Hello all,

vehicle info: Mini S R56 N14

I have a family member who has attempted a timing chain replacement for their wife, but has resulted in the timing to be off. The timing job was done without the “mini special tensioning tool”.

They claim they have verify timing by rotating the crank before closing everything up, but I cannot personally confirm that.

The vehicle was able to start and drive, they claim poor throttle response under 3k rpm. Also, they get a CEL after about 5 minutes of driving. (They did not get a CEL while letting the car idle for 5 min BEFORE they drove it).

I told them to bring it over to my place so I could take a look at it. I’m reading p1338. Upon removing the valve cover and locking the flywheel, I found that the In and Ex Cam’s identifying marks are facing straight down, completely 180 degrees out of spec.

Questions:
1. How would this engine even turn over let alone drive if the cams were out of timing by the 180 degrees mentioned above?
This vehicle has about 20 mins or run time with this condition and drove 4 miles within that run time.

2. What potential damage could have been done?

3. Would correcting the timing be as easy as locking the flywheel, removing the cam sprocket(s), manually rotate the camshafts until identifying marks are facing up and lock in place with the cam locking tool, temp set cam sprockets back onto shaft, manually verify timing, and then reinstall and close everything back up if timing is good? (They have brand new fasteners for the cam sprockets so those would be swapped out)

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

If all new components, it can be fixed by locking the crank in the right position. Do you know if he used new cam and crank bolts? #1 piston should be on the "Up" stroke when flywheel is locked. You will need two new cam bolts. Lock the crank in the correct position, remove cam bolts, rotate cams to correct position, install cam tools, install pretension tool, install new cam bolts. I would think should be good after that.

DO NOT REUSE CAM BOLTS.

 

Thank you for the reply. He used new bolts for the install, and he has an extra set of new bolts for the repair. They do not have the pre tensioning tool so I assume there is no way for it to get fixed until they get their hands on one.

 

You have to have the cam locking tools if you want it done right. I've done so many timing chains and I can't imagine taking on the repair without them. You could easily get it slightly out of alignment without the tool kit. It's funny they attempted it without them. Here's a pretty good procedure to share with your friend. Pelican Parts Procedure