MCS Engine noise when cold

[xxx4xyz]

At last..... my MCS is going into the dealer for a few days in January to have the rattling engine noise 'fixed' they are keeping it for a few days as apparently its a complex job !! (and this will be the first one they have attempted to fix) !! ohhh joy

On top of that fix they are also re doing my sunroof (which refused to close the other day) which is a big job apparently ?? (new cables and motor)

On top of that they are also going to look at my cluch which makes a humming noise now and again when setting off in first -

And on top of that they are going to refit the door panels which have started to come lose (inside panel where we all rest our arm on - flush with window)

And finally, re fit the carpet where it does not fit properly on the pax side well !

Oh did i mention the loose gear stick ??? that too is on the list - so i hope to see my MCS around mid feb hahahaha !!

Wish me luck !!

[caesar]

It would appear from the above post and other's, that the early R56 models have/or did have the most problems.

Not a very good advert for BMW

[ShaunSheep]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

It would appear from the above post and other's, that the early R56 models have/or did have the most problems.

Not a very good advert for BMW

Just as the early 1st gen MINIs did. Or the early models of other cars for that matter?
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that comment anyway, there are new R56 owners posting with various issues.

Also just as an example, my early build MCS has had just two faults; a failed water pump and the cold start rattle.

[caesar]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShaunSheep (original)

Just as the early 1st gen MINIs did. Or the early models of other cars for that matter?
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that comment anyway, there are new R56 owners posting with various issues.

Also just as an example, my early build MCS has had just two faults; a failed water pump and the cold start rattle.

There is a greater possibility of problems with any early build vehicle. I have owned a number and have had problems.....and they have eventually been fixed.

Prior to buying a new MCS in June 07, I owned a Civic Type-R in February 04.........this was the facelift version of the 1st Type-R. I had no end of problems which were not fixed

I traded it in June 07 for a MCS.......apart from occasional cases of the 'noise' when it's left parked facing down the drive to the garage......easily cured by doing a restart.

Apart from the above the only other is a whistling noise from the windscreen at high speed or strong cross winds. The Dealer said they would fit a new windscreen which will done shortly.

Overall I am (touch wood) very pleased with the car

[MandyB1971]

As per the oil usage issue, we had this very discussion with them a few weeks ago as we are putting more oil in it than we do in our Freelander Diesel!! Mini reckon that the MCS will use a litre of oil per 600 miles! Not only that but it can only have Mobil1 super-duper oil in it at £15 per litre! Not good!

Our noise is worse than ever and following it returning from dealers last week where they proudly proclaimed it was the worst one they'd ever heard it also now has a rattle from the turbo, which we think might just be a cover they've not put on properly and is idling at nearly 1500 revs!

Whoever mentioned the new Fiat 500 Abarth - I'll fight you for it! Thinking of going same way myself!

Mandy

[Strippekniv]

Has anyone (BMW/Peugeot) come up with a cure for this problem?
Can I take my 13 month old MCS Clubbie to the dealers for a fix on Monday morning?

Anyone in-the-know out there?

Greetings from one worried owner...

[caesar]

[quote=MandyB1971;3631332]As per the oil usage issue, we had this very discussion with them a few weeks ago as we are putting more oil in it than we do in our Freelander Diesel!! Mini reckon that the MCS will use a litre of oil per 600 miles! Not only that but it can only have Mobil1 super-duper oil in it at £15 per litre! Not good!


That is a load of rubbish.........the recommended oil is Castrol Edge 5W-30 for the MCS not Mobil

The oil consumption for the Mini is minimal, my June 07 build MCS has done 9.5K miles from new.........I check the oil level on a regular basis and have added about 1.5 litres in total over this period.

Get your Dealer to check for oil leaks

[Strippekniv]

CBCooper started this thread on Feb 19th, 2007...
... is everything still speculation?

Have read about 25 of the over 60 pages(!) in this thread now, obviously the engine noise we are experiencing isn´t normal or supposed to be there as some (BMW?) contributors are allegeing.

Come on guys, is there anyone here who can give me a straight answer? Does changing the timing chain, the sprockets and the tensioner actually fix the problem? What can I tell my dealer needs to be done here?

Give me the low down please!

[Strippekniv]

Also - what is PUMA?
English is not my first language.
Answers appreciated.

[MandyB1971]

PUMA is the BMW computer system that the dealers use.

As for the oil, I am SURE it has an oil leak as something's dripping on the road outside my house and I'm pretty sure its not our Freelander. I'm going to be ringing them for our weekly chat on Monday and will speak to them about this! Also, my fault, I lied above! (We put Mobil1 in it once so I got confused sorry!) My husband has just corrected me it is castrol edge but they charge us £15+ per litre for that from Mini Dealers!

Mandy B

[caesar]

Castrol Edge is expensive because it's fully synthetic as opposed to mineral oil, but does not need changing as often.....hence the price.

Halfords were selling a 4 litre drum for about £10 per litre.

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by MandyB1971 (original)

PUMA is the BMW computer system that the dealers use.

As for the oil, I am SURE it has an oil leak as something's dripping on the road outside my house and I'm pretty sure its not our Freelander. I'm going to be ringing them for our weekly chat on Monday and will speak to them about this! Also, my fault, I lied above! (We put Mobil1 in it once so I got confused sorry!) My husband has just corrected me it is castrol edge but they charge us £15+ per litre for that from Mini Dealers!

Mandy B

Is that a proper MINI/BMW dealer?? Is that a friendly name for the system?? The dealers systems are either the old GT-1 or newer SSS/OPS.

What colour is the oil? is there enough to form a puddle? hope its not powersteering fluid.....

[MandyB1971]

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

That is a load of rubbish.........the recommended oil is Castrol Edge 5W-30 for the MCS not Mobil

The oil consumption for the Mini is minimal, my June 07 build MCS has done 9.5K miles from new.........I check the oil level on a regular basis and have added about 1.5 litres in total over this period.

Get your Dealer to check for oil leaks

Hi, this is Mandy's husband Steve.
Just wanted to clear this up (women always get things wrong! )

Mandy is right in that our local dealer (MINI/BMW main dealer) has told us that 600 miles per litre of oil is not excessive according to BMW themselves. I however think this is excessive even for a 'performance' engine. I've had experience with 600bhp V8's, turbo and supercharged engines and even full race engines which don't use this much.
Saying that, I've looked for any leaks and can't find any evidence of them!

As for your comments on the recommended oil caesar, BMW do recommend Castrol oils but Mobil 1 ESP is also manufactured to BMW LL-04 which is the specification stated in the handbook. I had to point this out to the service manager at our dealer when he tried to tell me that Mobil 1 wasn't a good enough oil for the MCS!
As far as I'm concerned, after seeing the sludge that came out of our MCS at it's oil change, I wouldn't recommend Castrol to anyone!
I've used Mobil 1 in many car and motorbike engines for years, even race spec, and have never had anything but superb results.

[caesar]

Hi Steve.........many thanks for your informative post

I still think your wife's MCS has an oil leak, and your Dealer should investigate the source i.e. the cylinder head gasket. If it is blowing it would cause coolant to mix with the oil causing sludge to form

[Strippekniv]

Isn´t this thread getting a bit off-topic? MCS Engine noise when cold