically challenged! Extended warranty? A waste of $$$!

 

Some dealers are great....
Some give mini a bad name....
Same for service departments....
I am lucky enough to have 3 dealers, 2 of them 40 miles away, and one about 10 miles away....
Two of them are run by the same upscale dealer group, and are GREAT, going out if their way to earn you business and respect...MINI of Peabody MA, and MINI of Bedford NH....one is a supporter/vendor here, and another is on my other favorite forum...both sell parts at about a 10-15% off list discount...shop rates are high...but typical....
The other one in Boston....let's just say they have a checkered reputation.

I find many folks who have animosity towards a dealer are often mad cause they bought more car then they can truly afford....kind of a buyers remorse when they realize not everything is covered under a free warrenty or mataince contract.....
Sure...Sometimes you don't get what you think is fair...but both the dealer has rules set out in the prepaid mataince plans, things like one set of wiper blades per year...
Some dealers are more flexible than others....but IMO why drive 30 minutes to a dealer yo get a "free" part when you can get one for $5 in 5 minutes... And not have to spend the time, gss and ...
A few tips...
I found PIAA silicone wipers last as long as 4 years.....
And by being respectful and pleasant, you get more done and may get the benefit of the doubt when push comes to shove....

Timing chains are a CONSTANT issue on gen2 cars....read and learn!!!

 

I wish I had a Mini Dealer that went out their way to be sure I was happy with their service, I didn't buy my MCS from a dealer. I bought mine from CarMax and they treat me very well which is why they will continue to get my business, plus they don't charge $165 per hour for labor. I have had many services performed at my local Mini dealer and the servicemen don't seem genuinely interested in you as a person, instead they want to get you in and out ASAP and be done with you. There's no professionalism, no personality just like robots.

 

bbak11010

The timing chain tensioner is a campaign item. Take it to your local dealership and have them check it out. They will measure the tensioner and determine if it is within spec, and if it is especially noisy they will pull the timing chain cover and do a visual. The top guide rail breaks in some instances, and it's easy to see that it isn't there. The campaign is extended to 120K miles, but it isn's a drive it in a drop it off thing.
Be respectful, courteous, and professional. You may just walk out with the whole thing done under a warranty. Don't just start out complaining, or telling them what is wrong. If at all possible you want the dealership working with you.

Some Dealers are good, some not so good.That that is true with just about any dealership, regardless of the manufacturers vehicles they sell. It isn't exclusive to Mini dealers. I can tell you horror stories about our local Toyota/BMW dealership, yet they're still in business some 28 years after I had my issues with them.
That particular dealership that ZippyNH referred to, I had a less than amicable parting relationship with in 2011, and I never even got the car I ordered from them. (Somebody got a beautiful 2011 Cooper S in White Silver with a Green lounge leather interior though. Beautiful car, just not the way I ordered it. Hope they liked it.)

Raygunzap
I am sorry my friend, but there has to be more to what you're portraying. If a dealership is willing to compromise a relationship with a customer over a $10.00 part, that seems very foolish.
I would also expect, that given where you live, that you should keep spare blades in the vehicle. You folks get some serious weather up there at times. I have spares in all of my cars. Wipers get baked in the sun during the summer and sure as can be, as soon as you need them come fall, or winter, they don't work for beans. Mini's wipers and blades are kinda crappy anyway in the winter. conditions we get in Ct.

 

If the timing chain tensioner has been replaced at some earlier date your'e probably SOL as Mini Cooper uses this as an excuse to exclude you from replacing the timing chain at a latter date under the so called "campaign".

 

2013?
I thought that the revised newer engines from 2011 through 2013 were improved and that the timing chain issue was no longer a concern?
I also have a 2013 MINI and was hoping that Mini Cooper had resolved this timing chain problem, but maybe not.

