Dear Minipie

Ordinarily I would agree with you, but I do not think this problem has been solved and it has occurred too often. I am not taking about a trade -in but instead buying from a different company and giving up Mini.

Mini/ BMW have just won a new engine competition which I hope they apply to their new cars soon.

 

+3 08 MCS 34,000

Car was brought in 3 separate times for this issue. 1st was told it was normal. Then was told it needed an oil change. Now the car is at the dealer because it has reached an all time worst. They Emailed me today stating they replaced the timing chain. Havn't had a chance to contact them directly to get more specifics. Won't be able to pick it up untill next week I hope it's the new timing chain... Should the tensioner have been replaced as well?

 

This...

 

+1 2009 JCW Clubman

Just took my car in for what is probably the last service under the 3 yr / 36k mi maintenance. Car was about to hit 36k at 20 months. I mentioned it was running a little rough and the timing chain ended up being replaced. I have never had a timing belt last less than 60k and have only replaced one timing chain in my entire life and that was on an older model Corvette. The paperwork from the dealer referenced "SIB M11 02 07" as someone mentioned about and also stated that the timing chain had stretched to 69.12 mm and the spec is 68 mm maximum. Since I have it handy, here's a list of what was replaced:
1199000 PROCEDURE STEPS 1-11
387 WM
1 - 11-31-7-534-251 GASKET RING:118526
1 - 11-31-7-568-241 GUIDE RAIL:113056
1 - 11-31-7-534-833 CHAIN TENSIONER:113055
1 - 11-31-7-534-771 BEARING BOLT:113099
2 - 11-31-7-534-768 BEARING BOLT:113099
1 - 11-31-7-550-461 GASKET RING:118526
1 - 11-31-7-546-697 SLIDE RAIL:113057
1 - 11-21-7-588-996 SPROCKET:11209921
1 - 11-31-7-597-895 CHAIN TENSIONER:113050
1 - 11-36-7-545-863 TORX BOLT:113095
1 - 11-36-7-536-087 TORX BOLT:113095
1 - 11-31-7-516-088 TIMING CHAIN:113030
1 - 11-21-7-585-184 HEX BOLT:11209510
1131555 REPLACING TIMING CHAIN
387 WM
6100720 PROGRAMMING/ENCODING C0NTROL UNIT(S) WITH CAS
387 WM

This is my first new car and I can only image what it would have cost if this was not under warranty--I certainly do not want to be doing this again--even myself- in another 35k miles. I heard from someone at the shop that while oil is only changed every 12k (or whatever) under the maintenance agreement, the owners who change ever 5k are not having timing chain issues.

Thanks for looking into this!
glen

 

+1 Tensioner replaced at 8k miles

 

Tell Us About Your Car

 

Forget what I said. I’m finished with MINI/BMW. Their customer service is truly the worst I have ever experienced. Now, because I am SIX miles out of range, I can’t get my car delivered directly to me from the dealership. No one - not the dealer, not roadside assistance and not Customer relations - seems to have the power to adjust “policy.” For $9000 you’d think they would be willing to make some accommodations.

 

+2 (1, then 2+ and engine)

You paid $9000 for what? A repair? and they would not deliver it to you.

 

$9000 for a replaced engine. I’m now arranging to find a location that is SIX MILES CLOSER to them so we can get this done and I can get my car back. The dealer is insinuating that I should be grateful that MINI/Roadside Assistance is transporting the car. But “reunification” is part of my existing RA plan! They’re supposed to deliver. It’s not exactly an add-on or a gift. (The gift would be to drive an extra 6 miles for a pissed-off customer!) I know this is such a minor thing but it’s caused me to totally snap.

 

DID YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY $9000 OUT OF POCKET FOR WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THE TIMING CHAIN, ETC? IF SO THIS IS TIME FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

 

Yes - out of pocket and yes, sign me up.

 

I have the timing chain rattle, but have not addressed the issue yet. My vehicle is out of warranty, so, this would be a cost to me for all the parts.

It is my belief that Mini/BMW will eventually come around to fixing the issues at hand. I have worked as a mechanic for ten years and have worked for Mercedes Benz for 5 years. Mercedes has been going through an engine issue with the 272/273 (V6, V8) engines. The balance shaft drive gear was made out of a weaker metal than the timing chain and was grinding down. This would cause the engine to go out of time and trip the check engine light for the camshaft adjuster. Once, the vehicle was out of warranty they honestly did not care and due to the limits of goodwill the dearlership had, the dealer could not take care of every client's complaint. But, now Mercedes is letting the dealers repair the issues without it going against their goodwill. So, all the vehicles with the problem are now getting repaired. The engine problem that Mercedes has is now in the courts in class action status.

Again, I believe they will eventually come around, but it is going to take time and many complaints by the consumer.

 

You can change the tensioner for about $40 IIRC, it was done and posted on here already. Assuming no damage is done and the chain is not too stretched.

 

Thanks, I will have to check it out.

 

Anyone hearing the rattle should take action. Don't wait for the worst to happen. (As we have seen, BMW is not your friend.)

My worry about all this is that mine is not a Cooper S. It's a base model. Although I've heard from my mechanic that this is happening in cars like mine, it doesn't seem to occur with the same regularity.
Anyone know about this?

 

+1 2007 MCS 47K

Tensioner replaced about 20K miles. Now suffering poor performance, stumbling acceleration and hesitation issues. Starting to wonder if the chain is ready to be replaced.

 

Sounds like the fuel pump to me. If the chain isn't making noise again, I doubt that's it.

 

I would have to agree. I had the same symptoms and it was the fuel pump. Water pump was also replaced a week prior to HPFP going out.

