Mini cooper s camshaft failure

[rjones]

Guys and Gals

My first post here.

Proud owner of a March 2005 MCS - 65K covered and factory spec unchanged with multiple oil changes between services as I don't like the long service spec on such a car.

Last Thursday the engine failed whilst driving to work. Nice and steady in traffic moving at about 40mph and no I had not been a naughty boy (and never have been actually as fairly boring) with the rev limiter.

The friendly recovery man came out, checked the engine over, scratched his head and said he thought I had dropped a valve as low compression on Cylinder 1.

Off to my garage I have used for 26 plus years on all my present day cars and classic cars.

They looked and were non plussed when the compression test showed variable compression on cylinder 1 of between 50 psi and 0 psi.

Off with it's head as they said it was a failed head or something related to that.

As it came off they spotted shards of curved metal in the head, just by chance, and kept them (thank goodness).

They turned the head and were amazed to see all valves perfectly in place. Quick checks of the bores (fine) and a quick liquid leak test on the upturned head had them really fooled. These boys are old style mechanics and don't just strip engines down for fun, they like to know what's going on before they use the spanners and have a good look round before they go in.

No choice than to continue stripping and reviewing when they spotted the camshaft case hardening had failed on cylinder 1 exhaust lobe as they turned the head over.

I don't need to take photos as amazingly it is in EXACTLY the same spot as someone posted in 2008, in fact the camshaft could actually be mine, the fracture being so similar and in the same place.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...ml#post3627902

BMW part only for camshaft - £300. Gasket set £280 or thereabouts, plus labour costs.

Now I don't mind putting my hand up for all the bills on this little beauty but the similarity in failure has got me thinking.

This is a manufacturing failure as the case hardening has simply peeled away and fractured. I even have one of the curved pieces that has come off.

There is no sign or any damage on the roller bearing that this lobe sits on thank goodness, but this is being reviewed.

I have had enough cars to know that this is not oil starvation, and there is no sign of that in this area, and seen enough stripped engines to know what is and isn't going on here.

65 K is a fair mileage, but not excessive and for a camshaft failure with better than full service history is not right.

I will be chasing BMW for the costs of the parts back when my beauty is back on the road.

I wondered whether any one else had seen this problem or heard of it - it is just too close for coincidence that this came up in exactly the same way on the same car (his had done 48K) with the failure points being EXACTLY at the same part of the camshaft - spooky it isn't - manufacturing failure it seems to be.

Any thoughts or experiences anyone?

Not daft enough (yet) to launch into recovery mode without an engineer's report and will be getting one if BMW go into corporate mode.

ps willing to assist with any similar claims as, horror of horrors, I am a lawyer! (told you I was boring)

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

At 6 1/2 years and 65,000 miles old, I wish you luck! Please let us know how you get on...

[M.O.S]

That age, not full bmw/mini history. Good luck - you never know! Its also passed sales of goods too... I'm no mechanic, but I've not heard of a camshaft going at 65k though - doesn't seem too high?

[rjones]

Thanks for all your good wishes

It seems BMW agreed with my evidence and application and have agreed a goodwill payment of the parts only (only claimed these as I decided to use my own nominated garage for the repair).

I have to say BMW were exemplary in their response speed and their attitude to the issue

[mooneymini]

That is such good news for you and very pleased to hear that they came through and did the right thing.

We also have a good experience with BMW UK paying out for a car that was 8 years old with 140k miles on when we had a problem with the subframe cracking. We had only owned the car for a few months when it had happened, and took a good 8 weeks to fix, and we were supplied with a courtesy car free of charge for the duration too.

Couldnt be happier with them.