Sorry to hear its something else, do you have the throw our bearing rattle. You can put you foot on the clutch slightly and make the noise change of the throw out bearing, that's a quick test.

Clutch master has a good to single mass conversion kit.

 

I think this guessing game is going to cost you a small fortune without actually fixing anything, I think you need to follow the codes your ECU is throwing because your ECU doesn't throw codes for a slipping clutch or a vacuum pump. Start with the lest expensive because that "kazoo" sound is known to come from the pressure converter even before it fails. The pressure converter is what controls your waste-gate on your turbo housing and ultimately controls boost. If your boost is erratic this can cause all sorts of issues related to fuel especially misfiring, surges in your fuel system caused by unstable or erratic boost could be wreaking havoc in fuel system delivery.

 

Well, pretty sure the commotion I've been describing is the failing timing chain. The shop actually heard it this time. It literally sounds like bolts are loose flopping around in there and you can feel the chain slapping the under side of the timing chain cover. Better get the rape whistle out for this repair bill. Motor on?

 

Ok now I'm a little confused, you indicated a sound coming from around the vacuum pump, the timing chain is on the other end of the engine. With these Mini's you probably have more than one issue because the timing chain doesn't make a kazoo sound. You then thought your clutch was the culprit making the noise, you're jumping all over the place, lol.

I'm glad you got it figured out though.

 

Thanks, a shop looking really quick last week suspected the vacuum pump, so I replaced that. I replaced the hpfp to clear the cel. I'm having the MINI brought into the shop by my house on Tuesday so they can for sure diagnose the timing chain. Although when I took it there today, they were pretty confident it was that bit the next available opening they have is the 27th. So Benni will be parked until then. I'll let you all know the diagnosis and cost, to me because I'm out of warranty, when I get it all taken care of.

 

i talked to the shop today. they said the top guide had broken off, I'm guessing the chain stretched and broke it. so...$2,200 before tax to fix it. that includes parts they're ordering from mini as they wont let me order them and they install. dang.

 

That's a bit overpriced, what a rip off! I paid only $1600 ($165 per hour labor) for the whole timing chain kit which includes all new guides, tensioner, timing chain and cam bolts. A $600 discrepancy, I have never heard of it costing more than $1800, they must be charging you insane labor rates!

 

well, Benni is back! $2,311 and some change, 2 weeks and a slew of timing chain related parts and she's back! all the debating i had done about trading her in once it was fixed is gone after driving her home. also, there is a dr. in my area that drives an r35 gtr, today he was leaving the hospital and i happened to see him. there is a 90 degree right hand corner on a one-way street, we come into the bend side by side, he brakes, i don't, i push the accelerator as i enter and continue to accelerate through and out of the corner and pull away from him. i hear him accelerate but too late and i am victorious!!! as we come to the next stop light, he does not pull up next to me but stays about five feet back from view of my window. all in all, pretty good day. so to answer your question, just in case you're wondering, can a MINI out corner and out accelerate a Nissan r35 gtr, maybe not on paper, but i did today so I'm claiming that victory 'til the cows come home. thanks all for your input and advice. i also kept the old cam gear just because.