The check engine light has come on at 67k miles and I have brought the vehicle in to get checked at the dealer. The service department reports that the timing chain is beginning to fail and needs to be replaced, along with a water pump leak. The timing chain is a known failure and still has no recall.
2007 MINI Cooper S engine complaints
Page 6 of 7: complaints 131 to 160 of 173, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Extremely loud engine noise during a cold start. The root cause is the failure of timing belt tensioner. The only recourse is to replace the tensioner and adjust or replace the belt/chain. This is a known defect.
The following is my complete account of the events that occurred with my 2007 mini coopers . ' march 12th to march 16th trip to myrtle beach and back to my house is approximately 490 miles. The car's performance was without incident on this trip. The vehicles on-board computer provides no indication of engine problems. ' friday march 18th departed home for universal studios. Trip to universal studios is approximately 222 miles. The car's performance was without incident and on-board computer provides no indication of engine problems. ' saturday march 19th left universal studios for residence. At jacksonville, florida I pulled into river city marketplace. Up to this point in the trip the vehicle has traveled approximately 162 miles from universal studios to river city marketplace. The car's performance was without incident and the vehicle's on-board computer provided no indication of engine problems. As I pulled into the parking lot I heard a loud banging sound and then the car stopped. The car on-board system showed no emergency indicator warnings whatsoever on the trip from universal studios to river city marketplace up until the time the car stopped. I noticed no oil leaks beneath the vehicle while it was waiting to be towed. On monday march 21st I spoke with my mini cooper service adviser,to inquire about the condition of my vehicle. In summarizing our conversation the adviser stated the service technician initially indicated my vehicle engine had been 'run dry' of engine oil and if this was the case my vehicle warranty would not be honored by the dealership. I was astounded at hearing this information and the service tech this could not be possible because I had checked the fluid level on march 11th and the dipstick clearly showed "full". There had been no on-board computer notification of any engine oil condition. The service tech stated this vehicle does not contain this feature when my vehicle manual clearly indicates such a feature.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 mini cooper sport. The contact was driving approximately 65 MPH when the check oil warning lamp illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop who diagnosed that the timing chain tensioner fractured. As a result, the timing chain loosened and caused all the pistons to misfire and damage the engine. The manufacturer was contacted who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The VIN was not available and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 82,000.
2007 mini cooper s, timing chain broke at 64k miles. There are countless complaints of this problem all over the web, we need to force mini to issue a recall. Vehicle was properly maintained prior to failure. This is a chain, not a belt. More information about similar complaints can be found here: http://www.minicooperspeed.com/mini-cooper-cold-start-knocking-noise-issue-2007/.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 mini cooper s. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the engine warning indicator illuminated and an extremely loud noise sounded from the engine. The contact continued driving, and the engine performed as though it were attempting to stall. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they diagnosed that the timing chain failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Engine rattle at start up, engine will not maintain idle when ambient temperature too cold (as high as 20 deg f but more common as temperature drops) and can even die. Engine hesitation and stumble while accelerating and while maintaining highway speeds, regardless of engine and ambient temperature. Lack of engine power. Car may seem to be running fine but when accelerating the engine will stumble and hesitate, much like a missing cylinder, this causes the car to accelerate slower than expected regardless of throttle position. This can create an unsafe condition. Seems to be most pronounced at part throttle between 2000 and 3000 RPM but is still present at higher speeds and more throttle opening. Can also make the car stumble very badly when starting from a stop, causing the car to move forward a few feet very slowly before accelerating at a somewhat normal pace. This effect is similar to letting out the clutch too soon but happens even if rpms are brought up to 2000+RPM and the clutch is slowly let out.
2007 mini cooper s engine rattles loudly for the first 30 seconds to 2 min. After startup in cold weather. Caused by cam tension issues. Min has worked on it numerous times. It is now out of warranty but still having problems. I happens on an almost daily basis on cold days.
At approximately 67,000 miles, the engine developed a knocking sound which would last from a cold start for approximately 5 minutes. After two weeks, the engine failed entirely. The mechanic reported that the timing chain retensioner had broken and caused another component to fall into the engine where it did further damage.
