Details Behind the Cold Start Fix

James Irmiger May 18th, 2009 Link

The best advice I can give is document everything. That and be patient. As I commented in the last article, each time your car makes a noise and is “fixed”, it’s viewed as a separate issue which will infuriate you to no end. They won’t just pull apart your engine on your first visit. They’ll bleed the oil from the system to purge air from it and send you on your merry way. Then after the sound returns (which it inevitably will), they’ll have to re-verify the sound (even though your car already has been fixed for the issue), then fix it according to what they find. You might only get a new tensioner, or timing chain, or the whole thing. Finally, when the lesser repairs have all been tried, they should replace the entire assembly for you. The imperative word is “should”. So, are you still being patient at this point? Trust me, I wasn’t.

Of course, you might just be friends with your dealer and get it done properly right away, but sadly, I went through the ringer with mine because they had to follow “procedure”. I certainly hope your visits go smoother than mine did.

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GregW May 18th, 2009 Link

I was told that this fix did not work on a car and a new AT RMFD engine was installed that was noisier.

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glangford May 18th, 2009 Link

“most dealerships and service advisors have been very helpful with this process.”

There are posts on NAM to the contrary, some dealerships even still stating the noise is ‘normal’.

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illegalhunter May 18th, 2009 Link

The dealer told me it was normal noise, i traded the car 2 weeks later.

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Michael May 18th, 2009 Link

I got the version 3 tensioner fitted and can say my car now has zero horrible noises and even if i let it sit for 2 days in the freezing cold and then start it up, no rattles, just a normal smooth sounding engine.

I was told too by bmw for the past year that it was a ‘characteristic of the engine’ and i knew this couldnt be. The sad thing is some dealers are trying to shy away from doing the warranty work. The best advice for any owner is print off this information on motoringfile and take it to your dealership and make them sort your car out BEFORE you run out of warranty. I hear of people having timing chains break due to this and therefore they need whole new engines OR full rebuilds which is a £5000+ job either way.

If your dealership is still trying to lie about this serious design fault then report them to bmw/mini HQ. It wont be long before they are on the phone to you asking you to come in.

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glangford May 18th, 2009 Link

All the more reason there should just be a recall.

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Melis May 18th, 2009 Link

I had my 2007 MCSa replaced by MINI Corporate because after a bunch of times trying to get the cold engine start issued fixed…along with some other issues…they still couldn’t get it resolved. So now I have a brand new 2008 MCSa.

From what I was told my 07 was sent back to UK for diagnostics and a tear down. Maybe my car helped them find a permanent fix. That would be nice.

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mnicpt May 18th, 2009 Link

Patrick MINI has been very difficult to work with and said that they wouldn’t do it until Winter. I had the sound just today and it was 65 degrees. Looks like I’m getting out the video camera.

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that.guy May 18th, 2009 Link

I was told that this fix did not work on a car and a new AT RMFD engine was installed that was noisier.

That is awesome.

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James Irmiger May 18th, 2009 Link

mnicpt: Video didn’t help me one bit. They said they had to reproduce it themselves in order for it to be covered under warranty.

I can’t remember which direction it was, but someone on NAM said that if you parked either slightly uphill or downhill overnight, it would help reproduce the sound by draining the oil from the tensioner more reliably than on flat ground.

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MotoringFile » Archive » White Roof Radio #296 May 19th, 2009 Link

[...] you suffer from the dreaded Death Rattle? Check that post at MF and definitely bring it up with your dealer! And, if you are looking for some [...]

Bruce Ebright May 19th, 2009 Link

Park with the nose pointed downhill, that’ll assist in hearing it usually.

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Scott Purvis May 20th, 2009 Link

Classic MINI replaced the chain tensioner, finally. this after performing the oil bleed down service the cars first trip to service about 6 months ago. I must say, in 2 weeks now, not one time has the cold chattered returned! And here in Cleveland, we’re still having cold nights, so I’m encouraged here. Fingers crossed and thanks to Classic MINI for truly listening to me and taking care of it. So far……

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Stephen Warwick May 21st, 2009 Link

What helped me get the dealer going on a noise is not to have ago and get heated with the service advisor, The service advisor will help go through the nosie in the engine , but you need to give him some help me I took in the information that came from australia that came for the UK ,And the dealer got to work and now we are going back again because the noise came back, I lov to here about how bmw get things put right. My UK dealer is Cotswold Gloucester . And I got to say one of the best ,I will see in the first week in June if the noise has gone I will let MF know all about it ,This is the last fix in the BMW box ? lol !!!!!!!!!! WE WILL SEE

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Roccorocket May 21st, 2009 Link

I can’t believe the person, that posted about, trading the car because of this. Why would you willingly take a loss because MINI can’t build an engine properly? Anyway, I have the noise, 2008 MCCS, it was supposedly fixed once and is back with a vengeance. The car is going bye bye.

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Jonathan May 21st, 2009 Link

For all Aussies – The PuMA reference has not yet been identified here in Sydney. I took my 2007 MCS to BMW Sydney. They had to submit two PuMA records as there was nothing on the system regarding the rattle OR the melted hood scoop… unbelievable.

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oldMGguy May 22nd, 2009 Link

I had the latest timing chain tensioner repair 2 weeks ago. Since the chain deflection test exceeded 68 mm, I got the full package of new parts. So far, after numerous “cold” starts, including nose-down attitudes, all starts have been normal – finally!

The overall reduction in general engine noise heard in the cabin is remarkable.

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Dean May 22nd, 2009 Link

My service measured 66 mm. They performed SIM-11-02-07 steps 1-11 and replaced the timing tensioner. This was done today.

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Scottab36 Jun 13th, 2009 Link

Took my 05/2007 R56 in for this issue on Wednesday. Received a much quieter R56 when returned on Saturday. All under warranty and no questions or problems. I love my MINI dealer!

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CC Jul 3rd, 2009 Link

My engine just failed with 68K miles. (Yep, out of warranty.) I had it towed to the dealer, who tells me diagnostics indicate a broken camshaft. I have a hunch that the cause may be the “cold start noise” issue being discussed here.

Do I have any options, short of spending the $4,500+ dollars to repair, or the $8,000 to replace the engine?

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Newbie R56 advice - MINI2 - MINI Forum Oct 30th, 2009 Link

[...] New cam chain tensioner MotoringFile Archive Details Behind the Cold Start Fix [...]

Banj Nov 10th, 2009 Link

I took my 2008 MCS to the Mini of Pittsburgh service department in early September ‘09 to fix the cold start problem. I mentioned to them that it might be the timing chain tensioner (thanks to this article). They repaired it that same day, the first time I had brought it in. SIM-11-02-07. It was covered under warranty.

The car has been starting up perfectly ever since (over two months now). Even when the car sits idle for several days, or is started up in very cold temperatures. Hopefully when we get down to the single digit temperatures this winter it will still start up with no rattles.

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Chip Nov 18th, 2009 Link

Just had my ‘08 MCS fixed. They replaced the tensioner. Have to commend Otto’s in West Chester PA. Car has 51k miles on it (out of warranty). The recognized that I had asked them to check this before and took care of the fix under warranty.

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gerald foye Nov 18th, 2009 Link

I have 2007 mini cooper S with about 14000 miles. Suddenly have cold start issue – I am not familiar with modern injection systems – but comparing problem with carburetors – it reacts same as if the choke valve is stuck in place & won’t open.

Is this the problem I see as a consumer complaint?

.

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