Ever since I bought my R52, '05 convertible, 155,000 miles, there has been a light rattling from the engine, at least I thought that was where it was coming from. I've driven 6,000 miles since then and no disaster, a good sign. Now, it seems to be coming from the drivers side, forward engine mount, or near that. What the heck is there that would make such a noise?

 

I'm new to this Mini world but could it be possible it is a timing chain?

 

I'd guess it is the belt tensioner. At your mileage it is shot.

 

If its a Cooper ( Non S ) Check the belt, if its a Cooper S the tensioner again might be rattling.

Post a video and sound of the noise.

Thanks

 

Push the clutch in and out...
If it goes away....it is the throwoutbearing....common on the mini.

 

Thanks, guys. It is a puzzle. The previous owner said the noise has always been there, and I've driven it 13,000 miles with no change in the sound and nothing has broken. It only occurs between 1,600 to 2,200rpm, then it is gone.

 

Timing chain issues are rare on gen1 cars...not unheard of, but rare if there is oil in the pan and the block has not need decked or the head milled. The tensioner can get weak, but idle would be the expected rattle time...and it is an easy, fast external job swapping it out.

 

Occurring within a narrow 600 RPM range makes it sound like a sympathetic vibration. With lots of little hiding places, nooks and crannies around the engine block, I wonder could there be a small tool or something that got left behind during a service project some years back.

 

Noted...makes me feel better as I own a gen 1.

 

Brilliant, thanks guys. THe dropped tool and sympathetic vibration make the most sense, especially since I've driven it 12,000 miles with no disaster or worsening. Thanks!

 

I had the same noise on mine. Pulled the timing chain tensioner to see if it was stuck closed...nope. Looked closer at the belt tensioner strut and the bushing closest to the firewall was gone! Replaced bushings = rattle GONE! It's worth looking at.

 

Update. The famous "Cam Chain Death Rattle" started. Looks like I'll replace it very soon and drive real slow till then. Last month I replaced the radiator, radiator fan (fan came off shaft), hoses, alternator, belt tensioner so one source of noise, tensioner, is gone. I've heard a couple of Minis drive past me with the same rattle that made me post initially, which made me feel better. Then, I changed the 'lifetime' trans oil and the rattle nearly disappeared so I'm figuring some unengaged gears are rattling, so I'm not concerned.

 

On a Gen 1 it's not so famous....but it about a $25-50 fit...the tensioner is run with oil psi...and can get weak over time...just unscrew the old one. Screw in the new one...job done. Good preventive item for folks with about 100,000 miles if not already done.
Hopefully you catch it soon enough....if you change your oil, and see any plastic bits, the chain guides are damaged, and your cheap fix got much harder....and it happens if you wait too long.

Sometimes folks get it mixed up with a throwout bearing rattle on a gen1...much more common...
If you push the clutch in and it goes away, it's the throwout bearing rattle.

 

The rattle started about 250 miles ago and just a easy, 60mph highway trip and some in town, keeping revs low, driving since then. Ordered the tensioner. The first lasted 180K, not too bad. No plastic bits on dipstick.

 

Well, new in the last several 1,000 miles the water pump, A/C compressor, belt tensioner, alternator, cam chain tensioner and now that those possible noises are gone I can hear the remaining one. That is a rattle that seems to be loudest from the transmission side of the engine, near where the shift levers into the trans housing. As the engine reaches operating temp it reduces by half. I press the clutch in slowly and it goes away as the pedal nears the floor. Pressing it all the way to the floor it goes away. BUT, the sound doesn't stop until a split second after the pedal hits the floor. The clutch engages about two inches off the floor.