That sounds the same as your engine, it's the timing chain. You probably have some cracked timing chain guides (made of plastic) and those broken pieces are quite possibly sitting in your oil pan. My rattling was different and much more violent, the second I started my Mini it sounded like the timing chain was hitting the guide that's above the camshaft sprockets. When your chain gets really loose the sound will horrify you!!

When I took it in to the dealer not only did they hear the chain hitting the upper guide, they also found broken plastic pieces on the bottom of my oil pan. That's bad because you don't want those pieces obstructing the oil pump main intake of oil! If my guide had been broken into more pieces my timing chain would have jumped off of the camshaft sprocket allowing my valves to collide with the pistons, that's at least a rebuilt or brand new engine!

Don't wait fix it now!

 

why would it make that noise after the chain was replaced? and why would bmw say its the oil pump?

I kinda wanted to get it serviced at bmw instead of mini cause I wasn't too happy with the mini dealer last time I was there. and the next closest mini is an hour+ drive. but I don't know if bmw knows what they are doing.

 

Got my timing chain replaced under the recall this past weekend. Also got them to reimburse me on the two times I got my timing chain tensioner replaced. I have a 2008 Cooper S with 80k miles on it 30k over warranty and they still did it for me.

 

ucdinh is buying the beers this weekend!!

 

Shots all around!

 

Did BMW actually tell you it was the oil pump and how did they come to that conclusion? They must have facts and not assumptions based on nothing more than guesses. You mention that the chain was replaced but say nothing about the tensioner and guides? If your oil pump was indeed bad I would expect the tensioner to fail. I'm not too impressed with my (Irvine) Mini Dealer either ever since it split off from the BMW building, they seem less professional.

 

I was referring to that video's description. if you go back the last couple of my posts it will make sense.

if I take it to a bmw dealer will they know about the updated parts and would they do everything that a mini dealer would know to do? just curious, whos 3rd party warranty do you have? and have you experienced good results with them? I read alot of bad reviews about the one I have, so eager to test them out.

 

Spoke to my SA this weekend to inquire about the timing chain campaign. I was told that my VIN number was not included for those that qualify. Out of curiosity I asked for a quote and it will be $2.2 plus tax. This includes the valve cover replacement.

This is very depressing to say the least and a major setback.

 

what model and year do you have?

 

Who is forcing you to take it to the dealer? You should stay clear of your dealer when out of warranty because you're footing the bill now. I had my extended warranty cover my timing chain components, cost $1600 my deductible was $200. If you were to find a good reputable shop mechanic that works on Mini's often I'm certain you would pay a lot less than $2200, probably 30% less!

I just got done replacing my clutch components and flywheel and the dealer labor was $1900, Motoring Magic told me they would have only charged me $1050 for just the labor! That's $850 I could have bought new Michelin Pilot Super Sports (which I did anyway), exhaust system like the one in my signature. How about a meth injection system, no more dealer for me! Buy the valve cover at ECS Tuning and install it yourself, it's not difficult but you need a torque wrench.

In my signature at bottom of my post, 2007 Mini Cooper S. I can tell you that BMW wouldn't carry a Mini part even though MINI/BMW use some of the same components for their cars. My extended warranty is from MaxCare which has nothing to do with CarMax and they have been great so far.

 

I own an '08 MCS with a little over 100k miles and out of warranty.

Car runs great and have full confidence until a "slight" rattling noise I discovered a week ago. It is far less violent compared to the the video clip found on this thread but a rattle is a rattle and needs immediate attention.

I seeked for the my dealer's advice thinking that my VIN is part of the campaign/recall and unfortunately it wasn't. That said, I found Helix that performs timing chain replacement among other things including walnut blasting and other odds and ends. It will be wise to take to Helix and do a one-stop repair appointment and get it done for less.

Ordered a valve cover from Sewell from their Memorial Day Sales event as a back up and it will come in handy now that I am having the timing chain replaced.

Thanks to both!

 

You're lucky to be so close to a reputable Mini shop!

 

Yes and no... I live 1.75 hours from Helix (Philly) and a trip there will come with hotel reservations... since it will take a day and half to complete the work and other odds and ends I am planning on doing. My girlfriend and I will do the touristy things to kill some time.

Incidentally, a buddy of mine has a friend that he went to college with owns & operates a BMW/MINI Indy shop located in he LA area and I heard he does Fiat 500's too. Would that be close enough to you?

 

I wonder what the reasoning is behind omitting some VIN numbers from the campaign... I have an 08 MCS and mine was included in the campaign, did they use different parts on different batches of cars? I"m just curious.

