Hey guys, hoping someone more expert than me might be able to provide an opinion based on my description of a problem!

2011 R56 S (N18), approximately 35,000 KM's (Canadian car), develops a rattle that sounds suspiciously like the death rattle (watched lots of videos).

Slight difference in my situation, however, as the rattle is not present on start up, but rather starts occuring at approximately 2000 rpm, whether the vehicle is startionary or moving.

If you keep revs below 2k, no rattle. Rattle is persistent in all driving conditions so long as revs are above 2k.

Take to dealer, diagnose chain tensioner, they replace the entire timing chain assembly. Rattle persists.

Order two VANOS parts (I think actuators, but I have not seen an invoice yet). Give me back the car, and tell me it's ok to drive it (sounds like death) for two weeks while one part comes in from Germany.

Fast forward to Monday, July 8tth, parts are here. Replaced. Noise persists.

Diagnose oil pump. Order parts. Replaced. Noise persists.

Diagnose oil pump drive chain. Order parts. Replaced. Noise persists.

PUMA case opened with BMW Canada, no idea what to do now. Waiting persists.

I'm out my car 3 days first visit, 2 weeks of driving as little as possible, and now since the 8th of July. I've got a rental Toyota Corolla. Blech.

Any ideas? I've got nothing, and neither does google or the forums.

 

We have had the tensioner chain replaced in our 2008 Clubman S (N14 engine) replaced twice within 38K miles. We were looking at replacing the car with a new 2013/14 N18 equipped Clubman S but we are very hesistant as the tensioner problem still seem to be present in the N18 engine that has been in production since 2011.

Very desheartening the horrid defects of these Prince engines. The cars are wonderful to drive when they work but a nightmare to upkeep once they come of age and go out of warranty.

 

For anyone interested in my ongoing saga, I called today only to be told there has been no feedback at this stage regarding the PUMA case.

So, they've had the car for 10 business days and have been unable to produce a resolution.

At this point I have been unable to drive my Mini, like a Mini (or at all) for 30 days.

Exceedingly frustrated.

Will update, if only for my own mental health.

 

Is this the waste gate rattle? Or a version there of - I heard there was some slop built into the waste gate to allow it to expand (as it will in the exhaust stream) then properly seal once warmed up. The gate expands more than the housing due material choices... Could this be an overly loose waste gate?

Good luck!
E

 

This might sound dumb but I had what I thought might be the death

rattle only to find out that the turbo heat shield was not as tight as it

should have been, it took me awhile to figure that was what was causing

my rattle!

 

Update for those who care.

Engine out of car. Disassembled.

Spun rod bearing. Suspected cause is oiling issue related to "clogging".

Sorry, I will know more tomorrow, but for now I sort of absorbed what I was being told.

Germany wants the parts, apparently this is the first time they have seen this with the n18.

This is coming from a car that never showed more than trace oil consumption on weekly checks and currently has 35,000 km's.

Love this little car, but not this. Parts need to come from Germany, which means I will be out car for another 2 weeks I'm sure.

Will update when I know more.

 

Tell them UPS overnight or at least next day. Offer to pay the extra charge. Will they at least supply a loaner? Maybe a Paceman!