Hi All,
After making myself paranoid by doing too much research online, AFTER, id bought an R56 Mini Cooper S, 56 plate; I came across the chain tensioner issue and after listening closely to my engine on cold starts, convinced myself I had the problem. Booked it in at Mini Stratstone in Harrogate for a full service and asked them to also look into the chain tensioner issue.
They serviced it for me, said it had been low on oil. They were very good and helpful and I bought some oil from them after they advised me that it uses a lot and needs to be kept on top of. But with the chain tensioner issue I felt kind of fobbed off. They said they didn’t think anything was wrong with it but if I still thought there was an issue in the next few weeks, bring it back and drop it off the night before for a cold start test.
Convinced there was still an issue, I carried on surfing, came across a garage in Leeds called Mad4Mini and gave them a ring. They said they knew about the issue and fix a few of them so bring it in. Had it booked in for Saturday morning, brought it down and they opened her up and sure enough, there was a problem. They were very good and showed me everything and explained it. Chain tensioner and the timing chain both need replacing, something was moving which should not have been and something on the other side of the engine was up about half an inch which should not have been bolted down, which needed doing. Not the worst he’s seen he said but it certainly needed some work. Going to cost me just short of £600 and got it booked in for next week. Hopefully it will be all sorted and sound much better, I’ll report back how it goes. Also hoping I’ll get it covered on the warranty, but either way this is a job that simply has to be done. Certainly annoyed that Stratstone in Harrogate never bothered to look though.
After making myself paranoid by doing too much research online, AFTER, id bought an R56 Mini Cooper S, 56 plate; I came across the chain tensioner issue and after listening closely to my engine on cold starts, convinced myself I had the problem. Booked it in at Mini Stratstone in Harrogate for a full service and asked them to also look into the chain tensioner issue.
They serviced it for me, said it had been low on oil. They were very good and helpful and I bought some oil from them after they advised me that it uses a lot and needs to be kept on top of. But with the chain tensioner issue I felt kind of fobbed off. They said they didn’t think anything was wrong with it but if I still thought there was an issue in the next few weeks, bring it back and drop it off the night before for a cold start test.
Convinced there was still an issue, I carried on surfing, came across a garage in Leeds called Mad4Mini and gave them a ring. They said they knew about the issue and fix a few of them so bring it in. Had it booked in for Saturday morning, brought it down and they opened her up and sure enough, there was a problem. They were very good and showed me everything and explained it. Chain tensioner and the timing chain both need replacing, something was moving which should not have been and something on the other side of the engine was up about half an inch which should not have been bolted down, which needed doing. Not the worst he’s seen he said but it certainly needed some work. Going to cost me just short of £600 and got it booked in for next week. Hopefully it will be all sorted and sound much better, I’ll report back how it goes. Also hoping I’ll get it covered on the warranty, but either way this is a job that simply has to be done. Certainly annoyed that Stratstone in Harrogate never bothered to look though.