Hi Everyone,
I had the Chain Tensioner replaced @ 10,662 miles with NQA. The note on the repair order states "Tech removed chain tensioner, measured 63 MM, Tech replaced tensioner". Now have almost 26K miles on Sunny. No Cold Start Issues since replacement.
Chain Tensioner Part # 11-31-7-597-895
I have to agree, do I keep the Mini when warranty expires?

 

greg, not with an engine this flaky and poorly engineered. I forsee many used R56S's on the market over the next few years, including mine.

 

I feel yr. pain. I told my SA and MA that I demo'd a Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Track coupe and a Lexus IS350 F-Sport, (hmm, both cars with engines proven over the long haul?) now they are in major damage-control, trying to retain my business. Kinda funny in a way, they're scrambling like rats in doing so....

 

It looks like I placed my votes too soon. Had the 11-31-7-597-895 tensioner replaced in my 2008 MCS along with the timing chain stuff back in September 2009. Just got my car back from Yale Town Mini in Vancouver after they replaced the 2nd tensioner with the newer 11-31-7-607-551. Hope this 2nd replacement will fix the cold start issue for goo.

 

So initially did you have the whole SIM 11 02 07 fix done?

 

I did have the SIM 11 02 07 job performed with the older tensioner. BTW I just got the car back from and 5 hours later I still hear a bit of the noise that the dealer attributed to the faulty tensioner. At this point I really don't know if I should keep the car or not.

 

the last few very cold mornings have been below 15 degrees F. My car has started up perfectly with no tensioner rattles. Therefore, it looks like the latest greatest fix has worked, I'm happy to say

 

Dealer should replace that tensioner with the redesigned part that came out this last June. I dont have the SIM number with me, but that's the one that seems to do the trick. See above post.

 

Is it a whole new SIM or stil 11 02 07 with new tensioner? Would you be able to check your service record and see if it indicates? Thanks!

 

Picking up my 2008 MCS after the 3rd timing chain related fix today. This time I am told one of the 3 tensioner rails failed and was replaced along with a failed seal of some kind. So a year ago the full SIM 11 02 07 job performed. One month ago rattle came back and the latest tensioner was put in. It didn't help so this time the rail was faulted. Can someone please tell me if there is an updated timing chain (longer) and what the part number is? Thx.

[UPDATE]The car is very quiet after replacing the guard rail. Looks like the rail was either defective or improperly installed a year ago. Hopefully it will stay fixed for more than 1 year this time.

 

just dropped off my 08 justa this morning for them to look at a what i describe as a death rattle as if it had no oil. (high 30s here in fla) they're keeping it overnight to start it first thing in the AM and sent me to enterprise where i got a pick-up truck thats big enough to carry a mini ... all they had. No calls yet, we'll see what they say tomorrow.

 

Just had the "latest fix" on my 2007 Mini, and for the first time,(I hope i'm not speaking too soon!) it seems to be quite. and there's been some sub-freezing temps to check it out

 

Do keep us posted

 

I dropped my 2010 JCW off at the dealer for the 2nd time....this time they decided to take it appart and make some measurements...they kept the car overnight to finish the work. it sounds like they were going to replace the tensioner..9,660 miles so far, we will see how it does

 

well they tested everything out and didnt find any issues. Still plenty of warranty so i guess i'll just watch it for a while.

 

Once again, NAM has saved me. Whenever I have a problem/oddity with my 09 MINI Cooper S, I come here and read up on it. I am having my annual service done next Tuesday and (thanks to this board), I asked them to also replace my chrome hood scoop with a new one (with a heat shield beneath to prevent warping) and they're fixing the Death Rattle. These are both repairs covered under warranty. I am irked, however, that MINI waits until we ASK about these issues! Why don't they tell us there's a fix for such things? What if I were a person who never visited NAM or any other MINI website? I'd never know about these fixes. When I first got my MINI, I had the cold start issue and they replaced the intake manifold with the redesigned one to keep out condensation and freezing in cold weather. Once again, NAM saved me. I think I'll write a letter to MINI, although I doubt it'll do any good. Anyway, thanks to everyone here for sharing your experiences and expertise. My other car is a 22 yr old Nissan, so I am new to "new" cars, new to German/European cars, and new to MINI.

 

They're doing the timing belt tensioner, replacing my warped chrome hood scoop with a new one w/heat shield, and doing an oil change. I sure hope they don't screw anything up. I'm in CT and have to go to New Country MINI. I am LESS than happy with them. *sigh*

 

Hi, folks.

While I despise my MINI dealer, they did in fact fix my rattle.

My timing chain had stretched to 69 mm, which is out of spec, so they also replaced the chain along with the tensioner.

I'm very happy to report: no such problem since. The following days have been very cold and the car just purrs.

Again, I ask rhetoricallly, why doesn't MINI notify us of this? Why must we find out from each other? If I hadn't stumbled onto this board, I would never had had my ill designed intake manifold replaced, my warped chrome hood scoop replaced, or my timing chain taken care of.

A hearty thank you to all of you for sharing your experiences and solutions!

 

Hi, Everyone.

I'm wondering: I don't know where to find the MINI service bulletins and didn't have much luck searching for them. Is it possible to post them in this forum someplace? Then we'd all know the TSB number and what it entails.

Just a thought.

 

Is this your 1st or 2nd timing chain fix? I've been reading that some are on there 3rd.Why has'nt Mini warrantied these like the HPFP to 100,000mi.?It would make Mini customers alot happier bunch

 

Yikes! This is the FIRST time. I hope it's the only time needed! You mean the same problem can redevelop? My rattle was heard on Day 1 when I got the car (got it in November in the Northeast) and got progressively worse. Now the sound of the car on startup is entirely different with no rattle at all.

 

Unfortunately it can (but won't necessarily) reocure (see the poll results at the top) if you don't get the full 'fix' done, based on service bulliten SIM110207

 

Yes, it can come back. I had my original fix a year ago (the full job chain, tensioner & rails etc), but it came back 2 months ago in the form of a cracked chain guide. It was improperly diagnosed last month and a new tensioner was put it. When that didn't quiet the rattle, they replaced the broken rail. Unfortunately they didn't put in the modified chain and my car still rattles although not as loud. The dealer is claiming the rattle is from a different source and that putting in the modified chain would not be covered under warranty.

 

^ Oh, dear God.

 

Anyone know if the 2011 models have this same issue?