Did you figure out the name of the machine shop that did the head work for you? It is always good to find a machine shop that knows Mini's (assuming that, since they had a cam on the shelf).

 

When is the last time you let a "Valet" park your car?
Do you have any teenagers that drive the car?

 

Yea, was thinking kids also. But if no kids, then previous owner or something abuse.

 

I never use Valet parking anywhere (note, in college I used to be a Valet parking attended for a swanky restaurant in town. ).

Nobody else in my household can drive a standard, so no teenagers or spouse.



As I mentioned, the two prior owners were both women who thought the car's best attribute was that it was "cute." I doubt it was them, unless maybe one was a closeted racer.



I don't have the name of the machine shop yet, but its supposed to be local to the garage. The Garage has done this for three R53's: the service manager of the garage; one other customer; and mine. My car's designation is: GG003



I really have no other choice ... I've got no scapegoat(s); nobody is willing to step up to the plate and take the blame! <br />
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Ugh....

As I mentioned, I've been apprehensive to get on the car and really opened it up. That hasn't changed ... I've been pretty much driving like my grandfather, not wanting her to break again.

So yesterday, pretty much out of the blue, she starts doing an impression of a Ford 7.3L diesel:


Managed to get a hold of a trailer late yesterday, threw her on it and hauled her back up to the shop late last night and left her on their front doorstep with a note. Six hour round trip. This is becoming a battle of wills.

 

Mine sounded like that twice since my ownership 1) I installed one of the rocker pivot shafts backwards and the lash adjusters weren't getting oil flow and 2) when a lash adjuster seized up. Neither was hard/expensive to repair. Good luck to you!

 

Now don't go trying to lift my spirits ... that's just mean. I'm getting rather used to this misery I've been wallowing in lately. ........ ()

 

When and if you do a rebuild , post up.

 

Will do ... but not looking to do that anytime soon (I hope).



UPDATE: Shop said when they started the car in the morning it made the noise ever so briefly, then nothing ... just purred. They tried a number of more times, but no diesel impressions. Now I'm wondering if there isn't some residual material from the work the did on the head (valve replacement, cam replacement, port and polish) floating around that might be creating a clog that is/was preventing the lash adjusters from getting oil flow (as David suggests). They wanted to keep it overnight and drive it around to see if it would make the noise again. If that's the case (some debris), am I wrong in thinking that a good oil flush and change of a filter or two get whatever it is out?

 

That will at least show whats floating around it any. like a oil test.

 

UPDATE:

Okay, I guess the car finally made the diesel-like noise consistent enough so that the shop could diagnose the issue.

They say they are 100% confident that it is caused by weak lifters and recommend replacement of all 12 rockers arms. They posit that the work they did (valve replacement, cam replacement, port and polish) was just too much for the old lifters and that has brought them to this state.

This goes beyond my realm of knowledge. Idk, does this sounds plausible?

 

As I mentioned, I've had lifter (valve lash adjusters) issues. Don't know what a "weak" one means, but do understand what one stuck closed means. Sadly, our lifters are integrated into the rocker arms. Instead of paying just for 16x$5 for the lifters, you have to buy new rockers - a whole set from AJUSA is about $350 from ECS Tuning or $700 from MINI.

I have cleaned them on other cars. Depending on your tolerance for pain. Brake cleaner or diesel fuel, followed by soaking/assembling in oil to remove residual solvent

 

David, thank you for the quick response. Yeah, the "weak ones" explanation was ... well, just that, weak. It kind of set off warning signals to me. I was quoted the MINI price and, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I decided to post. Other than price, any significant difference between AJUSA from ECS Tuning or the oem from MINI, or are you just paying for the "MINI" stamp on the side of the rocker?

 

I have bought the AJUSA ones and they looked identical to me. AJUSA is part of the conglomerate that owns Pentosin, Continental and Rein. They are a reasonable OE supplier. I don't know if they were the actual original maker of the rockers.

 

PM you gecko. David , spot on. Made is Spain I believe on these, come in nice oil filled containers. Supplier for OE.

 

Got it. Thank you.

 

Welcome.

 

LOL. I've got a secret technique.

I've been having some rocker noise after switching to 0W-40 oil and debating replacing one or more rocker arms again (I've since returned to 5W-30 oil).

Driving home last night I walloped the car on a big assed pothole. Thought I would bend a rim or get a flat. Nope. And my noise is gone !!!

 

Ha, Ha ... rockers are probably in the pan. Damn, but these things are fickle.

Strange coincidence ... same thing happened to me driving home the other week from the indy shop after having the valves/port/polish done ... except when I hit the front left sidewall blew out ... and guess who didn't have a spare with him at the time....?

Come to think of it, she developed the rocker noise after that. Damn, I need to find another big-*** pothole.... <br />
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Its like the "fonzie method" for gen1 door motors.

 

All laughing aside, do you guys think that's the rockers?

What about:
Timing Chain tensioner
Belt Tensioner

(great and informative thread btw, my mind can't wrap around those valves or the mileage at rebuild)

 

I wish I knew. And how! Hate the little noises.

Both tensioners are less than 1 year old on my car. And I've had the chain tensioner out twice checking it and it seemed ok both times.

 

And as for mine . . . happy to report that after the indy shop replaced all the rockers arms (went oem), she is purring like a kitten.

As part of the job, I also had them throw in a DT BPV I had picked up a little while back. I like how the BPV makes the car feel, but the day after I got her home she threw a P0171 code (system too lean). Cleared it, but because of snow, I really haven't driven the car since until today.
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Great to hear it had a good outcome! Thanks for letting us know (and helping us to hear what others may have issues with)

Happy Motoring

 

The OE supplier is Stanadyne. They made the lash adjusters in the U.S. and the rocker arms in Brazil.