[caesar]

IF The Noise Can Be Fixed by fitting a replacement Chain Tensioner without a new engine, then I think we would all be delighted.

Let's all hope this is the panacea (cure all !)

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

IF The Noise Can Be Fixed by fitting a replacement Chain Tensioner without a new engine, then I think we would all be delighted.

Yeah... I would have been delighted if the first (factory)... second... or even third chain tensioner worked to solve this problem.

The fact is though that I, and pretty much all others who got replacement chain tensioners, had the noise come right back a few weeks later. It's not likely to change anything. It addresses a symtom... not the problem itself.

Sorry for being a little grumpy about this, ceasar. I'm passing a month without my car and no end in sight.

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

You realize that if it's fixed by just the chain tensioner being replaced, that you would be the ONLY ONE, right?

Then I must be special!

At the moment I'm trying to look on the bright side, I have a car that works fine and doesn't make the noise anymore and I can get on with my life without the hassle of numerous dealer visits etc.
I also think its likely there could be several different causes for the noise, so I am open to the fact that a replacement tensioner can fix the problem in some cases... I had my car almost a year before it started doing this so I guess it could well have been component failure.

[Bishamon]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

IF The Noise Can Be Fixed by fitting a replacement Chain Tensioner without a new engine, then I think we would all be delighted.

Let's all hope this is the panacea (cure all !)

Given that both 'fixes' (new tensioner and a new engine) have failed to resolve the issue thus far, I think BMW is still trying to find the source of the problem.

[campfreddie]

Left work a little early to collect my car complete with new engine only to get a call saying that the car had been behaving erratically and was back up on the ramps. Looks like i get to enter week 4 of mini one ownership! Hooray!

In the last 12 months of Mini Cooper S ownership my car has been in dealerships for around 2 months in total and with a few issues aside from the engine noise not yet rectified i reckon ill be without it for a while longer.

At this rate im not sure if ill ever drive it again!

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by campfreddie (original)

Looks like i get to enter week 4 of mini one ownership! Hooray!

At this rate im not sure if ill ever drive it again!

I know exactly how you feel! I'm hitting the one-month mark for this go-around. Spent over a week when they replaced the tensioner the first time.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bishamon (original)

Given that both 'fixes' (new tensioner and a new engine) have failed to resolve the issue thus far, I think BMW is still trying to find the source of the problem.

There have been other "fixes". None of them actually work:

Over the last month spent at the dealership, my car has recieved:

- One cam chain tensioner and pistons (the third set for this car).
- One cam chain.
- One Vanos solonoid.
- New valve guides and hydralic lifters.
- A COMPLETE head rebuild.

Each piston has been individually inpected for play, eliminating the possibility of piston slap. A one-way valve has been fitted in an attempt to keep oil in the head after shut-down. Every piece of shielding had been adjusted to ensure it was not making contact with the turbo, exhaust or engine, creating any spurrious noises. All turbo and exhaust connections have been checked for exhaust leaks. And yes, they checked the oil pump and oil pressure... and it was working within spec, just as the ECU intended.

NOTHING has changed or solved the problem. A brand new engine (and all attached accessories) is now on order and should arrive Monday. Estimates suggest it will be at least another week, maybe two. I'm not holding my breath.

So now maybe you can understand why I'm a little synical when I see the "I just got the tensioner replaced and the noise is gone for good!" posts.

[Lawrothegreat]

I have had my MCS for two months, and until today I've only experienced the awful sound twice on startup. The supplying dealer said before Christmas that the sound is acknowledged, is considered a characteristic of the engine and that I should keep an eye on it which is interesting.

Today on startup it sounded as though there was no oil in the engine for the first couple of minutes of driving. To cover myself I will let my local dealer know ASAP. However after reading some of the more recent posts in this thread, I had unknowingly recreated the repeatable conditions. Normally when the car is driven it would be for at least ten minutes.

