So let's talk about tickety tick and clackety clack
 

I think the "diesel-ish" ticking of the injectors is pretty much standard on the R56 MCS. The "Clack" (or slight knock) seems to affect some cars on the day's first start.

Check your car out in the morning, pop the hood, and see if it "Clacks" as well as "Ticks" when you start it. It seems the timing chain (passenger) side of the motor is the "clacking" area, while the intake along the firewall is where the ticking takes place.

The worst-case videos on the mini2 forum is what got me to thinking about it (20 years of Army maintenance doesn't help either...); I'm not sure if it's timing chain slap, or even piston slap (google that last one)... but I'm wondering how widespread the issue is.

Thanks in advance, and mine has a minor clack first thing in the morning.

My Z3 coupe does this too, and is certainly noisier at startup when cold than when it gets warmer. Think of the clickity clack as the noise that replaced the steering wheel motor whine. It certainly doesn't bother me and you can't even hear it once you rev the motor up while driving.

100+ views and only 1 reply?

z3bum - I take it that your saying both your Z3 and R56 tick constantly and clack when cold?

Well, I would respond, but my Mini IS NOT HERE YET!!! BUT!, it is scheduled for proiduction! WOOT!

Ok, obligatory whine for the day accomplished, you may now return to your tap dancing motor noises. :)

This is an accurate statement for my R56 MCS

Mine does tick, seems to be quieter after 3500 miles though or maybe I'm just getting used to it. Sound like tappets to me.

noise in the morning when its cold and you first start the car and then goes away or is reduced as the engine warms up is typically piston slap.

having driven a monster V8 for the last several years im completely use to it my cobra is known for piston slap on start up and for loud injectors (especially since they are upgraded).

my only complain about my r56 mini is while its idling and you get out of the car and walk around the think sounds like an old volkswagon just not as loud.

but rev it up and get that nice little whistle of the turbo lol.

from all the reading ive been doing it appears that most of the time all this ticking, clacking whatever fairly normal for our mini's

That's the first thing I thought, especially when I listened to the videos on mini2. What's confusing me is that replacing the timing chain tensioner is fixing the problem. Makes me wonder if it's mild detonation due to the variable valve timing or something; maybe exacerbated by the "on demand" oil pump not getting enough pressure to the VANOS system.

Just to clarify though, there seem to be two distinct and separate sounds: The ticking of the injectors, and the unknown cold clacking. I do tend to think it is piston slap, especially when looking at the short skirted piston used. It's unusual for all the cylinders to slap though.

so is piston slap bad for the engine. short or long term?

GM has several engines that slap, and they extended the warranty on certain engines to 100,000 miles (IIRC) to satisfy complaints. Consensus among automakers is that it's not "bad".

I don't think it's a good thing, but it apparently doesn't affect longevity.

We just got ours and I was very surprised to hear both the tick and clack as well. Sounds a lot like our TDI Jetta and just figured we bought a diesel and didn't know it ;)

Mines definitely got the clack. Its coming from the passenger side and seems to get a bit quieter after the car warms up. I guess this is considered 'normal'? Has anyone had their dealer check it out or comment?

Hmm, perhaps I should get a Porsche before they introduce DFI next model year ;)

My Chevrolet Blazer has 192,000 Miles and PLenty of piston slap. Still holds compression well and runs well.

The injector sound is perfrctly normal as the Audi A3 Golf GTi also do it. The clack is not normal. Did you get yours looked at?

mine clicks and clacks as well but I don't know if it will be gone when the car warms up. I cannot use the car yet since it has no plates/// :sad: :no:

Not yet. I was looking for some sort of consensus before I bothered. It seems that most do have the clack when cold.

It seems that BMW's VANOS/Valvetronic system is notorious for noise (by default). I've seen it described as "marbles rattling in a box". Depending on the particular noise... it may in fact be "characteristic" of the new engine.