Getting the oil changed today the shop showed me oil on the upper passenger side of the car. Anyone know where I should start looking? Thank you for the help!!

 

It could be the chain tensioner as it has been known to not have been properly torqued at the factory. Some good info as well at post #17 in this NAM thread here.

 

Thanks.
Read the thread and infer, but will nevertheless ask, the following:
Is this an N14 issue only, or does it also apply to the N18s?

 

To the OP, if not the tensioner, could be the crankshaft seal or valve cover.

As far as chain rattle, people say the N18 does not have the same timing chain issues. However, time will tell. As the engines have the same oil consumption issues, that lead to guide wear. We will have a timing chain tech article releasing soon with a lot of information in regards to the timing chain issues.

 

Thanks - I'll definitely be interested in your article.

 

My pleasure. I'll be sure to update with a link once the article goes live.

 

From what I have read around here no 2nd-gen MINI is immune to the chain tension problems. The earlier S models (and possibly JCW) seem to be the most prone to them, but even the later N18 cars can occasionally have them show up as well. We've even read one or two cases of a non-S car having the same sort of trouble.

 

Can this be tightened by myself or do I need to take it in? And thank you for all the help!

 

Yes, you should be able to. I'd link the thread, but this site is blocked from being posted here.

 

Isn't the tensioner bolt pictured twice in the NAM thread referenced up in the second post?,
i.e. here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3211726
and here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3243999

And I think I recall reading that the tensioner's head was 27mm, just like the oil reservoir cap - no?

 

Yes, that thread has a lot of great info that is needed for the tensioner. Post #48 here also includes an image of the torque spec. Post #71 here has torque spec as well and says 27mm in size.

 

Yep, I meant "27mm - just like the oil filter cap". Corrected above now.
Thanks.