On Friday I parked the car at a friends after a long journey (pointing downwards on a very slight slope). On Saturday I spent five seconds moving the car a few feet. Today I tried to drive it properly and the sound occured.........................

[caesar]

If my MCS (July 07) has been parked for 5-6 hours on the sloping driveway or overnight, then I can sense from the initial engine sound on start-up that the 'noise' will occur. I then let it tick-over for a few minutes and gently open the throttle and reverse up the slope and get NO NOISE !!

This method works OK for me but not necessarily for everyone, but is certainly worth trying.

[CC07ERS]

Quote: Originally Posted by campfreddie (original)

Left work a little early to collect my car complete with new engine only to get a call saying that the car had been behaving erratically and was back up on the ramps. Looks like i get to enter week 4 of mini one ownership! Hooray!

In the last 12 months of Mini Cooper S ownership my car has been in dealerships for around 2 months in total and with a few issues aside from the engine noise not yet rectified i reckon ill be without it for a while longer.

At this rate im not sure if ill ever drive it again!

Get on to Customer Services & ask them to make your payments, for your troubles

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

So now maybe you can understand why I'm a little synical when I see the "I just got the tensioner replaced and the noise is gone for good!" posts.

Was that comment due to one of my posts?? If so I didn't say it was gone for good, I said I'd not had any issues since the tensioner was replaced, and I have been trying to reproduce the noise without success.

I was hoping it was fixed, but I didn't say it was 100% fixed...

Whatever it doesn't matter, cause the noise is back! As soon as I stopped trying to reproduce it it came back very quickly. Car was parked on a level (to my eye at least) road after a 40 min drive at 6pm Friday evening, then started again 9am Sunday morning at a temperature of 8C.

[specky 1]

GUTTED GUTTED AND EVEN MORE "GUTTED"
New engine was fitted as most of you know, in October. The "NASTY RATTLE" Was back this morning with avengance!!!!!!!! Car was run in with compasion and as the book says. Its only done 2400 miles on the new unit ........lost for words peeps........sorry..........

[Washy]

Mine does it nearly everytime now. Even though the dealer couldnt find anything wrong and suggested it was a 'characteristic' of the engine

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by specky 1 (original)

New engine was fitted as most of you know, in October. The "NASTY RATTLE" Was back this morning

So sorry to hear that Specky!

Makes me wonder what to do with mine as its now a year old.....

Have you contacted your dealer yet? Do you know what happens next?

[campfreddie]

Quote: Originally Posted by specky 1 (original)

GUTTED GUTTED AND EVEN MORE "GUTTED"
New engine was fitted as most of you know, in October. The "NASTY RATTLE" Was back this morning with avengance!!!!!!!! Car was run in with compasion and as the book says. Its only done 2400 miles on the new unit ........lost for words peeps........sorry..........

Im sorry to hear that. Hope it turns out ok for you eventually.

My mini was supposedly ready Friday but they had a few issues with fueling. Rang today and car "might" be ready Wednesday. They are waiting on a fuel pump to come. Considering the car was ready Friday this must be a replacement fuel pump for the replacement fuel pump!

The thought that i have gone through all of this only to experience the problem further mortifies me. I now know how those members who post "leaving mini ownership forever" threads feel!

Im not sure if i even want the car back now. Should have taken the 120d i was offered instead of doing the whole "im not ready for a diesel yet"! Ironically, having turned down the diesel it seems i got one anyway!

[specky 1]

Just called in for a waiting appointment with BOO (wifes MCS) as needs a steerin column and had a word with Service manager. He says he needs to here it doing NASTY RATTLE and meantime i should e-mail him and BMW Mini customer support becuase of the history involved and work carried out so far.
HERE WE GO AGAIN !!!!!! WEEKS OF ANGUISH AND ENDLESS TRIPS TO STEALER !!!!!

THIS COULD GET MESSY !!!!

[Richard Korby]

I think we are all realizing the Mini "mechanics " no nothing about doing repair's on these engine's !

