I bought a 2009 justa hatch and started hearing the timing chain rattle after the about a month. My regular mechanic is good but doesn't have the tools for measuring the chain or replacing the chain so I looked for a local mini specialist since the nearest dealer is about 50 miles away. Lucky me, I found a shop (https://www.scottysautomotiveservice....asp?make=MINI) that said the specialize in Mini Coopers. I used their online form to verify that they had the tools to work on the timing chain, to which they replied they have the training and tools to do what is necessary.

That evening I dropped the car off (2 miles from my home) and told them the car had what sounded like a timing chain rattle when started cold. I authorized an hour of "diagnostic" time, thinking that is about what it would take to measure the chain once they heard the noise.

The next day I get a call I need a timing chain tensioner, and that I'm in luck because replacing the timing chain is a dealer only repair. I am then told the cost of replacing the tensioner will be a little over $600 plus $70 for an oil and filter change (2500 miles on synthetic oil in the crank).

When I ask why the cost is so high, I am told they removed the valve cover and now it needs a new gasket, plus the time and labor to put it back on.

At this point I know that at the very least I needed the new tensioner and if I tell them to stop they are going to charge me over $300 anyway so I okay the tensioner replacement. I'm told that it will take them a day or two to get the parts from the dealer.

The next day I drop by to tell them that I want to have the chain slack measurement written on the repair slip, and am told they haven't measured the slack and don't have any way to measure it. I am then walked over to my car, with the valve cover off and shown how weak my tensioner is.

At this point I don't know if I need a new timing chain, if they ordered the right tensioner or what I should do???????