MCS Engine noise when cold

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by S8RAH (original)

Sorry folks, I'm bailing out.
The car is going at the end of Nov-- I've had enough.
I'm keeping my eye on the forum cos I suspect the new one will be just as noisy but at least this Dec fix will be applicable to the next car.

I have finally convinced my dealer I have this problem....only taken a year...

But like you I have had enough of my car and will be replacing it as soon as I can

[Union Jacks]

My R56 MCS also had the noisy start-up sound (like a diesel starting up!)

Dealer stated it was the hydraulic tappets going through an automatic self-bleed process on startt-up and i shouldn't worry.

6 weeks later the timing chain broke on start-up and stuffed the top of the engine - luckily warranty prevailed.

i am now having issues with jerky acceleration - almost like a misfire.

took to the dealer who stated there was an engine management fault alarm which was stopping over boost - dealer reset fault and i'm now getting full power but still jerky - so its in on monday for a day so they can diagnose the jerky acceleration.

tried all types of fuel - nothing helps

[MJS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Union Jacks (original)

6 weeks later the timing chain broke on start-up and stuffed the top of the engine - luckily warranty prevailed.

I dread to think what's going to happen to these cars in 3/4/5 years time when they are out of warranty.
I hope this is a one-off and not a sign of things to come, or else we are all up the creek without a paddle.....
Very worrying indeed, especially as we are all being told there is no problem with the noisy engines!

[caesar]

A broken timing chain is a rare occurrence, but not unheard of. Some years ago Ford and other makers used Timing Belts but the Japanese always used chains as they are very reliable with an almost infinite life. Timing belts had to be replaced at recommended intervals but they frequently snapped early with sometimes serious engine damage.

The fact a MCS chain snapped is very unfortunate and rare, but any mechanical part according to "***'s Law" can break.

[mike ken]

Our car is now doing this timing chain noise no matter how the car is parked, where as before it would only do it when car is parked facing down hill. Went on a long run today and we have found another noise which i think is the water pump, it sounds like there is a mouse squeaking under the bonnet.

[Union Jacks]

Has anyone else been told that the noise is just the tappets going through a self bleed on start-up?


or is it just what they fobbed me off with?

[Tracie]

This is something that I have been concerned with, especially now as the MCS is the way to go for me.
I have taken a MCS and a JCW out in recent weeks, and the tappets on the JCW were a lot louder than the MCS.
The Tappet noise I have been told is normal on a performance engine, my brother's Subaru rattle like anything on a start up, evan when the oil has cooled down after standing for half and hour. He assures me this is normal and the noise stops when the oil has warmed up enough, which it is.
My Subaru does the same as well, although not as loud as my brother as his is pushing 500bhp.
OK, so they are different cars compared to the MINI, but the same sound occurring.
The tensioner rattle however is a different ball game I'm assuming?

[caesar]

Over time the chain will stretch and relies on the tensioner to take up the slack, if the tensioner is getting insufficient oil pressure then the chain will rattle against the guide rails. Once the tensioner has sufficient oil pressure the rattle will stop. From earlier threads on this topic it would appear that the early build MCS R56's have a different mechanism than models built from 01.05.07. Models from this date will have a spring loaded tensioner available in December this year which will replace the existing oil pressure activated tensioner (PuMA Measure 10686850). Earlier build models will require more extensive modifications.

[S8RAH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Union Jacks (original)

Has anyone else been told that the noise is just the tappets going through a self bleed on start-up?


or is it just what they fobbed me off with?

Well its a new one on me.
I've been told, after much investigation by dealers and manufacturers, that the top end of my engine lacks oil before/on start up. They will not say if this is the cause of the noise, I suspect that is a separate problem but who knows?
I didn't like the idea of all that metal churning round with a lack of oil which is why mine's going. There are various theories on the cause of the noise but none of them have been officially confirmed by BMW but at least they have recognised that this is an issue for owners.
Keep pressing, if only to ensure you are one of the first to get the fix.

[caesar]

My MCS is a June 07 Build and occasionally makes the 'noise' if left parked facing down the driveway to the garage.,,,.....a restart cures the problem

I visited my dealer who stated they had not heard of this problem so I wrote to Mini Customer Services giving the Chassis and Engine numbers complaining about the service I had received from the dealer. About a week later the dealer wrote an apologetic letter and said they would contact me as soon as the replacement tensioner was available.

[1 AJC]

This "fix" due to be released to solve the problem - are adjustments currently being made to cars in the process of being built moment?

[Doc Cooper]

So my Aug build 08 MCS here in socal has given me two occasion of this nasty sound.
Both happen when I didn not drive the car for 24 hours (skipped a day of driving basically) and left it in the garage. Each episode would last about 2 minutes or so... VERY annoying and my wife thinks that the engine is gonna blow up or stall. Eventually the sound goes away. I dont even know what to tell the dealer (Southbay MINI) as they dont know how to reproduce the same sound.

As this does not happen everytime... i think a visit to the dealer is a waste of time at this time. They havent even heard this before (which is a lie i believe)

[S8RAH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Doc Cooper (original)

I dont even know what to tell the dealer (Southbay MINI) as they dont know how to reproduce the same sound.
As this does not happen everytime...

The only way is to record it.
I get in mine every morning with my cellphone on video mode and keep the clips only when the car makes the noise (daily at the moment, its got cold here)
Once you have proof that your car makes the noise then book it in and it will be their problem.

[cj10jeeper]

Quote: Originally Posted by S8RAH (original)

The only way is to record it.
I get in mine every morning with my cellphone on video mode and keep the clips only when the car makes the noise (daily at the moment, its got cold here)
Once you have proof that your car makes the noise then book it in and it will be their problem.

That is exactly what I did as posted on the 21st October, except I used a laptop and mike to get some good clear recordings put it on a USB and handed to the dealer with a copy of the technical bulletin. The job was fixed to my satisfaction with no further questions asked.

[Bishamon]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

Over time the chain will stretch and relies on the tensioner to take up the slack, if the tensioner is getting insufficient oil pressure then the chain will rattle against the guide rails. Once the tensioner has sufficient oil pressure the rattle will stop.

While MINI/BMW have stated that the sound does not cause damage, wouldn't slack in the cam chain have an effect on the timing?