[Bishamon]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

It's the oil......5W-30.

Change to 0W-30 and the noise will stop. Alternatively use a 50/50 mix of the two during the warm weather.

I know there was at least one member on here (or was it NAM?) who had switched to 0w30 only to have the noise return.

It would sure be nice if changing oils was all it would take to clear this up.

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bishamon (original)

I know there was at least one member on here (or was it NAM?) who had switched to 0w30 only to have the noise return.

It would sure be nice if changing oils was all it would take to clear this up.

If I remember correctly, there were some threads stating that BMW changed some of the Cam Chain Tensioner parts as from mid-April 07. I would imagine there was a good reason for this. Therefore changing the grade of oil of cars built before this date might not help the 'noise' problem.

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

If I remember correctly, there were some threads stating that BMW changed some of the Cam Chain Tensioner parts as from mid-April 07. I would imagine there was a good reason for this. Therefore changing the grade of oil of cars built before this date might not help the 'noise' problem.

Addendum to the above.

I should have said " changing the grade of oil on engines built before this date". Therefore a car built after this date does not necessarily have an engine with a modified Tensioner as they would have been manufactured earlier !!!!

[Den W]

[quote=MJS;3412223]I don't know, mine has been at its worst whilst parked in a flat garage overnight! Infact coming to think about it, 95% of times have been in the garage!

It's really weird you saying this MJS, mine hasn't done the noise (yet!) since having the modded parts fitted but when it did do it, it was when it was parked in the garage over night that it was really bad thats why in earkier posts i'd wondered if there was a slight change in atmospheric pressure that effected the engine

[Bluebabe]

Quote: Originally Posted by MJS (original)

I don't know, mine has been at its worst whilst parked in a flat garage overnight! Infact coming to think about it, 95% of times have been in the garage!

I haven't heard it once this week on the new engine, if you don't count Saturday morning and sunday night....
Saying that nearly everyday here has been above 10˙C this week.
I just hope there is a fix that comes out very soon because if the weather carries on like it is there is no chance of the noise coming back unless we have another cold spell....

Before we know it, it will be summer and the noise will have stopped, we will have "forgotten" about it and then when it comes back in the colder weather towards the end of the year it will come back with vengeance and we will all be a further 6 months out of warranty.....

MJS sorry to sound like I am giving you more advice, but did you consider changing oil to 0w-30 ? I hear some have tried this and have gotten some good results!

[MJS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bluebabe (original)

MJS sorry to sound like I am giving you more advice, but did you consider changing oil to 0w-30 ? I hear some have tried this and have gotten some good results!

I've thought about it but also bearing in mind the amount of parts Mini have replaced and finally a full engine, I am still a firm believer that this is a mechanical fault.

I honestly don't believe that Mini would have replaced a full engine if the problem was down to a different grade of oil...

I also don't believe that Mini would be replacing all the mechanical parts starting with tensioners and then to hydraulic lifters etc

The only thing that is guaranteed and we all agree on, is that the noise is present when it is cold (-2˙C to 5˙C) it has been around 9˙C to 14˙C this last 10 days and the S has sounded really sweet every startup

[MJS]

[quote=Den W;3412506]

Quote: Originally Posted by MJS (original)

I don't know, mine has been at its worst whilst parked in a flat garage overnight! Infact coming to think about it, 95% of times have been in the garage!

It's really weird you saying this MJS, mine hasn't done the noise (yet!) since having the modded parts fitted but when it did do it, it was when it was parked in the garage over night that it was really bad thats why in earkier posts i'd wondered if there was a slight change in atmospheric pressure that effected the engine

I am still a firm believer that this problem is caused by the weather!
I know that cold weather is fairly much guaranteed to cause the noise and with this in mind, I think that low atmospheric pressure may be the cause.

As far as I can see, it is certainly a possibility and maybe if you have just the right combination of all three variables ; cold temperatures, cold oil and a low atmospheric pressure this may well be the trigger....
I don't know how this could really be measured or recorded, but certainly in my experience this theory would prove almost always correct....

