Brought my MINI in for the CSDR and I'm being told that they cannot verify/duplicate the problem. I even brought in a sound clip but they said they cannot use that to verify. I didn't expect them to either, actually just figured it would point them in the direction of what I'm hearing. Has anybody had any kind of major engine failure due to the dealer not being able to verify the noise? The service advisor said that if it were tensioners it would happen every cold start not intermittant like I'm claiming. They also said that on cold start ups that the oil pump makes a short whine type noise but that it isn't bad enough to cover under warranty yet. Seems like they would want to take the cheaper route and change the oil pump before it fails and they have to change an entire engine.

 

Ask you dealer if your VIN number is on the official affected MINI USA list.

If so, your dealer should be very happy to replace the parts that are included in the service bulletin.

If they claim they do not have the official list, contact MINI USA directly and have them call your dealer to explain this list has been out for a number of months.

Get it replaced, if only for peace of mind. I have not heard anything about an oil pump whine, new to me, but I will check with some of my contacts.

I take it in Hawaii you have only the one dealer on Oahu or do you choices....

Don

 

Yea we just have the one dealer. They did tell me there was a service bulletin but wouldn't change it unless they could verify the problem. Just spoke to the shop foreman. He assures me they will fix a problem if there is one. I know there is a problem I just don't want to have to keep bringing the car in everytime it makes the noise until they can finally verify it. Do you know what the service bulletin list is called?

 

Sorry, I do not know what the list is called. My service adviser was able to look on his computer at the service desk and do a VIN check to the list.

It should be automated and the dealer should know how to do it.

Some dealers just don't want to spend the time. It is a pain to bring the MINI in multiple times, keep bugging them.

 

Can you not capture a video clip clearly showing your car making the sound on your digital camera?

 

I don't know about the list, but the Service Information Bulletin is:
SI M 11 02 07 dated March 2009. There may even be a later issue. This number superseded SI M 11 02 07 dated January 2008. See this thread.

Good luck!

 

Just brought mine in today for the "death rattle" again ..

 

Do they give you a loaner when you bring your car in?

 

update: Got my car back ... they replaced the timing chain as well as a pulley i believe. Car is running great now. They also updated the car with the latest software.

 

There was a reason for my question.

I went through this with my last mini. Long ,long story short... The last time I took my car in I dropped my car off and picked up the loaner. They called me and said they could not duplicate the problem. I 'firmly' stated they could keep the car as long as they needed it to reproduce the issue and fix it. Oddly enough the next day they were able to duplicate the problem. Imagine that...

 

The service person you spoke to is wrong, the problem is intermittant, at first. When it gets to the point that it happens on every start you're in deep ****, so don't allow them to tell you this BS. This condition may not be as noticeable in Hawaii due to your warmer climate, but it is there, and needs to be fixed.

Your car has a bad chain tensioner, right now that's probably all that needs replacing, if they let it go too long they'll be replacing a whole bunch of stuff, including the chain, guides, sprockets and the tensioner.

If they let it go too long, they'll be replacing the engine...

 

MINIdave, 808, 81, Powa, Ken, etc. would you guys mind filling the poll so we can track who's making progress with this issue. The poll question about cold-start is at https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rt-issues.html

 

Already did so...

 

Will do. As an update for this thread. They will be performing an "SI" next week to see if the chain is stretched.

 

had my newest greatest version of my tensioner installed weds, along with a new valve cover gasket and new JCW strut bar--the old one literally fell apart in the tech's hands when he removed it, or so he said

any dealer that gives someone the old "we wont do it until we hear it" line re the cold start rattle is stonewalling you. I only heard my latest tensioner rattle while trying to fix a hood rattle-- I heard it softly bangbangbang in the magical spot (pass side of engine, to the rear), and the dealer took my word for it (had the factory tensioner replaced with the "older" part back in March). But then my dealer doesnt stonewall and push back, they provide customer service by trying to resolve problems.

I mean the new part is only like $45, and about an hour of labor, it's no big deal and not that invasive.

but what shocked me is that the Cravenspeed dipstick I put in after I bought the car was causing the hood rattle-- it's TOO TALL for the R56 hood, and actually wore off the paint rubbing. so now I have to put my OEM ds back in, but use the Cravenspeed to check oil level. Sheesh: one car, 2 dipsticks?

lesson learned = buyer beware with aftermarket stuff!

 

It has been updated as recently as April 2010. Not sure if there has been an update since then.