 

From what I've read on the web, one of MINI's suppliers, did not meet specifications on timing chains. MINI knows what Vehicle Identification Number range in which those out of specification chains were installed, so those are the ones that they are replacing.

Dave

 

The BMW 1-Series, 3-Series and 5-Series vehicles built between 2007 and 2009 had chains snapping, funny how the years 2007-2009 had similar issues with their timing chains. This coincides with Mini USA's timeline for faulty timing chains and tensioners. This timing chain debacle started early 2007 and continued for years until the N14's were replaced by the N18's in mid 2011.

It looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it must be a duck.

 

timing chain problems seem common. 07-10 mazda speed 3, cx-7, and mazda speed 6 all have timing chain issues. I was looking to buy a speed 3 but didn't cause they were hard to find so ended up with the mini.

http://forum.mazda6club.com/attachme...da-vvt-tsb.jpg

taking mine in a couple days to get checked out. getting the leaking turbo oil banjo bolt fixed too. hopefully my 3rd party warranty shows up to work.

 

God I love timing belts! Soo much less maintenance compared to timing chains, you can change a timing belt without the need for going inside the engine to replace and there far more consistent. The new VW GTI's use timing belts now, VW made a smart move by going back to the timing belt. This also makes the engine much more quiet! No defective chains, broken guides and no tensioner failure. Imagine if MINI had gone with a timing belt for their R56 MCS, they wouldn't have such a bad reputation from blowing engines.

 

Until all this talk I thought just the opposite would be true. I remember having a 16v GTI and 'had' to change the timing belt every 60k or risk certain doom. When I looked into it regarding my R53 and heard it had a chain I figured, perfect, lifetime part.

I guess if it's just a batch of bad chains I can live with it and will pay close attention to the R56. Plus it will be a good source of cheap cars that just need motor swaps.

 

My timing chain components were replaced in 2009. The Death Rattle is back, with 52,000 miles on the odm. Dealer contacted me, the chain has over 2mm of slack and is slapping things. To repair $1,300.00. After researching here I contacted the dealer with my new knowledge. The dealer said my JCW was not on the list, but they would repair it for $202.00.


The thermostat, now the timing chain replaced, I hope these will make the engine last long into the future.

 

When was your timing chain assembly installed? I don't think Mini USA had the updated tensioner in 2009 because there were 3 updated tensioner designs in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Mini kept having people return with the same problem again (sound familiar?), the death rattle. Some are on their fourth timing chains and tensioners. I have the newest tensioner design and have had no rattling since my tensioner (timing chain assembly) was replaced!

 

Feb. 09, 2010 / Mileage 4334 / timing chain tensioner replaced.


The dealer said they are replacing everything. Something I would not want to tackle, removing the oil pan, these parts must be deep in there.

 

Oh the dealer only replaced the tensioner, that explains things, mostly replacing the tensioner only delays the inevitable failure of timing chains. If the tensioner goes count on the timing chain to soon follow. You did not receive any of the updated tensioners, even if you had it wouldn't have mattered.

Actually the timing chain lifts out from the valve cover, remove the valve cover, take the crankshaft pulley, lock the crankshaft sprocket and lock the camshafts in place. The way the timing chain comes out is pretty ingenious!

Check it out here.

 

Hmmm...almost like they expected it to fail. Easy replacement equals more money to be made with "tacked-on" items...like brake pads/rotors or tire replacement. Not trying to be a "conspiracy" type of guy...just saying. "as we did your warranty work, we discovered that your MINI is also in need of some regular service items, not covered by your extended warranty". Yeah. Conspirancy theory, as I said. I worked in a small private shop for over 15 years, and the greatest thing we ever did was cheap oil changes. Not that we were dishonest, but it got us a chance to see what else needed to be done in the near future, and sell that work in advance. We never lied about anything, and the shop was referred by word-of-mouth. No advertising. We had generations of families coming to us. Ahhh...the good old days....

 

Many would admit that most Mini dealers charge way over the top for labor, Irvine Mini charges $165 per hour! I can buy genuine Mini parts cheaper on ECS Tuning at whole sale prices. When I had my clutch kit and flywheel replaced they wanted $1800 for them, once I mentioned to Fredy that the genuine Mini parts he's quoting me are cheaper online, he gave me a call later with a price of $1389, still more money than if I purchased it on ECS Tuning, it never hurts to let them know what their parts are running other online. If they work with you to lower the price like Irvine Mini did, there not that bad at all.

Knowledge really is power, it saved me $400 and that's a LOT!