[Bluebabe]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tracie (original)

I have been following this with interest for weeks now. I really hope someone out there is reading all of this.
I am tempted to get a MCS and have been for a while now but this is the one big thing putting me off and thinking of a Cooper instead, which is a shame.
Not that I wouldn't want a Cooper but I'd prefer to go for an S this time round.

Hi Tracie I felt exactly the same as you at least a year ago! My r53 was brill! It had some of the usual probs and had them rectified. I loved the car but the economics of the new engine outweighed the old (miiles cheaper to run) !! I will miss old Bluebabe as it was my first ever specced new car.

When I first tried out the r56 I was very dissapointed it losing the supercharger whine and burble. That was another factor that did it in for me as a choice!

After looking around at the competition (golfs, seats, honda type r's etc) and lots more test drives with the r56 with different specs ie sports suspension etc. Finally brought me round, even to this day I am wondering about upgrading to the r56.

THIS IS MY THINKING TO DATE;
The mini is the mini it will always have some probs like any other car. The r56 is a better car in many ways but the only way to appreciate them is to go and see them and try them, don't be shy!
Go and Enjoy!!!!!
Plus it has a three year warranty!

This recent post to and from Tom at MMMC may help!
Thanks for the detailed answers Tom, they really do explain whats going on from your viewpoint!

I hope we can all get this issue resolved soon, I fear we may be hearing about engine failiures sooner or later otherwise!


Failures due to valve clatter typically do not occur, or at least I've never heard of it happening. The only way that a failure could occur is if the sound is ignored (or not heard, i.e. due to a handicap) and the engine is operated at high RPMs for an extended period of time. It's possible to break an engine valve due to high closing velocity and valve bounce, and that would likely cause a catastrophic engine failure because there's not a lot clearance between the piston and the combustion chamber at TDC.
With my own car, when I'm experiencing startup NVH, I limit RPMs to about 2,000 rpm. The offending HLA usually recovers in about 5 minutes. It will take longer to recover running at a slower engine speed. (The HLA is cycled at cam speed which is 1/2 crankshaft speed.) (courtesy Tom MMMC)
Full post at;


COLD START NOISE



Wikipedia's description. (note disadvantages)

Hydraulic lifters - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Tunster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tracie (original)

I have been following this with interest for weeks now. I really hope someone out there is reading all of this.
I am tempted to get a MCS and have been for a while now but this is the one big thing putting me off and thinking of a Cooper instead, which is a shame.
Not that I wouldn't want a Cooper but I'd prefer to go for an S this time round.

I really believe this problem should not put you off the car. I'm literally reiterating what bluebabe has just said, but the warranty will cover you and essentially, I hope a resolution is going to appear soon. However, it doesnt mean your car is going to get the same problem. I'm coming up to 1000 miles now in 4 weeks and don't regret it at all.

Even if the problem appears, it seems it doesnt affect the engine or we would of heard MINI Mechanics seeing a deeper problem when opening the engine up to replace parts. Reading forums is worst thing you can do about buying any car! I put it out of the way and let the driving element help me choose the car I wanted. Knowing about problems of the car should be secondary. Essentially, there shouldn't be any, but it doesnt happen as not every car can be perfect.

If you really want the R56 MCS, go test drive it again and put in an order if you enjoyed it .

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bluebabe (original)

THIS IS MY THINKING TO DATE;
The mini is the mini it will always have some probs like any other car. The r56 is a better car in many ways but the only way to appreciate them is to go and see them and try them, don't be shy!
Go and Enjoy!!!!!
Plus it has a three year warranty!

Exactly...

I've pretty much come to the same comclusion: Cold start rattle or not... I'm going to enjoy my car to the fullest... it's really the most fun you can have on 4 wheels...

...of course in my case that's now a 10-year/100,000 mile warranty, so...

[S8RAH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tracie (original)

I have been following this with interest for weeks now. I really hope someone out there is reading all of this.
I am tempted to get a MCS and have been for a while now but this is the one big thing putting me off and thinking of a Cooper instead, which is a shame.
Not that I wouldn't want a Cooper but I'd prefer to go for an S this time round.

