Just picked up a 2008 cooper s with 21k and I started noticing this sound. This is after a quick (<20mph / <.5miles down the street) so the engine is still warming up.

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFN7IqbPZ30

Thanks in advance.

 

Uh-Oh. I hope you have warranty.

 

Yeah, still have some bumper to bumper.. and then the powertrain for a year I believe.

Just wanted to make sure this isn't normal sounding before I drop it off at the dealer.

Do they usually respond pretty well and fix it due to the TSB, and do the revised parts fix the problem fully; or am I going to be taking this back multiple times to fix the same part..?

 

yes, it's the timing chain problem. mostly happen during 'cold' start, when mini has been sitting awhile. most dealers know about it. if they can't 'reproduce' it, tell them to check/start mini first thing in the morning.

check your oil level also. sometime low oil level can aggravate the problem.

 

Can I get people's opinions on mine? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMdv3edXGo Edit: To clarify, it doesn't sound this harsh in person. I blame the microphone on my phone. /Edit

That's happening at all times, hot or cold. I can hardly hear it from inside the car while I'm driving and I can hear it a little bit at idle with no other noises present.

I brought it to a dealership and the service advisor said it sounded normal--that I'd hear a lot more slapping. To me, it doesn't sound normal for an engine in general. I've only had the car for two days so I don't have any other reference point. It's a 2007 MCS with 28000 miles.

The oil is topped off. I can't imagine this car ever had a low oil situation since the previous owner's oil changes were about every 4000 miles (changed due to age).

And, of course, I'm just out of warranty by 2 months.

 

that dealer gave you some bs. if it was 'normal', you should tell him to compare that with other mini's they have on the lot - that would shut the sa up. yours should like the timing chain problem, too. unfortunately, you are out of warranty. perhaps you can take it to another dealer and get a second opinion.

 

4 years or 50k miles is thew car's warranty. 3yr or 36k miles is the maintenance.

 

Not sure but can't the belt tensioner make a similar rattle? My 2003 developed a rattle while going slow speeds and noticed that it's shaking so we diagnosed that.

 

Mobius:

My advice: don't drive it!

Have it towed to a dealer. After one day of driving the car with the rattle, my timing chain "backed out" (dealer's words) and the engine was toast. Valves bent. Top half of engine needed rebuild. There was never a warning light.

The sound I hear is definitely a step above the usual "noisy engine" excuse that dealers often use to avoid warranty repairs.

 

2003 is a different engine and a different problem. You are correct in that the noise in the 1st generation is typically the bushings being loose on the belt tensioner but the 2nd generation has a different engine and a different problem. If you are looking for information on the belt tensioner problem in the first generation when you do your searches, limit the information in the 1st generation forums and you will not have to sift through all the 2nd generation posts.

 

Thanks all, sorry for no formal introduction.. but I haven't even had it long enough for nice pictures! Hope it all gets fixed, I love driving this car.

 

Mobius, please keep us (or at least me) up to date with what happens. I went to another dealership to get a second opinion on mine and they said that it sounded normal. The ticking, they explained, was due to the high pressure fuel injection. They could not hear any rattling.

I should also reiterate that the video I took makes the noise sound way worse than it really is.

 

Update: They found that the owner before me had done the timing chain, and sourced the sound to improper timing. Now I am kind of worried that my internals are messed up due to the improper timing...

Update2: Have it back, runs strong.. slight noise from where it was before, but I am just thinking this is the engine. I'll see tomorrow when its cold start time again. I missed this little car!