2007 mini cooper 52860 miles has been to the dealer 5 times in the last year with same problem a loud clanking noise during startup and the engine light comes on. They have changed everything but I still have th issue. I took the car to a different shop other than the dealer and he said I shouldn't be driving the car that it has serious flaw in the timing belt and the engine could malfunction at any time. I called mini and they sadi they would try to fix the car again since its was still under warrently. This car is dangerous and I have seen thousands of posts for this same issue. When I talked ot the dealer about the thousands of posts about this issue he said they have serveral major engine problems with mins 2007,2008.2009 and 2010 so they had to change the engine. The car is currently in the shop for the sixth time this year I told mini I was scarred to drive because if the the engine stops while I am driving it I will be dangerours. The are going to replace the timing again he did suggest I get a 2011 mini since the engine was changed. I think there should be a recall with this issue.
On 10/27/2010 I was driving on 595 west (stop and go traffic) came to a stop, my car stalls and dies. It will not restart. Vehicle was towed to lauderdale mini dealership in fort lauderdale. After inspection I was informed the vacuum pump locked up and jammed engine several times causing a catastrophic engine failure. Engine was replaced. Cost- over $6000.00. Mini USA refused to compensate unless their is a future recall.
2007 mini cooper s has had loud knocking noise, sounding like rocks in a washing machine, for weeks now. This has happened twice in the past, with the repairs falling under the warranty period and done at no cost of course. Car is now out of warranty, taking it in this week for diagnoses and repairs. This will be at least the second time this part needs to be replaced, although I think it might be the third time as once it was done as part of a larger repair being performed on the engine. Car acts sluggish, jumpy, and sounds like a diesel truck. This happens every time the car is started up and continues for the first few miles driven, at which point is subsides a bit. As I said, it has been replaced at least once in the past, and this week will be replaced again.
07/mini/cooper hardtop/2dr cpe s/ 51,810 miles. Timing chain tensioner collapsed and caused timing chain to stretch and damage guide rails. Replaced timing chain assembly and reprogrammed vehicle.
The check engine light has come on at 55k miles and I have brought the vehicle in to get checked at the dealer. The service department reports that the timing chain is beginning to fail and needs to be replaced, along with a water pump leak. The timing chain is a known failure and still has no recall.
Mini cooper cold start knocking noise issue.
Driving on the interstate, I approach my exit and as I come to a stop on the exit ramp, the car stalls and dies. Car will not restart. Vehicle is towed to the closest dealership. After inspection at the dealership, I am told the vacuum pump has failed causing catastrophic engine failure. Suggested repair is engine replacement.
Upon starting my engine every morning there is a large clattering noise coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment. It seems to be an issue with the timing belt tensioner as the part does not get enough oil in it as it drains out after sitting for a few hours. If the part is not replaced or fixed the timing chain will eventually break and ruin my engine. My car is out of warranty and this is a factory issue that bmw/mini refuse to acknowledge or fix.
R56 mcs mini 2007 - bought used in sept 09 had the "cold start rattle" but didn't know what it was at the time. Engine light came on at 38,000 dealer replaced timing chain . On the way home vacuum pump seized causing damage to the values. Dealer sent pictures to mini and the decision was made to replace the engine with a new one.
The car has been at the dealer every other week for the last 6 weeks. On cold starts the car would run rough, hesitate almost stall and the heat wasn't working unless you were driving or had your foot on the gas. Then the check engine light came on brought it to the dealer they replaced the timing chain changed the oil and bled the coolant. A few days later it stalled on a cold start and the heat still wasn't working. The dealer this time found excessive carbon in engine and a leak at water pump. Computer did not throughout a code for either. Dealer opened a case at the manufacture. 2 weeks later I brought it back when the windows would go half way down and the door would unlock. Dealer reset the windows and I went to pick it up to find the windows half way down and the doors unlocked. Dealer replaced the motor. 2 weeks later my battery light when on. On the way to the dealer the car died. Dealer said there was an oil leak the LED to the alternator belt slipping off and my battery didn't charge and now is dead. I won't get it back until sometime next week. This car only has 26,000 miles on it.
