So I'm getting the cold start rattle again at 64,000 miles. Its an 07 S. I first had it looked at at 20,000 miles and they bled the oil system. The rattle came back. At 35,000 miles in Nov. 09 I took it in again they did SIM 11 02 07. Found the distance to be 67mm. They replaced the chain tensioner only with PN-11-31-7-597-895. It seemed good for a while.

Now I'm beyond the standard warranty with no extended warranty. I was just looking at the sim again and it appears they installed the wrong chain tensioner. They Installed the one for doing the chain, guides, ect. but they didn't do all of that stuff.

So what are my options now? I'm wanting to take it in and get it fixed soon. What should I expect?

Eric

 

Aren't dealer repairs warranted fro two years?
I read that on this forum some where.

Dave

 

Eric are you positive they just replaced the chain tensioner with one of that part number ending in 895 ?

Should have been the longer updated one ending in 551. Double check your paperwork.

 

Here's the invoice.
I never notice until I got the paper back out today and looked at the SIM. but it appears they messed up.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

 

I have a 08 clubman s with 20000 miles on it and on a cold start it sounds like something is rattling, but it goes away once everything is warmed up, is this the same thing or am I experianceing something else?? I ask because my warranty runs out in may....

 

Correct, 2 yrs on any service work done by Mini

 

Isn't the warranty 4yrs/50,000 miles? Or were things different in 2008?

 

Is his 2 year warranty on service work documented anywhere? Is it just a standard thing?

 

No, I think it was different in 2008, 3 years 36,000 miles.

 

Not sure if it is explicitly stated on the paperwork but all work done by MINI is warrantied for 2 years unlimited miles.

 

That's conflicting..... "Replace with updated tensioner" but the old part number was entered into the field below

Could be two things.

The old part was used, and thus should be removed, chain deflection checked and the new tensioner installed.

New part was used, but old part number logged in. In that case, you need another appointment to have the other 11 tensioner / parts swapped out.

Call your SA and explain what happened. They will make it right.

 

Got an appointment made.

are both parts 11-31-7-597-895 and 11 31 7 607 551 revised from the original that came with the car?

 

We're talking here If they repair your car and you have the same service problem they will fix it with in 2 yrs.This is seperate from 4 yr 50,000 mile warranty.This is just on repairs,

 

Warranty on a 2008 is 4 yrs/50,000 miles. The "free" maintenance plan was 3 yrs/36,000 miles.

 

Just buy the new correct tensioner, it's not that expensive and screws right into the side of the head - easy peazy. 1 hour job, tops!

Of course, if you are still within the 2yr window, absolutely take it back to them and make them do it, and make sure they use the new tensioner (which was not available till mid 2009 IIRC) - then get another 2 years worth out of them.....

 

Be careful with the 2 year stuff. I had mine replaced before the warranty expired and then it happened again less than a year later. At that time my warranty had expired and they said that they wouldn't fix it unless I was up to date on all my service. I've done my oil changes, brakes, and filter element myself but they didn't care. I got MINI USA involved and they told me the same thing. I fought it and guess what.........I still have a noisy tensioner. All I can say is make sure you're CONSTANTLY checking your oil levels. I set my odometer so I put a quart of oil in every 1000 miles.

 

Does your car NEED a quart every 1000 miles? Overfilling can be as bad as running it low. Did you have records of all your maintenance work?

I mark my service book everytime I change the oil and filer, as well as every time the dealer does a service - since they have the computer records they don't bother with the book anymore, but I do! I also keep all my rec't to back up when I did it, and I only buy my filter and oil from the dealer. If I ever have an out of warranty situation like you, at least I'll have plenty of documentation to support my claim!

If you're sure it's your tensioner you're hearing, why don't you fix it yourself, or have an independant shop do it, are you just waiting for it to blow up? It doesn't make sense that you haven't gone ahead and fixed it as it is guaranteed to cost you more if you let it go.

Just the tensioner is not expensive (<$50)and it's an easy bolt in part - unscrew the old one, screw in the new and torque to 48 ft.lbs. Done.

 

That's what I'm afraid of. I've been doing all of my own maintenance.

 

Yes, it needs about a quart of oil every 1000 miles. I learned my lesson and check it on a very regular basis. Based on my research I need a quart of oil every 1000 miles. The part that is bad is the timing chain. It's slightly longer than where it needs to be and they won't fix it. The service advisor said that it shouldn't make a difference as long as I keep an eye on the oil. They said it would cost about $1600 to fix.

 

OK, you're saying the chain is stretched, not that the tensioner is bad (although it probably is also)

I understand about maybe not having the $1600 to fix it, but it will cost way way way more than that if it breaks! If it's loose enough to be making noise, it's probably dragging metal off the inside of the case - that can't be good either.....

I think I'd still replace the tensioner now, it's cheap and it might take up some of the slack and allow you to go till you can afford the rest of the repairs. Unless of course, it's under the two year repair warranty.....is it?

 

Well I thought it was, but apparently MINI USA can decide NOT to cover it if you haven't kept up on your service under warranty or not. Also, they said that because I bought mine used and not at their dealership or another MINI dealership that they could not verify if all the scheduled maint was done at a MINI dealership or not thus voiding the 2 year warranty also. Sounds like a croc of crap but I fought MINI USA on this as well and nobody budged.

 

Well, I just dropped the car off. The SA made it wound like the 2 year warranty was just a parts warranty and since the only part they changed a year and a half ago was the tensioner that was all they are responsible for.

I asked the SA if he thought the right work was done last time and he didn't seem to know. I didn't get out all my paperwork to argue that they messed up yet.

We will see.

Eric

 

Dreyer and Reinbold Just told me I was SOL. They did the SIM as specified a year and half ago and the only part under warranty was the chain tensioner itself. 64,000 miles is "way out of warranty!"

"Further diagnosis is at shop rate"

 

So becasue the procedure was wrong then, the "fix" was only partial. Therefore their bad decision at the time is now your turn to pay? Sounds lame and maybe worth pushing a one time good-will type of agreement. They need ot make it right but at an appropriate cost since they "tried" to fix it before.

 

I don't see it that way.....they did what was necessary at the time (mine has only had just the tensioner replaced too) and if the OP has had noise since, it was up to them to get it back to the dealer and get it fixed - full monty, while it was still under warranty. The fact that when the car went out of warranty at 50K it was fine, and has been for 14K more miles means the MFR's responsibility is long over with. If it hasn't been fine in the interim, it's not the dealer's fault that the OP didn't take it back and get it fixed.

Now the owner will have to pay to have the chains, guides etc replaced.

However, given how many of these they've seen, I'd certainly ask for some help from MINI USA, too. If nothing else, have them put in the latest tensioner now, under the parts warranty.

I had my car in for an alignment the other day and asked the SA if they're still seeing these come in and he said they saw a lot of it a couple years ago but it's rare to have one anymore......