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Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).
I’ve decided I’m keeping the “551” tensioner in with the new top guide.
Will seal eat it up today but need some advice on when the spark plug sleeves are inserted - do I insert them on the valve cover first then mount it on the cylinder head or first put the cover on and later slide them in...help would be appreciated.
I figured out that these sleeves need to be installed after the valve cover is put on. They need to be slid in so they lock so they don’t vibrate up. There is a rectangular hole that needs to be matched to the rectangular tab on the Valvecover.
Thanks everyone!
So in in the end I only installed the top guide (not hat I needed to but since I had one and it was easy to do) and an updated tensioner “551”. I confirmed again with the dealer that this is the only tensioner they sell for my car.
The only thing I would have done differently is have ordered the measuring tool so I would know how much slack I had.
I have no regrets doing this activity as I suspect my tensioner was on its way out as it didn’t have as much pressure and didn’t operate smoothly. As mentioned I was suprised I could tighten down the tensioner all the way down by hand. The new tensioner is about 4mm longer and stiffer smooth operating spring.
What symptoms did you notice that caused you to go this route? I just got my 08 MCS with 84k on the odometer and then learned about the "rattle". On a cold start up, I hear a brief, one second rattle. It sounds similar to a heat shield. Engine runs quiet thereafter. I've been wondering if the tensioner is the problem. Its an older dimpled type of tensioner.
Thanks.. That very similar to what I'm hearing. I'll give the new tensioner a try.
MRundel, I also had the same symptoms which prompted my replacement. Slight rattling during cold start and then it would disappear once warm. As I said earlier in this thread, after the complete replacement, I do notice my engine running smoother at idle and while driving.
went to dealer to try to diagnose a high pitched whine on overnight cold start up on my 12 r56 justa. Tech stated the the chain is stretched to 72mm whereas normal is 68mm due to low oil ( haven’t been checking) SA is keeping car overnight to try to reproduce the whine. Stating possible chain replacement. What do you guys think? Car runs fine except that overnight cold startup noise.