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Korby (original)

I think we are all realizing the Mini "mechanics " no nothing about doing repair's on these engine's !

I don't think the blame lies with them, it's up to BMW to find the cause and a solution, and then train the mechanics how to implement the repair satisfactorily.

I have no doubt that the cause is either a fault in the design of the engine, or some of the components. Those owners who are unfortunately having this problem will have to wait.

[brgc00perboy]

Two weeks since last visit to the dealer and no change. Tested that vacuum pump was the cause but changed nothing. Have sent the following email to BMW/MINI customer services:

Update on Case XXXXXX

After a visit by PUMA REP Mr. XXXXX on the 17/01/08 to Elms Cambridge to asses the problems with my car, the problem was diagnosed as a noisy vacuum pump (1 in diagram below) for the brake servo.

Elms Cambridge helpfully took me through the PUMA case and explained the cause of the noise. It was explained that the noise is caused by the pump journal being under load and rattling against the connected exhaust camshaft (3). This in itself is really unacceptable. Do you really expect owners to come away happy with that explanation?

He also explained, as demonstrated by Mr. XXXXX, how to test that this was indeed the problem by canceling load on the vacuum pump during the first few minutes of the engine running when the noise was apparent. This could be achieved by removing the vacuum tube.

It has been over two weeks since the visit and this problem has again been prevalent on a number of occasions over the last two weekends (as a result of the short running periods as explained in my earlier email).

I decided to test that the vacuum pump was indeed causing the noise. By creating a situation where the issue would arise (see above), I removed the pipe before starting the engine. THIS HAD NO EFFECT IN REDUCING OR STOPPING THE NOISE.

As a result of this, I feel a number of points have to be raised explicitly with BMW/MINI:

1. Was the engine noise reproduced by Mr. XXXXX correctly during his visit.
2. If the above is true, then I cannot understand how it was decided that the vacuum pump was indeed causing problem, when I have proved that it has no effect whatsoever.

Now it seems pretty clear that Elms Cambridge are no way at fault here. They have been very good in supplying loan vehicles etc. It seems that BMW/MINI UK at this current time do not have a clear idea of the problem and seem to be clutching at straws, bringing into account PUMA causes/resolutions that have no bearing on the issue, hoping that the customer will take this at face value and not proceed any further.

As a dedicated MINI customer, I feel that I have tried my best to help Elms Cambridge and BMW/MINI UK try to resolve this issue so that other owners can have their similar issues resolved. It would be nice to see a bit more transparency in the information flow as we try to get this problem sorted.

So, as it stands, the problem is still apparent. As many members of the BMW/MINI technical and dealership staff will know, the MINI2 forum has been an excellent resource for owners experiencing the same problem. Owners have had many parts replaced, and on more that one occasion, entire engines have been replaced to no avail. Alas the problems still exists. With the problem still occurring on new engines, it seems that a faulty component or worse, a design fault, is the key part of this problem. Bearing in mind what has been stated above, it seems pretty clear that repeated trips to the dealership will no bear any fruit as to the resolution of this issue.

I would be great to find out what BMW/MINI UK are trying to do to resolve the problem?

Where do I go from here?

This issue is casting severe doubts on the quality of the MINI product, and as much as like the car and the brand, I may have to look elsewhere when purchasing time comes round again.

Best Regards.,

Paul

[caesar]

This is just a thought and I hope it does not cause any offence.

I am wondering if the problem could have anything to do with owners not following the Running In procedure as stated in the Handbook ?

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

This is just a thought and I hope it does not cause any offence.

I am wondering if the problem could have anything to do with owners not following the Running In procedure as stated in the Handbook ?

Not n my case..I am a bit anal about running cars in....

I have come to the conclusion that as of now BMW do not have a fix for this problem so will wait until there seems to be one before I persue it further. If in the meantime it goes bang I have reported the issue and the car is under warranty.......I have already decided that the R56 is not for me and ordered its replacement. Sad day