Ok Michael Sarantidis was my Advisor at MINI North Scottsdale
this was a 100 percent goodwill job for my timing chain rattle.

 

Thanks a bunch for the update!

 

your welcome glad too help

 

Please forgive me for my ignorance but is this for manuel MINIs or autos? And more specifically for what year?

 

Manual or auto, it's the same engine. So it's for both. 07+ cars with the N14 engine.

 

From what I've been able to gather from reading about this issue transmission type doesn't seem to matter and the years affected are 2007 to, I believe, some time in 2010.

I'm sure someone will chime in if I'm incorrect .

 

So, I just picked up my Mini to the tune of $2700 for timing chain . Anyway, really hope'n for a recall or campaign to maybe recoupe some of the cash I just gave.

 

SO what you just dropped it off, said fix it, paid full price and didn't ask about anything at all??? They're not going to give you money back on a repair already done. If it's a recall, cars affected will get it done for free. if it's an extended warranty, FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, cars that need it, will get it done free. They're not going to reimburse everyone who has already done it lol.

 

If all your dealer did was replace your timing chain components you got ripped off majorly! I had mine done back in June and only cost me $1827, so looks like you paid $900 dollars more than most!! I've never heard of anyone paying as much as you did.

 

Mine failed at 35.5K and shattered the guides and popped the chain. Cam was 90 degrees out. I had it towed into Brian Harris Mini in Baton Rouge, La. The mechanic (Thomas Dunaway) told me about the problems they had and said he would get it fixed even though my 5 years warranty was expired. He took it apart and said I was lucky no head and valve damage. The replaced everything at NO COST to me. I didn't ask for my $225.00 towing bill since they covered it all. It's running great and I am happy with my mechanic. It took a while to get it fixed due to all the damage and the report on the damage had to go up the ladder to get it approved before the work began. If you get that death rattle at first start-up you need to bring it in. I was LUCKY and expected to have to replace the heads and possibly pistons. I was upset with my Mini and if I had to pay to fix it I would have sold it after I got it back. My Porsche never gave me any problems, so I would have just bought another Porsche instead of a Mini or any BMW. Good Luck.

 

well my sa told me that the recall has been released and my car goes in thursday .. can anyone confirm if their dealerships have said the same?

 

Where in florida did your SA say that? If it's true id like to call and make an appointment ASAP.

 

My car is in the shop for the death rattle. Waiting for OK to do the work for free from Mini as my car is just out of warranty. It has 33K miles and was bought mid-'09. Rattle sounds horrible. I'll report whether they fix it for free or not.

They said they are doing the turbo shield for free. I didn't even ask about this.

 

I went in to the dealer last Friday and my SA had no records of any open recalls, only a pending campaign. He did not know what the contents of pending campaign included. Also he didn't mention anything about turbo shield recall

 

Same here with last Thursday/Friday when they had my car. If anything came into light Friday, he probably wouldn't have said it since I was there at like 5:15 just to get my car and leave.

 

Hmm guess i'll call my dealer and ask if they are replacing them yet, if so I guess i should bring mine in asap..even though i doubt anything would be wrong with the chain at only 17k miles

 

Yes, my 2010 MINI s with 65k was towed to the dealer and they are replacing the chain, tensioner and guides. No charge and a nice coupe loaner car bonus! However, the dealer reported that a mount on one of the front struts was broken. Really? How could I not have noticed this? Car would have been wobbling all over the road, no? I'm thinking this is just another ploy to rip me off. Dealer quoted $457 to replace a little rubber mount. Same dealership who tried to convince me I needed brakes when I absolutely did NOT. But I now have no choice as I can't drive out of the dealership with a broken strut mount.

 

I'm not defending a potentially shady dealership trying to swindle you a bit but, The front strut mounts are not just little pieces of rubber lol.....

 

It's a rubber mount with three bolts to the body, and a center bearing for the strut. I understated for emphasis - but the dealer quoted $125 for the mount which is available after-market for $40. Then he sent me a video of the strut completely broken loose from the rubber mount and flopping around in the housing under the hood. I only wish I knew how to attach this video. It wasn't just a crack in the mount. The strut bearing was completely broken loose from the rest of the rubber mount. Now I must ask your opinion: if the top of my strut was flopping around in the mounting hole under the hood, do you think I might have noticed this? Do you think I would have been able to drive on the highway at 80mph or even at 25mph without two hands struggling to keep the steering wheel steady? Or, do you think my dealer is a crook??? This is the same dealer who tried to tell me I needed a brake job when I absolutely didn't. I refused his brake job and I complained about this loudly to MINI. Now I had to return to the dealer for my timing chain. So, the dealer now told me I needed a repair that I couldn't refuse! I can't drive out of the dealership with a totally broken strut mount!

 

Not defending the dealer, but I've seen mounts fall apart once the car is put on a lift. The "pull" of the suspension weight/tires/wheels can pull the mounts apart.. they are normally in compression... lifting the car puts then in tension (pulling apart)..

 

OK, that makes sense. Thank you! The dealer has quoted me $450 to replace the mount. Parry Mason couldn't defend the dealer!! :-) I'm considering that I'm getting my timing chain replaced for free, so I'll justify the $450 towards that. However, at 65k miles, with the front end already apart, a reputable mechanic would have offered to replace the struts and the mounts, no? How much more am I going to get out of those stock struts?? Furthermore, if the mount was that broken, I have to wonder if there is body damage to the steel frame that surrounds the mount. It must have taken a severe hit. What does one do if that is bent???
Thank you again.

 

It doesn't not NEED to take a severe hit for the mount to get damaged or worn out.

In the event you simply need a new mount, buy one online from someone like ECS and do it yourself IF you're handy. Removing the strut/spring assembly from the car and replacing the mount really is just nuts, bolts, and a little time. It's not a brain-intensive job at all. $450 is a lot but with high prices for factory parts from a dealer and labor charges, sounds expected but I don't find their figures reasonable lol.

 

First time poster. I wanted to add my experience and a BIG THANK YOU!

I've had the rattle for months and thought it was my muffler or something not very serious. It actually gave my car a cool throaty sound. Well this past weekend my check engine light came on and the engine started knocking a bit. Took it to my local mechanic and the pulled a code for cam shaft timing and suspected my timing chain needed to be replaced. I freaked at the quoted price and started googling mini timing chain issues, which brought me here.
I called the local Mini dealer (MINI of Murray (Salt Lake City)) and the Service Manager was very vague and couldn't tell me anything without looking up the VIN. He then said there was an Open Campaign that did effect my car regarding the timing chain tensioner. They needed to take a look before they could determine the problem.
Bottom line, he said there was an Open Campaign, and my car was the first one that was affected at their dealership. I've included the invoice, interesting about the 2nd Open Campaign because nobody mentioned that.
Also, the dealership was awesome about getting my car back to me the next day. I've had my check engine light come on a couple of times a year and have always dreaded taking it to the dealer because of the crappy service I've received in the past, but they really came though this time.
Bottom line, I was about to shell out a couple thousand dollars before finding this post. Thanks again.

 

My service advisor said Mini is covering the timing chain/tensioner/guides replacement free of charge (including diagnostics). Said it was a one time good will repair since my engine was one month out of the known problem date range. Said they are using the updated parts which should last longer

 

Ya know... it's a fancy BMW & MINI dealership. Someone's got to pay for the fine leather furniture and free food in the customer waiting lounge. :-)