Hi All,

Wanted to share with you my latest experience. You may recall that I changed the tensioner on my R60 a few weeks back. The new tensioner didn't seem to make too much difference in the engine rattle but I put it down to the fact that I've read in many threads that the N18 is a noisy engine.

While driving last week, on the highway in a jam at 20kmh I heard something strange, I thought that I'd driven over a plastic bottle or similar given the noise I heard but there was nothing on the road behind me to indicate that I had done so. The car behaved completely normally thereafter. Next morning first start and it sounded like a bag of nails being shaken by a gorilla, I checked the oil level - within normal range.

I got to thinking that the noise I'd heard was the timing chain top guide rail failing and falling into the timing chain case :-( I tentatively drove the car and everything was normal, but I knew deep down that it wasn't. I think the new tensioner has prevented anything catastrophic occurring.

Considered doing the timing chain/guides replacement myself but I'm struggling for time at the moment so the car is booked in next week for the fix $1600CAN + tax (13%)

2012 R60 Countryman All4 S, with 113,00km (70,000miles), it's my daily driver 180km round trip to work and back, bought used 6 months ago, I still love my Mini.

I'm considering contacting BMW/MINI to see if they have anything to say about it, anyone had any joy with them stumping up for the bill?

 

did you open the valve cover after the noise to at least inspect what's going on?

 

No I didn't, fairly obvious though, it sounds like a John Deere Tractor. My local garage is very good, they will let me know if anything else or different is the issue.

 

Sometimes it isnt that obvious since many more people are getting ripped by the dealer and shops for misdiagnosis. keep us posted.

 

Will do, have also contacted Mini Canada for their disposition.

 

Moved you to the Gen2 section where you'll get the most eyeballs.

 

Hi,

Had a tentative response from MINI Canada after I went to social media (MINI Canada FB page) with my timing chain issue. Nothing substantial in terms of a response yet though, just requested VIN etc.

 

Update, just had a call from the repair shop, it wasn't the timing chain (to my and their great surprise) it was the belt tensioner, it had failed and the belt had shredded.

Love my local repair shop, honest and competitively priced. If you're in the GTA, http://www.hutchinsonautomotive.ca/ highly recommend these guys for anything automotive.

So not all doom and gloom, feeling guilty though as I gave MINI Canada a serious piece of my mind, I'm one of the chief engineers for a blue chip Aerospace Company and I've decades of experience in dealing with complex technical issues, and MINI Canada had both barrels.

 

 

I believe so yes, mentioned that they'd seen many Coopers needing timing chains.