Problems on cold start up
 

-Stuttering
-low power
-noisy knocking
-raspy sounds

These are all problems that have just come up today. I started my car up this morning and there was a loud knocking coming from the engine. I popped the hood and the sounds came from the center of the head under the valve cover. It doesn't sound like its coming from any lower than that. It could be the cams. The knocking increased speed with rev speed. Upon acceleration there was staggering and stuttering, felt like boost wasn't being produced but since I cannot be sure i'll just say that the power was cutting out.

When the vehicle was operating at normal temperatures, none of these issues persisted. The car felt like the day I bought it.

I had two cold starts today. One in the morning and one at noon. Ambient temperatures in the morning were cooler and the issues were much more severe this morning.

Post a video so we can here the knocking

What year and model?

Post up a video and let us know the year and model +1 . :)

2010 r56 MCS

I will post a video tomorrow.

Surprised no one mentioned the timing chain rattle of death! It the most common issue with Mini Cooper non S and S models, just pray the timing chain didn't hop of the cam gears by more than a few teeth. The timing chains act up in colder weather versus warmer weather and it goes away after reaching normal operating temperature. I'm surprised you even drove it after all that! :eek2:

When you car makes loud noises it's trying to tell you something is wrong...

Yeah well when its your DD and you're late for work its hard to not just hope its nothing more.

Is the CEL on?

No CEL and my scangauge II isn't showing any codes.

I had to upload them to youtube because I wasn't able to successfully do it here. The majority of the first video the engine sounds fine but toward the end you can really start to hear the knocking.

The second video sheds light on the raspy sound I was hearing.

These videos were taken today. The knocking and rasp wasn't as bad as it was yesterday. As for being down on power, I don't know, I didn't drive until fully warmed. I also changed my oil today...if that matters at all.

Sounds like chain slap to me. Time to take it to a MINI-experience shop that has the measuring fixtures. Probably tow it, actually. I wouldn't risk the oh-crap-I-need-a-new-engine potential downside...

Well I was going to say check our oil level, but if you just changed it I would assume that should be fine. With that out of the way I'd be inclined to agree with Slave on this one.

I can clearly hear the timing chain slapping around, when your plastic guides have had enough that's when things get real expensive fast! Stop driving or you will be very sorry if the chain hops off the camshaft gears and the valves smash into the pistons forcing you to buy a new engine. Call Mini USA and give them your VIN and if it's the first time Mini will fix it for free. However if Mini already replaced the timing chain components once under warranty you can expect to pay for it, it's a $1600-$2000 job. If Mini will cover it do one thing, make sure you top off your oil because if Mini sees it's low on the dipstick they may not cover it at all.

How often and how much do you add oil to your engine? It would probably be a good idea to re-install your stock intake air system as well, Mini's always looking for wiggle room to get out of the responsibility and cost of paying up. The only reason Mini would fix it for you for free is because of countless lawsuits filed against them across the country back in 2007, they knew they would loose in court and started to cover this common defect as a campaign and it's not a recall.

Thank you everyone. I will have to get on this

Agree with Systemlord, it sounds clearly like a timing chain problem.

Problems on cold start up
 

I've stuck just the tension in a customers car and it cured it. If it's never had a tensioner it's worth a try. Quick and easy to by you some time.

If I were to do it myself to take it to a shop which kit would I buy? There is a clear price difference between the two so I want to do it cost effectively but I need to make sure this problem never surfaces again.

http://new.minimania.com/part/G2NMK3...ctory-Original

http://www.waymotorworks.com/timing-...-cooper-s.html

Personally I would use THIS one from ECS.

They assemble their kit from the TSB that MINI uses. Also they use the NEWEST and freshly updated timing Tensioner (extremely important).

I find MINI Mania prices to be out of touch.

I spread my money between ECS, WayMotorWorks, and my Local dealer.

Understood thank you. I just watched a video about changing the timing chain and due to its delicacy, budgetary constraints and lack of expertise, this isn't a DIY job, at least not for me. I will likely have to take it to Mini. I am under the impression that it will be cheaper to take it to mini too, because they have experience with it, the overall labor time will be less than a local shop that hasn't done it before.

I just chatted with the dealership and it looks like my tensioner was already replaced because my chain had not stretched. I bought the car used at 49,000 miles so it was clearly done before I owned the vehicle. I am taking it in tomorrow to get a better idea of what is going on. Thanks for all your help everyone.

Good luck and keep us informed...

Looks like you guys were correct regarding the timing chain. It was stretched and thus needs replacing. Mini is charging $1100 for the job including parts. It could be worse. Hopefully I will not ever have to deal with this again.

Mini shouldn't be charging you anything for a clear design flaw, I mean it took Mini five times and 7 years to redesign the one part responsible for all this, the timing chain tensioner. We all have had to replace timing chain and related components at least once, some have gone through four timing chains! Imagine how much money Mini has raked in over just replacing the timing chains, I mean it's their best seller!

If I was president it would be criminal to charge consumers for a well known design flaw!

Agreed, its some ******** but what can you do. Its the cost of owning German.