In an effort to put the knowledge gained on this forum about all the noises made by the Prince engine, I'm doing my best to distinguish 'normal' operational noises from the overall cacophony of sounds that issue forth from this engine...

And I think I'm having reasonable success in discerning them too; for instance, when I started up my JCW Clubman yesterday to take it to the dealer for the auxiliary water pump recall, I heard the dreaded cold-start rattle. I believe I'd heard it at least once before -- at a time before I'd really learned how to identify it via this forum (thanks guys! ) -- but not very often; it seemed to be just the early stages for me (intermittent and brief -- but there nonetheless). So, I decided to bring it up to the SA when I dropped off the car for the auxiliary water pump and see where we got... Fortunately, it apparently did it for them, and they replaced the tensioner (P/N 11-31-4-609-482; they told me the timing chain wasn't stretched at all and the guides were undamaged -- perhaps because I'd been fortunate enough to present it to them in the earliest stages of the problem). At any rate, I only wound up with a new tensioner...

Anyway, now I'm really scrutinizing all of the engine noises against those I've read about on the forum that may indicate potential problems, hoping to get anything untoward addressed prior to the warranty expiration in early August. So give me some information about the following:

• Following the tensioner replacement, there continues to be a steady noise from the area of the timing chain housing. Not the 'rattle,' but more of a steady 'hum' bordering on a 'buzz.' The noise varies with engine RPM throughout the range, even down to idle. I can believe a chain might normally make such a noise, but wanted to verify that against the knowledge of the experts that it wasn't residual problems with the timing chain -- or perhaps work that was performed incorrectly.
• Turbo charger 'whine.' I've read about folks whose turbocharger has exhibited a 'whine' prior to failing. I'm trying to better gauge this noise, as I don't believe I've encountered a video of it anywhere on the forum. My turbo currently makes a noise that is better described as a high-pitched 'whirring'; sitting still with the transmission in neutral, the noise seems to come on just as I apply the gas (~1,000 RPM), and rises correspondingly with increasing RPM. Again, I can believe this could be a normal sound for a turbocharger to make, as it's essentially a miniature, high-RPM turbine. I've heard superchargers make similar (but louder) noises, which based on my understanding of those, is normal. Any insight there?

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a video camera or I'd post these sounds, so I realize I'm making this a bit difficult for folks by using descriptions. Well, we all work with the tools we have...

Thanks in advance!

 

Can we sub-divide this thread into N 12, 14 etc. noises , that is turbo vs. straight engines? A few of us have posted about non- S noises too. It seems yours are turbo charging related, but we also have various tapping sounds that weren't apparent when our Mini was new. They could be vacuum pumps, valve lifters, various chains, and- my engine vocabulary quickly ends. I'm hoping someone who really knows these Prince motors can summarize the possibilities.
I believe that my own engine made few to none of the disturbing sounds until a few months ago when it started a little Diesel imitation and took in a resident woodpecker under the engine cover ( tapping sound).
So I like the title involving Princely, and maybe we could put all 2, or actually 4, of the Prince models in here.

 

Fine by me, but I'm not entirely sure how we could sub-divide one thread.

Collecting examples of all of the different noises (good and bad) into one place is a good idea, though; it might become a good reference thread for everyone.

Anyone got any ideas about the sounds I mentioned in my original post: are they good, bad, or ugly...?

 

Here is my '07 pretending to be a '48 Chevy Stovebolt (straight 6 with solid valve lifters):
Flickr: MINI chain tensioner noise video.

When I learned about the chain tensioner, and burning turbo recall issues, I asked MINI North Scottsdale if I was covered. Was told no, so if something happens, I'll point out I had prior knowledge.

 

I'm bumping this old thread because the noise(s) timfitz described are a perfect match for the noise(s) my MCS R56 is making recently.


When sitting still, with the transmission in neutral, the noise can be produced by depressing the accelerator - just as Timfitz described - which would rule out the possibility of the noise originating in the transmission. The noise can be produced in this manner with, or without, depressing the clutch.


When driving, the noise can be best heard in gears 1 through 3, at roughly 3000 RPM sustained. When the clutch is depressed, the noise disappears, and then returns when the next gear is selected and the clutch released. It is less noticeable in gears 4 through 6 due to road/wind noise, but it is still there.


Anyone with similar experiences that has been successful locating the origin of this noise?

 

For what it's worth, I've not experienced any ill-effects that I can connect to the described noises. The car seems to run just fine, although mine remains more of a 'garage queen' than a daily driver...

As I said before, the noises I was describing could just be the normal noises the engine makes...

 

Followup comment: the required parts covered by the MINI "campaign" fixed the diesel noise on cold mornings!