Flow Mini, Raleigh, NC. If you have an updated tensioner they probably won't check any further.

 

Just found out today with 29k on the clock mine is shot and the SA at the dealer said he's never heard of Mini replacing these and told me to call Mini which I did and the woman I spoke to said she has to speak to someone because she's never heard of them replacing these.

 

I've been dealing with these guys as well. The service adviser acted just as you stated. I'm just going to call MINI directly and see how I should press the issue. I'm stationed in North Dakota and it's a seven hour drive so I am not receptive to being dicked around by them.

Dude's name was Brady. I'm going to start going to Orr Autosport since my R56 isn't under warranty anymore.

 

I see your location is Las Vegas and I spoke to a SA named Dawn at the Las Vegas MINI dealership last week and she was fully aware of the problem and campaign as I was debating whether I should drive to Vegas or Scottsdale to get our car repaired.

 

Was she aware of Mini taking care of the cost for the fix? The guy I'm talking to right now is not aware of anything.

 

some of you sound like you may be getting the run around sadly..

its been about 2 months since they have done mine..and frankly i may be calling them back as its not much quieter and it just does not seem right ..no lights popping up or anything just feels and sounds "off"

 

Yes she was and also offered me a loaner if I were to stay the night in Vegas or get me a very reasonable reduced rate on a rental if I wanted to drive back home as loaners are not allowed to be driven out of state.

 

Yesterday I drove down to MINI North Scottsdale to drop off our car, '09 MCS w/ 60K miles, for the timing chain campaign. Since it's a 190 mile trip I decided to give them plenty of time to do the job so I booked a room and spent the night as I didn't want to rush them or myself!

I can't say enough about how well I was treated by the entire staff at MINI North Scottsdale. My original communication was with A.J. the service manager and he assurred me that since I was travelling a distance they would do their best to perform the repairs as efficiently as possible and he arranged for me to work with one of his service consultants Matt Martin. When I arrived Matt met me as I drove up and although I know he knew the car he didn't know me as we had never met, but still addressed me by name as if he did...very professional. We did all of the paperwork and he had a '13 MCS loaner brought around for me to use while I was down in the valley.

The complete service was performed, timing chain, tensioner, guides, oil pan R&R etc. The timing chain was measured and was found to be at 69.1 mm. The turbo oil line heat shield service was done at the same time.

I have worked in the automotive and motorsports fields my entire career and am now retired and I could never have imagined being treated as well as I have been these last two days by the folks at MINI North Scottsdale and my hat's off to the entire crew. The car was completed in a very reasonable time period (dropped it off at about 2:00 pm yesterday and picked it up at 2:00 pm today) and I couldn't be happier.

 

Does anyone have the torque specs for the main crankshaft bolt and the camshaft bolts?

Since MINI claims my 2007 MCS is not covered even though it needs a timing chain at 75K miles ( still the original chain - no work done on it ) I've bought all the tools/parts and will change it myself. Just finding there is little information on the torque settings.

Thanks, looks to be an adventure.

 

I also just got my Mini back from North Scottsdale Mini. I am at 55K miles. I was in at 40K miles for the death rattle. I wa quoted $2K to fix it, prior to recall. I did the increassed length tensioner myself. This definetly improved the rattle.

I got the recall letter, called in and made appt with Matt. He said they would do the check. He said they didn't hear the rattle, which is mostly because of the tensioner change.

He dicided to keep the car and do the measurement. Measured 71.42. They keept the car and did the same replacement of all related components as well as dropping oil pan to "retrieve Pieces of cassette".

i was also given the turbo line heatsheild, but again, I had updated this myself, since it was damp at the top, at 40K.

I picked the car up, it was washed and cleaned and looked great. It runs better and quieter then it ever has. I bought the car at 28K miles, and I am really amazed at the improvement in noise and driveability overall from this recall.

It is just too bad Mini didn't do this progresssively for everyone over this time period. They really didn't do themselves any good in the customer relations area.

 

Hey everyone,

Just thought I would let people know. I had my tensioner and timing chain replaced last year which cost me about $2000 CDN. Because of this site and hearing about the recall I emailed my dealership to find out about it, and if I could get any refund or compensation for the work.

Within an hour I had a call back from the Assistant Service Manager who advised me I would be getting a full refund for the work done last year...

Completely blew me away! I was contemplating selling the Mini, but now I will be putting on some new tires and a DNA Tune in the next month or so.

Can't wait!

 

Any news on whether this will ever reach Canada? I feel like mine's been replaced a few times, but there's a clicking sound now (although it IS something like -15 Celsius outside), so I wouldn't mind having some "insurance" in case something goes wrong.