 

+1. Tensioner replaced at 37K.

Then...

The engine just died at 52K miles one year later! Apparently the vacuum pump seized as relayed in other threads on the site, resulting in bent valves, broken chain, etc. Quoted $8800 for a new engine. Mini came through and did the total replacement with no cost to me. I'm sure it helped that I've done all of my service at the dealer, even their decarbonizations, and have purchased more than one new Mini from them. Also, being only 2K out of warranty had to play a part.

The threads here indicate that some dealers are more willing to help than others. My only advice is to avoid being overly confrontational with the service advisor or manager, recognizing that the dealer alone does not make the call. I made it a point to have a positive relationship with my service advisor from day one with the first Mini. I'd like to think that it helped...

 

+1 '07 MCS w/40K miles

Didn't read the first 4 pages of this thread, just wanted to post my experience with the timing chain.

My chain was slapping the engine cover, hot and cold. Mini's Roadside Assistance towed it to the nearest dealer (about 150 miles). They changed the chain, tensioner, rails, and lots of misc small parts. To get it fixed under warranty, I had to get a software update (which I wanted anyhow). The engine had about 40K miles. Only the last 5K were mine - bought it used. The SA said the chain in early models had a quality control issue. Had to get new AP maps to match the new software, but that only took an extra day. Car drove home on default AP maps - no problems.

Only one of my upgrades affected the timing chain. The dealer changed the head for me, and had to remove / install the chain in the process. I didn't ask whether it was a factory warranty or the dealer workmanship warranty.

 

+1 2008 Mini Cooper S Auto
tensioner replaced, and subsequently rattling came back.

Car sold...

 

+1 I just got the news. Timing chain jumped while in the bodyshop after a tree fell on it. They need to replace the tensioner belt (an extra $875 that I don't have). It's sitting at the dealership now and I'm holding back most of the tears!

 

You can add me to the list now too. I have a 2008 hardtop s automatic. Car used as a commuter. Problem started yesterday at 43,000 miles. I called the dealer and they told me not to drive it and to call mini roadside assistance. Mini roadside assistance sent a tow truck. Still waiting to hear back. I always get nervous in these situations as I had to combat another car brand to cover something under warranty. Hopefully mini will be better to deal with. Glad it happened at 43,000 and not 53,000.

How this situation is handled will be the deciding factor in my decision to buy another mini. We have been thinking about becoming a 2 mini family but I am very nervous about this. I will post back when I hear from my local dealer.

 

+1 08 MCS @ the dealer as we speak. About 1.5 weeks ago we had some temps in the 50's. It made the sounds at start up 2 times but not since the temps rose to the 80's-90's. I dropped the car off to be looked at and they said they can not reproduce the same noise. I just e-mailed them the TSB and asked that they check it. We will see what they come up with. I am also waiting to hear if Mini will cover the radio since the screen is fading on it. I don't see how they can deny this one though. Good luck everyone.

 

My Mini was driven in WI until this past October when I drove it down to TX. I put very few miles on it in TX. When I was driving it one day, I called the local TX dealer saying my Mini "sounds like a bucket of bolts". I wasn't due for an oil change for 7500 miles or so. The tech asked me about the octane level in the gas I was buying and told me to run higher octane fuel with an additional additive from a "real" gas station such as Shell, and see if that cleared things up. It should sound better after a few tanks. I read in the owner's manual where Minis have problems in the high heat if the fuel octane is too low so this seemed like a viable reason for the problem.

The few tanks of gas were run through the car while my husband drove it back up to WI and parked it. I came up mid June and before I called to get it in for service, the yellow engine light came on. I was nearby the dealer and headed straight there, fuel additive in the cup holder!

No surprise. It was the timing chain and not the fuel. Visibly upset and mad at myself (and the tech in TX) for not taking it in for service, the service tech said he'd submit to Mini North America asking for assistance with the repair. He called two hours later and said Mini NA had agreed to pay for half of the parts because I was a loyal customer. The words "loyal customer" stuck with me. What part of maintaining my '07 Mini on schedule at the only nearby dealer makes me loyal and deserving of a break? I immediately thought there must be some issue with the timing chains. Sure enough, googled timing chain and found this site.

I spoke to the Service Manager in TX letting him know what his tech said to me about the gas - instead of telling me to come in to have it checked. He said in TX it's not unusual for the gas to be the cause of rough running and they do tell owners what the tech told me, but that the tech should've told me to come in if I didn't feel safe driving the car. The SM said Mini NA should be putting in for half of the parts for the timing chain and asked what my dealer in WI was putting in the pot. Nothing, as far as I knew.

I called my WI tech with this question and he said that Mini NA was putting up 25% and they were putting up the other 25%. Getting two stories, I spoke to the WI SM and he said the 25/25. I told him what the TX SM said about Mini NA paying 50% normally. The reply was that there was no norm for what Mini NA kicks in. It's on a case by case basis. Additionally, because so many miles were put on the car with the loose timing chain (it is a rather long drive from TX to WI), I now have an additional $500 in repairs, of which 50% of parts are covered.

So far, I'm at $2,500 in total charges and responsible for $2,000. I'm not sure I would've saved much over the $500 in additional repairs had I taken it when I first called in TX, but I would prefer not beating myself up thinking what an idiot I am for buying into the gas reasoning. Then again, with two tween kids, sports practices, games, recitals, graduations, gut rehab on a house, and a husband, who am I kidding? I happily bought into the gas reasoning. It was a way to check one more thing off my list!

P.S. I'm trying to fall back in like with Mini NA in general, and mine specifically. $2,000 in unanticipated repairs so soon on what I considered a go forever car is rough.