2007 mini cooper s. After 26000 miles I have a what appears to be a rattling engine when starting the engine from a cold start (sitting overnight). So this happens every morning. I live in florida with relatively warm temperatures. I took it to the dealer and they claim the diesel engine sound coming out of the car is normal. I didn't by the car this way. I have found various forums and youtube videos of this problem. Please help.
2007 mini cooper s spontaneously caught fire while turned off and parked in my garage. I had traveled less than two miles when I parked the car. Fire started under the hood and completely totaled the car by the time the fire department arrived and put it out.
Very noisy clatter when starting engine when cold. Engine sounds like a diesel when cold. Goes away after a couple of minutes. Dealer says its normal ??? Problem occurs every morning.
Engine exhibits harsh noise during startup 50% of the time after minimum of 8 hr shutdown or if parked nose low. The issue is a defective timing chain tensioner which the dealer won't replace because 1) they haven't received an effective repair kit from bmw or 2) try to explain it away with the excuse that this timing chain metal-on-metal rattle is "normal." an increasing world-wide number of vehicles of this make, model, and engine have experienced catastrophic low mileage engine failures because of dealer inaction and subsequent timing chain failure.
Engine exhibits hash noise during startup 50% of the time after minimum of 8 hr shutdown at below freezing temperatures. The issue is a defective timing chain tensioner which the dealer won't replace because 1) they can't reproduce the startup noise or 2) this is "normal." other vehicles of this make, model, and engine have experienced catastrophic engine failures because of dealer inaction and subsequent timing chain failure.
Engine noise on cold starts. My car has made diesel like noises on cold start up for the past year. At first the dealer said it was normal. Upon insisting they advised of a bleeding procedure and then of a faulty timing chain tensioner. After 7 months they finally replaced the tensioner (they had to hear it before they could repair it). The dealer had it for a week and said it was all fixed. The noise came back three days later. I took it in a second time and they got bmw engineer to look at it. They replaced a check valve that was supposed to trap oil in the vanos system and said once again it was fixed. The noise was back three days later. I took it back to the dealer and they were not able to duplicate the noise. I have been in touch with mini of north america and they have asked me to keep a log as to how I drive and when it happens with temperature. The engine has oil and water on demand rather than all the time like regular engines. Starting this up with no oil in the head is bound to cause damage.
Car clunks while going over rough roads. As per diagnosis from mini dealership, the "transmission motor mount is too small and does not dampen shock from road bumps or acceleration torque" and was replaced.
Cold start chatter. Very nasty diesel engine sound upon startup when engine is cold. Sound lasts for up to 1 minute if I start driving right away, or 5 minutes if I let it sit idle. Occurs between 800 and 3000 RPM. Reproducible every time the engine is cold (ie, has not been used recently).
On 2007 mini cooper s, purchased new 12-2007, experiencing warped/melted/deformed scoops on bonnet(hood) due to extreme heat issue from turbo, scoop originally had zero cutouts, my cooper has 3 cutouts in scoop made by mfg, opening not large enough or fan does not run long enough to cool down the bonnet scoop or fan does not run at all, fan runs about 30% of the time only & warping occurs on the bonnet scoop which is painted plastic. If the bonnet scoop was metal, this would not be an issue. Heat can reach 235 degrees. Have been opening hood when re-parking in the garage to allow to vent/cool down. Opening hood not always possible ,obviously, when parking not at home. Would like mini (bmw) to address this problem, needs to replace the painted to match hood scoop, addressing with bmw 12-19-2008.
I own a 2007 mini cooper s hardtop. Last may, while taking some shopping packages out of the back ,through the hatch of my vehicle , I was burned on the side of my left calf by the exhaust pipe. A couple of weeks after, it happened again, just not as badly as the first time thankfully. The first burn did blister and today,sept.30,2008, I still have a mark on my leg from this painful event.
The tailpipes, when hot, apparently protrude enough to cause severe burns to the leg. My 7 year old daughter sustained a serious burn this way when getting something out of the hatchback.
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