First, let me analogize for the wall of text.

I just picked up my 2010 Clubman S Laurel Sport back in April. It had ~32k miles on it when I bought it, it now has ~34k on it.
The car was originally a CPO car but the CPO was pulled because they discovered it needed a clutch and were in to deep already. The PDI showed it had about 11k miles before it was due for an oil change and the fluids were all topped off. I have actual copies of the PDI paperwork showing these things. I'm also going off of the ~15k mile oil change intervals I keep reading about for these cars.

Not long after owning the car, I noticed that the engine was noisy in the mornings, nothing crazy but more noise that I thought it should have. I had read about the tensioner problems so I was keen to that, but it had the tensioner replaced right before I bought it. Coming from 26 years working for Honda/Acura, I'm use to quiet cars and figured anything made by BMW should at least be just as quiet.

I decided to check the oil level one day and discovered it was low. Low enough that it barely picked up on the end of the dipstick. I added a quart, which brought it to the "safe zone" and immediately schedule a service appointment with my dealer.

Another thing that bothered me was the sound of the AC compressor inside the cabin. You can distinctly hear the compressor when it's engaged, almost sounding like a supercharger whine inside.

I dropped the car off on a Thursday morning and they didn't finish it until Monday night. After all of that time, I assumed they found a problem and had to order parts for a fix. When I picked the car up Tuesday after work, I was told that the engine noise was caused by the oil level being "1 to 2 quarts low" and they added 1 quart of oil, which cured the engine noise.
It had been 7 days between the time I set up the appointment and the day I dropped it off, and it had already used that much oil? Keep in mind, I didn't check the oil level when I bought the car. Since I had seen the paperwork I just assumed it was full. Maybe that was my fault. But in only 2k miles it's used almost 2 quarts of oil?

Of course, I got the standard "MINI says 1 quart every 750 miles is within spec". To which I replied, "You're telling me that 20 quarts of oil between the recommended 15k mile oil change is acceptable? Even 10 quarts if I halved the oil changes and did them myself?" No response. He did tell me that they cleaned the valve cover passages because they were gummed up and that he thought the oil consumption would lessen dramatically now.
I'll be checking the level every time I fill the tank from now on.

As for the AC, they said it had a leaking Schrader valve and the system was low. They replaced the valve and charged the system and the noise was gone, according to them. To me, it still sounds just as loud if not louder than it did before.

Tonight, when I pulled into the garage, I noticed engine noise again. Only this time it's while then engine is at full operating temperature. So I snagged a video of it.


Is that what the N14 engine normally sounds like, or do I need to make a return trip before my warranty expires in July?

 

Sounds normal to me.

 

That's a relief. This is my first MINI and I don't know anyone who owns a MINI so I have nothing to compare it with.


Thanks!

 

Yeah, the engine's are very "tinny" sounding compared to any care I've ever had. They almost always sound like something is wrong with them.... but it is normal for any other MINI I've heard.

The AC is also the same, it's LOUD compared to any other car, but mine and every other MINI I've driven is the same... sounds like a jet engine.

You'll eventually get used to both.

I have a 2013 MCS and mine sounds the same. It has the N18 engine.

 

Thanks! Maybe it's time to start adding some mods that cover up with normal noises with some fun ones, like exhaust, turbo spool, and blow-off?


I guess the good thing about the AC is that they fixed a leak before it started getting hot here.

 

My kid's '07 Cooper is burning through oil like crazy. It had 80k miles on it when we bought it last year, now has over 100k miles. It's going through about a quart every two weeks based on her driving. I was told that's normal on older high miled engines.

What is the answer to the oil consumption issue if we decide to keep the car? Anyone?

 

I'm seriously considering this fix, after I run some Seafoam through the engine to clean out as much as I can.


http://www.etuners.gr/en/index.php?s=12&t=299

 

We did service at the dealer last week, scope, wipers, oil chg, rotate/balance, fuel system EFI cleaning to remove carbon buildup, new brakes/rotors/fluid all around, air filters in cabin and engine, etc.

I hope we don't have to rebuild the engine due to wear and tear. We love that car.

Also considering that fix!!