[caesar]

[quote=MJS;3414324]

Quote: Originally Posted by Den W (original)

I am still a firm believer that this problem is caused by the weather!
I know that cold weather is fairly much guaranteed to cause the noise and with this in mind, I think that low atmospheric pressure may be the cause.

As far as I can see, it is certainly a possibility and maybe if you have just the right combination of all three variables ; cold temperatures, cold oil and a low atmospheric pressure this may well be the trigger....
I don't know how this could really be measured or recorded, but certainly in my experience this theory would prove almost always correct....

I thought the same MJS, see some of my earlier threads on this topic.

If you visit the R56 MCS website and read through the list of those who have registered, you will note that the majority have early build engines. The exceptions are mostly late 2007 builds.

The total number of 'noise' entries is small in comparison with the number built since the R56 was introduced late 2006. It would appear therefore that either the majority of owners do not have a problem, or they accept the 'noise' as normal

I still consider the viscosity rating of the oil is closely related to the problem.

[Washy]

Mine did it this morning at 10 degrees which surprised me a little..

[S8RAH]

guess what kind of funny noise mine made this morning.
It only did it for about 5 secs but it was enough to put my heart in my boots.
In tomorrow for an unrelated repair so I'll tell them.
It was relatively warm too, what's a girl to do????

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by S8RAH (original)

guess what kind of funny noise mine made this morning.
It only did it for about 5 secs but it was enough to put my heart in my boots.
In tomorrow for an unrelated repair so I'll tell them.
It was relatively warm too, what's a girl to do????

Use your feminine charms and smile sweetly to the Service Manager

[Bluebabe]

[quote=MJS;3414324]

Quote: Originally Posted by Den W (original)

I am still a firm believer that this problem is caused by the weather!
I know that cold weather is fairly much guaranteed to cause the noise and with this in mind, I think that low atmospheric pressure may be the cause.

As far as I can see, it is certainly a possibility and maybe if you have just the right combination of all three variables ; cold temperatures, cold oil and a low atmospheric pressure this may well be the trigger....
I don't know how this could really be measured or recorded, but certainly in my experience this theory would prove almost always correct....

Your thinking mirrors mine, especially the atmospheric idea! A lot of the sufferers of this particular noise problem first thought it to be only a cold issue (ambient temp), as it mostly occured at cold temps, combined with the engine being in its cold state (Left overnight), many suffered frequently on first start up when temp was low.

There are now some reports that it also occurs when ambient temp is higher maybe 2 -3 times higher, and has occured when the engine was slightly warm. ie frequent stop start situations, although the latter seems less frequent than the first!

The three variables you mention are certainly ( I Feel ) some of the primary factors surrounding this issue. If you take into consideration the point you made about how far BMW / MINI have gone with the replacement of the mechanics to resolve this issue, and FAILED!
You could surmise that they have taken a big step to rectify this problem because it is either a known design error waiting to be updated at a future economical point (periodic facelift) or they have not a clue as to the root cause!

We all put a lot of faith that BMW /MINI or any big professional manufacturer would in all honesty put things right immediatley. But in life this is not always the case, even where Health & Safety concerns are raised, big companies in the past have trodden the economical route, rather than the more expensive recall and component change route. Even to the point where fatalities have occured as a result!

Your concerns are well justified and you have gone a long way to try and rectify this problem.
I don't mean to be patronising, but you are to be commended for your perserverance.
I think that we would all agree that there are many people who would just put up and shut up with a problem, rather than go through the hassle of chasing dealerships who are programme trained to side step customer complaints!

The way this thread has been supported, shows that there is a genuine concern even from people who have not experienced the issue as yet! (myself among them)

I wonder if BMW/ MINI have tried the change of oil point that some of us are making?
Immediatley I and most probably you, are thinking as a response that ."yeah course they would have"! .."Wouldn't they"? They may well be thinking the same as us, "NA it couldn't be the oil"! But actually they may not have thought about it at all!