 

Hey jbourne,

FYI, I am living in Calgary, so there is definitely dealerships that are dealing with this properly in Canada, just not sure how many.

 

Good to know - thanks for the info!

 

I want to say Mini USA and Mini of South Atlanta took care of me. I made a phone call and the rep said the car was definitely covered. Made an online appointment and the dealer gave me a new loaner car and replaced all the timing chain components. Also noted was dropping the pan to 'remove debris.' Definitely get this done if you haven't already, the rattle was getting worse before I brought it in.

 

Why we in the uk where the cars are built don't get this cover is beyond me ......

 

You know you would think that the owners in the reign where the car is manufactured these vehicles would be taken care of first and not last, I'm just as confused as you are?!

 

According to mini customer service's, and contrary to all available information about these issue's, and those if the high pressure fuel pump, they insist categorically there is no issue, and there is nothing wrong with the N14 engine.
I suspect that its more likely that as no one in the uk has taken them to court thus far, they feel they are getting away lightly by only issuing this recall in the states where someone did.

 

It's bad enough that consumers buy a particular brand vehicle even though their at the bottom of the list for owner satisfaction! If consumers stop buying that brand vehicle and perform some type of online research, that brand would suffer greatly as far as sales are concerned. This is the only way things will change, if everyone that bought a vehicle did enough research do you think the Mini brand would not suffer greatly for their inaction?

I understand that all brands have their particular problems, but there are those other manufacturers that aren't at the bottom of that list. It's like playing poker, you going to buy into the worst odds or the better, smarter bet? I'm one of consumers who didn't do enough research before buying.

I read about the timing chain problem and maybe the thermostat issues, but after I bought my MCS and after joining up with NAM did I see the whole picture. I figured that a six year warranty should suffice. Was it the best odds, hell no but I wouldn't be happy with a new Toyota Corolla that has no power at all!

As for the UK reign people need to start lawsuits because that is the only thing these manufacturing understand these days. If they can get away with it they will do nothing, recalls like the aux water pump and steering systems were forced on Mini only because it had the potential for deaths. No company wants to be held responsible for peoples deaths, that's the worst type of bet there is!

 

Thanks for sharing the good news! Motor on!

 

Six year warranty ?? We get three
I didn't do enough research before I purchased my fjcw, as it was an impulse purchase,but I thought being bmw owned it would be a quality product ....turns out it's not just mini that suffers from the cam chain and fuel pump woes, the 1 and 3 series bmw cars also have these issues.

 

It seems most new cars have issues that didn't exist 20 years ago, kind of backwards. If mine wasn't covered, I was prepared to buy the special tools and do it myself. VW is the same way.

 

I have an 08' justa Clubman, early production unit. Still living at the same address as when I bought the car. All service done by the original dealer. As I have not received any letter or communication from Mini about the timing chain recall, is it safe for me to presume my Mini is not at risk? No death rattle, no nothing to be frank, the car has been remarkably problem free through 60k miles.

 

It's mostly MCS, but there have been a few Justa Coopers that had timing chain problems, the numbers are low compared with the S. Almost all brand cars and truck have problems with the timing chains, my bro-in-law has an 87 Toyota inline 4 FWD 306,000 miles and had the guides replace three times. I can't believe that truck runs as good as it does!

 

My '09 MCS is currently at Mini of Tempe having the entire timing system replaced: chain, tensioner, guides, etc. Also doing the turbo heat shield.

Free loaner (Countryman S, auto, but beats walking and/or paying out of pocket I guess!)

Big ups for Mini of Tempe Service Dept. They knew about the campaign, didn't try to duck the issue, scheduled the car right away, and treated me like a customer, not a problem. In particular, Josh and Steven in Service are great. Incidentally, Josh's the sales guy that my GF bought her '11 MC from last July; not sure when he moved from Sales to Service, but he seems to be great at both. Hope they keep him.

Big ups also for BMW/Mini USA finally doing the right thing on this. I love this car and have waited YEARS to be able to afford one, and I was pretty heartbroken when it turned out to be a lemon that they weren't going to stand behind once some design flaws surfaced. I can afford the parts and am a good mechanic, but I shouldn't have to replace stuff like this on a car with under 30k miles on it. It's not a Ferrari, fergawdssakes. I'm glad they reconsidered. Now I can keep the car and enjoy it for awhile, and when it's time for another one, I don't have to cross Mini/BMW off my list. It is a HOOT to drive, and it makes me smile every time I walk out into the garage and see it there. Glad to see BMW/Mini finally do the right thing and stand behind what they sell. They probably saved a WHOLE LOT of repeat customers with this move, even though they probably lost a few by not doing it sooner. It's a shame as it's a great car, but better late than never I suppose.