Sorry... annoyed typing not always accurate

I started car to drive. Got the low oil pressure notice, so stopped immediately. (Oil change had occurred approx. 3k miles beforehand, but hadn't checked since - it was odd).

Noticed I was unusually low in oil so I towed immediately for no further damage to car.

They said, "good news, no oil leak; bad news you need your timing chain tensioner replaced" - which they did, out of pocket for me but sounding like the exact time (late Oct) when things started moving according to the timing here.

 

Call them up. People are reporting reimbursements from replacing timing chain assembly long ago. If it was just the tensioner, why did they charge you $2500?

 

got mine back today. got the full monty (campaign 10011080300): chain rail, tensioner, sprocket, timing chain, tensioner, slide rail. Plus a new turbo oil line heatshield (10011170300).

thanks Crown MINI of Richmond !

 

Odd issue. My wife's 2007 Mini has 25,000 miles on it. I took it in 200 miles ago for this recall. Twice, after the service, while starting the car after sitting all night it start and ran very rough for a few seconds. The first time the engine light lite then went out after a few seconds. The next day the same thing, rough start then smoothed out. The second time the engine light stayed on. The codes were P0300 and P0302. I searched high and low and there are only a few posting with that code. One spoke of an issue with the chain tensioner.

I've reset the engine light and will run it in if this happens again. Thoughts?

 

That sounds like the HPFP.

 

Gesundheit!

 

That crossed my mind. It may be purely coincidental that this occurred after the recall work. Or....

 

Please tell me how you reset the light. tia

 

That is definitely the HPFP, thank God Mini extended the warranty to 10 years! That's a $1000 pump, Mini doesn't use that manufacturer any more. You'll get a reliable version, I hope my HPFP goes out before my 6-year warranty is up.

 

The dealership replaced my tensioner only, not the chain. I still hear some rattling/ticking at idle. Is this normal? I've only had my new-to-me 08 for 2 months now so I'm not sure how it should sound.

 

I have an Actron CP9180. It reads codes and allows you to reset them. It is very easy to use and plugs into your OBD II plug. It can also preform several other useful functions. Mine is an old unit but has served me well over the years and saved me a lot of money.

Great information, thanks.

 

Hi everyone, lots of information in this thread but I have a few questions.

1. I purchased my 2007 S used, will I get a letter about this issue? I have an account set up with Mini online so I can see recall information, but there's no mention of this.

2. I replaced the timing chain tensioner myself about a year ago after noticing a rattle, but I'm starting to notice it again with all the cold weather we've been having. I don't want to make the 3 hour drive to the dealer only to have them tell me that it has the newer tensioner and nothing needs done, I'd like to have this all replaced. Should I call them up and ask about it, even though I don't have a letter?

 

If the campaign came out before you bought it, you might not get a letter. But being that you seem to say you've had the car over a year, you should have gotten the letter like a month or so ago. Letter or not, stop into your dealer and have them scan your key to find out if your car qualifies. If it's an 07 S, it should. The online system won't find it because it's not technically listed as a recall.

 

Since it happened after the service for the chain.. I'd look into a possible coil/wire/plug issue.

Or as mentioned the HPFP.

 

I've had it for almost two years, so I'm sure they have me in the system somewhere. I didn't buy it from a Mini dealer, though.

The problem is that I can't just stop in, the closest dealer is a 3 hour drive and they only do service on weekdays, so I have to take a whole day off of work to do anything, which isn't always easy. Is this something they would be able to tell me on the phone?

 

Might try giving them a call. They should be able to look it up. 3 hour drive on a maybe, I wouldn't do that either lol.

 

You must let the dealer know that you changed the defective tensioner yourself because you already had the rattle, and that the new updated tensioner was only a temporary fix. The defective tensioner has already caused the stretching of chain, the new tensioner only delayed the inevitable. Make sure that the dealer understands this! Nobody diagnoses over the phone, it's a business so their going to want that diagnostic fee. You'll have no choice but to take it in unless you would prefer to live with it the way it is.

 

If you still have the old tensioner, I would re-install it just before visiting the dealer. That way they are required to check the chain tolerances. If they see a new tensioner they are directed to check no further. If you tell them you installed the new tensioner there's a chance they'll blame any other problems on you. I read in another thread that a member re-installed the old part and the dealer replaced the whole cam chain cassette.

 

Good idea, it's not too hard to get at. I think I'll do that this weekend and then give them a call.

 

Do you have the old tensioner?

 

Yup, on the shelf with other old parts.

 

That timing sucks. There are a lot of us who paid out of pocket and will never see a penny. My chain broke at 45k back in 2010. They had the modified tensioner part back then. They knew there was a problem for years and waited to do the recall until it helps basically only the last model year or two of the total affected cars. Kind of shady.

 

I agree with you about the timing, but they are replacing the whole assembly on my '07. It has 112K miles on the all original cam chain assembly.

 

I called our local Mini dealership (Motorwerks Mini, Bloomington MN) and confirmed that my '08 MCS is indeed subject to this recall. I've only had it since last summer, and got no official notification. I did not buy the car new, nor from them, nor do I allow them to service it. I've had my eye on this issue since I first learned about it here, and just called them up when I saw it had become a service campaign. The service advisor treated me like a complete retard, and straight-out lied to me about the severity of the issue and urgency with which it should be addressed. I just let him make an *** of himself and didn't correct him. I will be having words with the service manager when I do drop the car off, just so they understand that I am paying attention.

This is the dealership who sold us my fiance's '13 MCS. The salesman was great, but the finance guy all but told her she had to buy the $3,000 extended service contract. His explanation was that the car would need lots of brake work and at least one new clutch in that time, so it would pay for itself, and told me I would be voiding the warranty if I made any of those repairs myself (I'm an auto technician). I told the guy to pound sand.

Deal with these shysters at your own risk.

 

Who did you go to? I've got 130,000 on my 07 with a tensioner I installed 2.5 years ago. I've got an appointment next Tuesday. I'm not real optimistic.