I've had the 'noise', sorted now (only for the moment probably) but I would buy the S over the Cooper again. The noise is irritating and the long term effects are unknown but I'd take the risk. Go test drive then see if you can stop yourself from buying one, the difference is awesome.

[CC07ERS]

Mini should be telling a customers affected by this problem , warrenty will be extended for this problem.

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by CC07ERS (original)

Mini should be telling a customers affected by this problem , warrenty will be extended for this problem.

A good suggestion if BMW/Mini did so, but I doubt if they would as it could be used abused by careless owners

[S8RAH]

It was chilly this morning.
I rattled and clunked all the way to work.
Oh happy days, I was starting to miss the noises

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by S8RAH (original)

It was chilly this morning.
I rattled and clunked all the way to work.
Oh happy days, I was starting to miss the noises

Try the following .........if you start the engine and the noise occurs, then turn it off and wait a minute and restart, this always cures the problem with mine.

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by CC07ERS (original)

Mini should be telling a customers affected by this problem , warrenty will be extended for this problem.

It never hurts to ask (hint: re-read my previous post).

[Richard Korby]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Try the following .........if you start the engine and the noise occurs, then turn it off and wait a minute and restart, this always cures the problem with mine.

That never works for me . And what if an ax murderer is chaising you , you cant sit and wait ?

[ROCKY56]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Korby (original)

That never works for me . And what if an ax murderer is chaising you , you cant sit and wait ?

Nor me! unfortunately just have to sit and wait a few minutes for it to quiten down itself

[kevkbuk]

Mine hasn't done it anymore since the last time it was at the dealers....

Probably partly due to the warmer weather but you never know.

If anyone has had numerous trips to the dealers etc about this I would contact Mini Customer services and let them know what is happening. They do sometimes offer gestures of goodwill...

[Richard Korby]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

Mine hasn't done it anymore since the last time it was at the dealers....

Probably partly due to the warmer weather but you never know.

If anyone has had numerous trips to the dealers etc about this I would contact Mini Customer services and let them know what is happening. They do sometimes offer gestures of goodwill...

I did that , they did nothing .

[Bishamon]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Try the following .........if you start the engine and the noise occurs, then turn it off and wait a minute and restart, this always cures the problem with mine.

Same here. Well, it almost always cures it completely; sometimes I can still hear it a tiny bit. Then again, I don't wait a minute before restarting... more like 10 seconds.

[Den W]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Try the following .........if you start the engine and the noise occurs, then turn it off and wait a minute and restart, this always cures the problem with mine.

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Korby (original)

That never works for me . And what if an ax murderer is chaising you , you cant sit and wait ?

Nor me I'm afraid.........

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Den W (original)

Nor me I'm afraid.........

Possibly the reason why restarting only works for some owners depends on when the car was built. Mine was built June 07 !

[Den W]

Mmm could be right..mines DEC 06

Den

[Washy]

Restarting doesnt work on mine either.....July 07 build.

[Bishamon]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Possibly the reason why restarting only works for some owners depends on when the car was built. Mine was built June 07 !

Restarting works nearly every time for me; February 07 build.

[Vitesse]

I have mentioned in this thread before that one of the guys in service at my local dealers, was telling me 6 months ago that he was suffering from the same problem as you guys.

I was just talking to him a few minutes ago and asked if he had managed to get the problem fixed and basically he said no. They had tried a lot of the fixes that have been mentioned here but to no avail.

He gets the problem, like most when it is cold or if the car standing for a few days. The problem is related to the oil flow up to the valves and the rattling is the valves chattering until they are lubricated. He has been told that by his mechanics that he doesn't need to worry about it and he did say it only last 30 seconds, so he has just accepted it as a characteristic. Don't know if I would be quite as relaxed about having metal slapping on metal but I do suspect he is probably under more pressure than most not to make a fuss!!!

I must admit I was under the impression that most people in service departments or working in a dealership would get a staff discount but he told me he had to pay the same as everybody else because the demand for Mini's is so high.