So I am about to take my 2007 Cooper S R56 into the shop to have the timing belt tensioner looked at and most likely replaced and I was wondering how many of you out there have had yours replaced as well.

From what I have read on here and on MINI2 it seems like a ton of people have had this done. Any ideas on what to expect? The idea of even needing this done infuriates me since my car has 53,000 miles on it and should have never needed this.

 

From what I have heard it may take a few days to fix having to take the engine apart, and waiting for parts to arrive if not stocked at the dealership. If they have not heard the the problem, they will have to reproduce the problem before they can fix it. If they can't reproduce it, they will not fix it.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-database.html

 

Several thoughts...

I had mine chained about 3 weeks ago....

1) I took several videos with my phone so they could listen to it so I didn't have to worry whether or not they could hear it on any specific day. Because of this, I didn't have to leave the car... they just accepted the videos.

2) Once the parts were there, the job took less than an hour and a half.... so you should be able to wait for it.

3) Last but not least... NO MORE NOISE. Mine is a 2009 and though it has 22K miles on it, the noise started with less than 3K miles on it. I never took it in because I had heard so many people that had it fixed and it never really was.

Now, there is a cure so I waited... obviously, it was worth it.


Mark

 

There are dozens of threads on this already, but I had mine done at about 35K after it really acting up this winter... not a peep now, couldnt be happier

 

not true about dealers having to reproduce the noise. both times it happened to me before the tensioner was replaced I informed the dealer. when the noise became so bad after awhile I just phoned the dealer, they took my car in, replaced the tensioner, and kept it a few cold days afterward to make sure it didnt reappear. 1K later, motor still as quiet as can be.

maybe some dealers are requiring the noise to be duplicated, but not all are.

 

Mine wanted it reproduced, so i started recording. I ended up talking to the Service Manager and after I extensively verbally laid out the MINIs timing chain system and the problem, he knew my word was as good as any of his techs... Got it fixed right away.

 

I agree... I think it's simply how **** the dealer is. Some like to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" and other aren't so strict.

I used the video just to cover my behind because I knew sure as crap, I'd leave my car overnight and it would be the one time it didn't make the noise...lol.


Mark

 

Got mine done yesterday. So far so good.

 

I JUST had this done to may car, which has less miles than yours, and it didn't fix the entire problem! I was already irritated about having the stalling problem as it was, and when I heard that I needed a new timing chain put in I was even more upset. Turns out that my problem is most likely a fuel injection issue (which is what so many of you said it was, and I said that to the service adviser and he said I was wrong... ARG!!) as well as a timing chain issue.

Good luck

 

Really? You're furious that you had to replace one mechanical part on your car after 53K?

Maybe you'd rather own a Toyota?

My 2009 made the noise a couple of times in the first 2K, so I took it in and they replaced the tensioner in about 1 hour, I now have 16K trouble free miles on it......

 

Can this chain tensioner be a problem early on? I literally just picked up my car yesterday (has 100 miles on it) and can hear what sounds to be a chattering or rattling sound coming from the left side of the engine (where the timing chain is, correct?). Is this simply the engine breaking in? Or signs of this issue already?

 

I think it has to do with how worried they are about getting MINI to reimburse them. In the early days of the problem, they may have been more adamant about having to reproduce it. My SA said my 2007 MCS was the first they had actually seen at their shop, but knew about it from other shops. They kept my car for a week; three days of which were to reproduce it. The rest was for getting parts and installing.

The problem can show up early. The symptoms don't require wear, but probably show up more when the oil is dirty and the chain has worn from improper tension.

If you get the chain dragged across metal sound that increases with rpm (best to stay under 2,000 rpm when you hear it), then get it to the dealer right away.

 

I've had mine replaced 2x! Once last week and once shortly after I got it.

 

What is the date of the latest fix?

 

I think the date is only a few months old.

I can tell you this though... it fixes it this time.


Mark

 

AGREE. I'm very satisfied this time. The previous time they replaced the tensioner with the same part. This time they replaced it with a re-designed part and a new chain. I hope this lasts long term.

 

Hey Folks, check out my post in the Main Gen 2 forum about this issue. Video's will be up soon, but at a Lemon Law arbitration hearing this week, MINI USA and Manhattan MINI - with their respective regional and master techs - refused to acknowledge that cold start issues are a real problem for owners, and that it has taken many fixes to get it right.

Edit: videos are up: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-knocking.html

 

So I just got done talking to the head mechanic at BMW in Simi Valley. Turns out the noise is most likely being caused by the plastic belt cover that is inside the timing belt cover area. It is a separate part that is just there for protection. Unfortunately the way it is designed it tends to flex when you drive your car and it wears on the belt. This is what is causing the noise. The longer it drags the worse the situation becomes. He said the part is a 20 dollar part. Mini is aware of the situation but refuses to admit that this piece should have never been made out of plastic. Unfortunately to repair it you have to take the front clip off the car and the oil cooler to get to the belts. This is where the labor is coming from making it so expensive to replace. He said that if enough people start putting in complaints to NHTSA that maybe this will force Mini to admit the problem, but with the way they are dragging thier heals over the water pump electrical issue that its going to take an act of god to get anything resolved.