After reading about all these failed engines due to the timing chain either stetching or the tentioner popping off I have been wondering id any of the after market manufacturers are producing a proactive approach to this issue? Maybe a better timing chain and tentioner with some detailed instructions for us gear heads to replace! I would be interested for some price of mind.
Also is this the only big weakness in the mini drive train?

 

You seem to assume that aftermarket vendors have the capability to test their solutions in a real world environment. Many of them do not, at least not more than a couple of cars here and there due to budget constraints.

I have learned my lesson with respect to many of these after market vendors and think many of their solutions are poorly designed and poorly made for my application. I am now particularly weary of marketing companies with just for you "mini owner" exhobitant markups such as $25 for a 25 cent spring. How many products we seen come into the market with great marketing hype and disappear later because it was junk or have v2s come out which are only marginally better.

Buyer beware.

 

Slinger,
I want to be more optimistic regarding aftermarket parts. There are a lot of reputable vendors that aren't after all your $$$.
I am sure it wouldn't be that hard to design a better timing chain and tensioner.
As for research I think if the problem is there to fix and money is there to be made by the vendor then they should not have an issue producing a part that would be better than stock.

 

Spoken like a true newbie. Good luck to you and your mods.

 

MINI already has.

Dave

 

Slinger, I'll take that as a compliment:-)
Dave, if that's the best Mini can do then I am disappointed.
The big question is ... Why the common failure then??

 

It appears the new ones that they have redesigned are not failing like the earlier ones. They seem to have had a batch of MINIs that came out with the tensioners not tightened down sufficiently. Have to guess that is resolved as well.

 

Where does "the new ones" start and "the earlier ones" end?

As a potential mini owner, I for one would like to know what to keep an eye out for.

Is "the new ones" the r56 redesign?

Thank you for your time.

 

They went through a few iterations. I'm guessing maybe first or second quarter of 2010 is when they may have finally gotten them right.

All of this applies to the R56 MCS models. If buying one, try to get the service record to find out whether it had been replaced and when.

 

Other then complete engine failure, what are the symptoms of a loose tensioner chain. I know the famous "Rattle". Is there anything other symptoms? I hear what sounds like a vibration at times. My 08 MCS has never had the teNsioner or chain replaced.

 

To me it wasn't a rattle, it was the sound of a loose chain, more of a chain dragging sound.....

If you've never replaced your tensioner it's an inexpensive part, I'd replace it just for the peace of mind. My car was built in Jan of '09 and that was supposed to be the final iteration of the tensioner design, but mine was replaced at about 3K miles, and it hasn't made a peep since.

As to the design itself, I don't think that's the problem, the problem is and always has been the tensioner - but when not taken care of it can lead to much bigger and worse problems.

On the 2010's the problem wasn't a faulty part, it was faulty installation at the engine plant, which isn't owned or even staffed by MINI/BMW employees. Pretty hard to blame that one on MINI, although once the problem was known I think they should have had a service campaign to check them all and tighten them, since that's all it took to fix the problem there...