 

Thats what I thought Mike…. But unfortunately, my explanation is the way it went down! It was a no brainer! I presented a brand new car, with a defective wiper blade gone bad. There was only one solution to the problem, and they opted to embarrass themselves. Zippy… I have no no buyers remorse and the Mini is very affordable. BTW Zip, I live just 5 miles from the dealership, whom I wouldn't trust to change my oil. As to reading... i have read all about the failures of Mini timing chains, guides and tensioners. I think it is a problem that Mini/BMW should address and fix. My timing change tensioner, had to be replaced at 26K miles. But that is just upkeep, The wondshield wiper, that was just **** poor customer service!

 

Improved, yes. Completely solved, no. :(

 

Lets pretend for a moment that the timing chain and tensioners failures never happened erased from history and were never a widespread problem as there known today, you're still going to have a small percentage that fail because like anything else any part has a chance to fail. Now back to reality, there's still going to be tensioner failures and who knows maybe the F56 will have some issues with there timing chains and tensioners.

 

Yup...still happens at a "unacceptable rate" IMO for a modern motor....
They got better...but not "fixed" to match other motors, where timing chains are typically good from new till the first overhaul.... Often the life of the car....the way it should be.
A timing Belt is typically good for 100,000-130,000 miles and costs about $800 to swap....
The advantage of a chain...SHOULD BE...length of life...

 

I just had my timing chain tensioner replaced for the second time in my 2010 MCS with 39k miles. The first time it was replaced under warranty and the second time the warranty was up, but since it had been replaced once already they did a goodwill repair on it so it cost me nothing.

Go to the dealer and ask, the worst they can say is no. In that case, find a local shop who will do it much cheaper. From what I have heard replacing just the tensioner is a pretty easy job, and I believe the part is only about $50.

 

Theres no doubt that one of if not the main issue with the R56 would be the timing chain failure. Over the course of time with the n18 engine it is better but not what I would call fixed either. What I don't understand is why BMW/Mini doesn't actually come up with a fix. These so called updated tensioners is just to buy more time that's it.. Infact I find it horrible that its all they can come up with. "Lets cram a longer tensioner in there to push harder on an already weak spot"! The timing chain assemblies themselves are the culprit.

 

I remember when I bought my MCS they had said there was a fix for the timing chain issue and it was fully integrated in builds starting in March of 2010, mine was built in April of 2010, and like I said I've replaced mine twice. When I got it replaced again a couple weeks ago the SA said the part had been updated again in the past 6 months.

 

Did you have to pay twice? This means they have updated the tensioner four times with two different manufacturers, I think somebody needs to step away from building and design team!

 

Ha Ha I would like to meet this team myself! They must have got there degree out of a cracker jack box! lol.

 

I don't understand why Mini can't just put a super strong spring that would provide tension even with the car off. My good dependable 1980 Datsun 200SX I4 2.0 liter long stroke engine (91 octane only) had a beefy thick timing chain that looked like a chain of a Harley and had a self adjusting tensioner, as the chain would wear the tensioner would apply more pressure. As you could expect the timing chain outlasted the engine, this was 34 year ago!

 

i will say this:
there is no money or profitability in high performance cars that never break or wear out.

they did fix the N14 issues. its called the F56 gen 3 mini cooper and it comes with its own unique set of problems, just waiting to be discovered, just like everything else new rolling off the lot.

for what its worth, i swapped out my timing tensioner myself last week. it uses the same socket as your oil filter cover and took all of 30 minutes (you have to pull the boost tube going into the throttle body). so, it takes a 7mm socket and a 27 mm socket. not exactly a hard fix. and ANY car with a timing chain is going to have to deal with chain stretch over time..its the nature of the beast. i'd take a chain over a belt any day too. i bet the stroked 2.0 datsun engine mentioned did not get 35+ mpg, would you rather have an engine with unbreakable parts that got 25 mpg or a less durable engine that gets 35 mpg? we're all driving mini's, so its safe to assume that we made the latter choice.