Well from the experience that many are having with BMW / MINI, not a lot of people are being well informed about everything. Why should they? Surely it could only damage BMW/MINI 's reputation to be broadcasting problems!
But they are treading a tight rope finely balanced between, financal constraints, good value for money as well as customer return sales. the latter seems to be on the up even with the cars many problems! So maybe they aren't that worried!

I wonder if BMW/MINI read these threads on mini2 or any other site? If I were in a product sales position, I would want to be getting to the grass roots of customers thoughts, what better way than to scope these threads! It gives you a tremendous amount of info and ideas from the products customer point of view, good and bad future and past!

Sorry about the rant, I initially wanted to just ask'
Has anybody changed their oil in some way ,and has possibly cured up to date this issue! And of those that have, how long has it been since and at what temps etc etc.

Then I can start to think about something else!!!!

I will end by just saying this, To all those contributing to this thread, you have my thanks and are to be commended for a very interesting and possibly the longest thread on the site.... Thanks!

[MJS]

**Latest Update**

S back in at the dealers today and overnight, apparently the regional manager wants to come and listen to the noise (thu morn cold start).

Despite the concern I have over the noise not appearing this last 10 days or so because of the warmer temperatures (10˙C+) he didn't want to know and just wanted to listen to the engine. Both myself and the service manager both agree that with the weather as it is now, it is highly unlikely the noise will be present and is very unlikely to occur when the regional manager is listening to it.


Thanks Bluebabe for the comments, I am more than determined to get to the bottom of this one way or another.
I'll keep you all informed....

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by MJS (original)

**Latest Update**

S back in at the dealers today and overnight, apparently the regional manager wants to come and listen to the noise (thu morn cold start).

Despite the concern I have over the noise not appearing this last 10 days or so because of the warmer temperatures (10˙C+) he didn't want to know and just wanted to listen to the engine. Both myself and the service manager both agree that with the weather as it is now, it is highly unlikely the noise will be present and is very unlikely to occur when the regional manager is listening to it.


Thanks Bluebabe for the comments, I am more than determined to get to the bottom of this one way or another.
I'll keep you all informed....

Mine has actually made the noise for the last two days....so you never know.

[MJS]

You never know indeed.... fingers crossed in a funny sort of way

The new engine is certainly different and sounds a lot smoother and sweeter, but then again it is brand new and we will have to wait until it has 5000 miles on it and see what its like then ....

[kevkbuk]

Just an update on my car, it was at the dealers most of last week for a BMW/Mini tech to see again. This time however the car did not produce the noise for them. It was left standing for a few days prior to the techs visit and started fine. They then did numerous checks on the oil flow and found everything was fine. In an attempt to replicate the issue they jacked the back of the car up and left it to drain the oil. Again it started normally with no noise and the oil flow was fine.

As it only made the noise once and it wasn't as bad as before after the new timing gear install I will now wait and see if the noise returns.

On a more positive note they managed to fix some interior rattles whilst the car was there, and I learned that Mini have changed suppliers for the dash plastics. So if your suffering rattles try and get some of the newer parts fitted.

[DerekH]

I have had enough of the usual the car is performing within the cars specification thats only been said when i sent a letter saying car not fit for purpose recorded and the 3rd to second noise no fix just one big joke

[MJS]

I know where you are coming from Derek, I have got to that point as well....

I have been put into this position now where I have no other choice....
Money back or replacement....

[zyo]

Derek, with reference to the gearbox, i dunno what they did to mine when mine went in ( as I was in and out of the dealers in a bit of a rush) about a month ago but they seem to have rectified my third grear to second gear noise. It used to do it every time, I haven't heard it once since.Sorry to be a little off topic people.

[DerekH]

ZYO can you find out what htey did was it the bedding in proceedure or as i have found out thrash the living day lights to scrub the clutch down to try to stop the noise as ment to be tolarance problem