Had an unsettling knock crop up on the JCW last week, sounded a lot like a timing chain to my ear but a bit more rhythmic / knock-like vs the typical rattle. Unlike the typical timing chain rattle, it increases in frequency at higher RPM rather than dissipating and sounds the same when the engine is hot and cold. I brought it in to the dealership for diagnosis, who believes it to be a bad water-pump and friction wheel instead of the timing chain. As is typical, they wanted $1200 for the fix.

I was pretty sure it was going to be a timing chain, so I didn't do much homework on other issues. Seems like there isn't much out there on this issue, has anyone had any experience with a bad pump / friction wheel that caused a knock? The dealership cost is a bit beyond what I want to outlay, any idea on how hard the DIY is or if it would be worth having an inde shop tackle it instead?

 

It honestly might be a good idea to just get a second opinion on the matter from a Mini specialist indy shop. See what they think it could be and then possibly go from there if their cost to fix it isn't reasonable either. That way you at least have a second opinion on the matter before breaking into things.

-Luccia

 

When those pump bearings fail they can be loud because your binding/crushing the internal bearing to smithereens. $1200 dollars for a new water pump, and members wonder why we call them stealerships! Outrageous, I have seen dealers charge $600-800 for a new water pump job, never have I heard of over a grand. I recently paid $652 for a dealer parts water pump and oil filter housing gasket job from an Mini indy shop, ditch the Mini dealer and never return!

 

How about buying this to try and locate!

 

They wanted to replace the water pump and what he described as the "friction wheel", which I can only assume is the belt-driven wheel that operates the pump. They were probably factoring in a new belt, too.

 

Friction wheel must come off the water pump anyways and also the belt, you still getting hosed if you pay that jacked up price! When I paid for the replacement of my water pump that included a new friction wheel and serpentine belt.

 

Half-price (literally) at the local MINI specialists. I work at a Cadillac dealership with one of those fancy luxury-brand service departments like BMW has, so I completely understand the argument for higher overhead, etc... But the frequency with which these damn cars break down really forces one to seek out cheaper alternatives.

 

I can't afford to go to the dealer any longer, hell my extended warranty company as of 1-1-2015 doesn't allow me to take my car there anymore. It used to be $150 deductible if I take it to Carmax (hell No) and $200 if I take it to the dealer, now that's not even an option. Carmax are the one's that botched my new water pump by adding tons of sealant in and around the gasket mating surfaces. I wonder if it's legal to change the terms of a warranty after buying a warranty that originally allowed dealers to perform the work...?