Mini Cooper S 07 - death rattle - timing chain fault
Discussion
Hi all,
My mother owned a mini cooper s 52 plate from new. Sold it in Feb, and replaced it with another Mini cooper s 07 plate (2nd generation i believe) at the end of Feb - 16000 miles. She took out a Gold warranty (12 months)
She bought it from a private dealer over 200 miles away, drove it home with no problems. The next day she had an operation on her foot, and has not been driving since until the last week or so.
On start up there is the 'death rattle' that i have been reading about on the forums. It apparently is timing chains/tensioners. (no doubt this rattle will have pre-existed our purchase) We had a diagnostic test done at our local Mini dealership (where we bought our orginal mini from new) last week and the service rep explained that it has been condemned!! The warranty provider is not playing ball - saying the part needs to be broken before they'll pay out?!
My mum was expecting the very same reliability from the new mini as she had from the old one, and now it seems (from reading the forums) that there is a manifest design fault in the tensioners/timing chain system in the 07 2nd generation mini's.
So a bit of advice from anyone with experience of these types problems would be appreciated!
1. Should we go back to the private dealer to put it right/money back?
2. Should we press the warranty provider (that the part clearly is broke because it is not fit for purpose)
3. should we press the mini dealership/Mini UK to have the problem fixed FOC because it clearly is a very well recognised design fault - and gesture of goodwill having bought from them in the past?(albeit we are without manufacturer warranty)
I know tht was long winded but would appreciated thoughts/comments
Edster
My mother owned a mini cooper s 52 plate from new. Sold it in Feb, and replaced it with another Mini cooper s 07 plate (2nd generation i believe) at the end of Feb - 16000 miles. She took out a Gold warranty (12 months)
She bought it from a private dealer over 200 miles away, drove it home with no problems. The next day she had an operation on her foot, and has not been driving since until the last week or so.
On start up there is the 'death rattle' that i have been reading about on the forums. It apparently is timing chains/tensioners. (no doubt this rattle will have pre-existed our purchase) We had a diagnostic test done at our local Mini dealership (where we bought our orginal mini from new) last week and the service rep explained that it has been condemned!! The warranty provider is not playing ball - saying the part needs to be broken before they'll pay out?!
My mum was expecting the very same reliability from the new mini as she had from the old one, and now it seems (from reading the forums) that there is a manifest design fault in the tensioners/timing chain system in the 07 2nd generation mini's.
So a bit of advice from anyone with experience of these types problems would be appreciated!
1. Should we go back to the private dealer to put it right/money back?
2. Should we press the warranty provider (that the part clearly is broke because it is not fit for purpose)
3. should we press the mini dealership/Mini UK to have the problem fixed FOC because it clearly is a very well recognised design fault - and gesture of goodwill having bought from them in the past?(albeit we are without manufacturer warranty)
I know tht was long winded but would appreciated thoughts/comments
Edster
I would go back to the warranty provider and press your case, seems silly that they want you to break the part and the engine. If Mini have confirmed that the chain/tensioner is nacked can you get a report from Mini and forward it to the warraty provider?
For what its worth, this has just happened to me with a cherished mini, bought it one week the next week it was in having this work done, 08 model with 16k miles.
Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
For what its worth, this has just happened to me with a cherished mini, bought it one week the next week it was in having this work done, 08 model with 16k miles.
Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
will wait for their lines to open monday and give them a ring!
surely they will see sense if Mini confirm the timing chains are stretched! have just noticed warranty provider states tensioners excluded! so that will mean they cover the chains but not tensioners presumably!
we got the warranty through the private dealer - so he reckons his back is covered. If the warranty provider says no then will try to take the fight to the dealer - perhaps sale of goods act - though i've never heard anyone have any success with that.
Will see how it all goes (fun and games - i think not!!)
cheers
surely they will see sense if Mini confirm the timing chains are stretched! have just noticed warranty provider states tensioners excluded! so that will mean they cover the chains but not tensioners presumably!
we got the warranty through the private dealer - so he reckons his back is covered. If the warranty provider says no then will try to take the fight to the dealer - perhaps sale of goods act - though i've never heard anyone have any success with that.
Will see how it all goes (fun and games - i think not!!)
cheers
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