mechanic is pulling his hair trying to figure out the problem. It’s intermittent and it’s not the plugs or coil. No check engine light either.

 

Large vacuum leak, VANOS problem, or timing issue are where I would start, but if it's intermittent then that's a variable that's hard to account for.

I would find another shop that has a better diagnostic tool, or a more in depth background in MINI/Euro.

 

updates?

 

You need a baseline :
1. pull plugs and inspect them- fuel washed or oily?
2. remove valve cover and check that cams are timed correctly. What version tensioner is installed?
3. Remove intake and get pictures of the backside of the valves. What do they look like? These can be cleaned with engine installed.
4. What is the high pressure fuel pump reading? What is the low pressure in tank pump reading? Tech needs proper scan tool to verify these numbers.
5. Check the PCV system. Have the dealer pressure check the valve cover to determine whether it is failing internally.
6. When was the coolant temp sensor and thermostat last replaced? Have the tech monitor real time engine temps with laptop and ensure they are not marginalized.
7. Remove and clean 02 sensors. What is the current MPG and fuel trim.
8. How old is the battery, have the tech check for old codes in the ecu, clear them and ensure you are at full voltage- both at idle and under WOT.

Your tech needs to stop scratching his head and get to work!! These are easy steps that will allow you to better understand what is going on with your car. Keep us posted!!!

 

Had rough idle, 45000 miles, always serviced at the dealer. Got quoted $3800 to fix 2 leaks (tensioner and VANOS solenoid) plus damaged VANOS system.

 

Wowza!!! $3800? is that San Fran pricing mark up or did it take LOTS of hours to fix? That sounds like a lot for those repairs. Is the car running well now?

 

I will pick up the car today, it is still at dealer.
Edit: the car seems to be running well now.
So the main repairs were:
Intake VANOS gear (parts $682, labor $949)
Intake VANOS solenoid (parts $274, labor $97)
Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover (parts $76, labor $458)
Timing Chain tentioner (parts $125, labor $537)
The rest is oil change with treatment, fuel injector cleaning and taxes. On the phone I was told $3800, but paid with taxes $3656 (labor $2272, parts $1270, taxes $114)

 

Understanding dealer pricing is always a mystery. In your case, there are overlapping labor charges. Maybe you can have coffee with the service manager and ask for clarification. For example- taking the valve cover off. This is part of the labor of replacing the vanos cam gear. You shouldn’t have to pay that labor twice. Additionally, the chain tensioner is a $47 part and can be replaced in about 15 min. How in the world are they charging you over $500 for that??
Im glad that your car is running well. I’m hopeful that they refund you some labor. Service writers need to better understand how to write invoices and sell repairs. It would have been less labor to install a brand new timing chain cassette which would have included the labor ops of the tensioner, valve cover and the vanos sprocket. I am hoping this was a confused junior service writer and not a senior manager who was taking advantage of you.

 

Roger this^^^^

 

checked plug #1 from the cylinder that is having the problem and it was oily. Diagnostics of CEL says misfire in cylinder 1.

 

Oily is no good...this could be baaaaad. Worst case is a chipped piston/scratched cyl wall.
shine a light in the hole, if it shiny, embrace for impact!

 

is that the hole from the spark plug that you’re referring to? How should it look? I tried using 10w-40 oil instead of the 5w-20 thinking it could be a bad ring

 

Yes, the spark plug hole. Normally it should look dark and dry. BUT if you see a shiny reflection then there is too much oil passing through. Do confirm a healthy cylinder, do a compression test.

 

thank you for the help. My clubman is like brand new even with 164,000 miles I would hate to have to get rid of it but I don’t want spend too much money on repairs.

 

I hear you my friend...let's take it one step at a time, take a look though the hole and then do a compression test.