R56 Cooper S tensioner.

[bazza white]

Picked up a 2009 Cooper S yesterday.good fun and want to keep it that way. Is it worth buying a new tensioner and swapping them out. Its a £35 part but does it prevent the inevitable.

Seems no rattle currently and would like to keep it that way.

[rigga]

Did mine not long after purchase, there's a theory kicking about that with all the revisions of the tensioner, adding springs etc, the machining tolerance is too tight, and the extended oil change regime allows crud to block the sliding surfaces within the tensioner causing it to stick, and not take up tension quick enough on start up, as I say its just a theory, but the new one did indeed feel smoother in operation compared to the one I removed. Going to yearly oil changes rather than bi annual can't be a bad thing either.

[550Anniv]

..For £35.00 simply yes!
I have a 2007 Cooper S, and engine failure does concern me. So I have the oil and filter changed each year, as the car does low miles and at last service I had the tensioner replaced.
My thoughts are that before the chain fails, I should hear enough of a metallic rattling to turn the engine off and hopefully save the engine.

I wonder what other people's thoughts are?

[rigga]

Tensioner is only about £20 by the way if you're confident of swapping it yourself, mini will of course want lots to do it.
The noise is apparent from cold starts and termed, "death rattle " for good reason, if its not caught quick, enough it can break the plastic guides first, then flap about so much till it breaks and totals the engine.

[pointedstarman]

Found out today that the garage I bought my car from a few weeks ago changed the tensioner on my car as a matter of course prior to delivery (2007 MCS). Was told by the technician who did the job. e

[bazza white]

Cheers will so it once weather changes. Is that £20 from mini themselves as obviously I want the latest one.

Only suppesed to take an hour so that's 2 and a bit of swearing. Do they have to be torqued to x up or just tightened

[rigga]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-Timing-Chain-Tensio...

That's from a main dealer, there is a torque setting as one of the issue's is that some engines came with tensioners under tightened, and the body backed out and spewed oil everywhere, and I believe its 46 lbf ft / 63 Nm.

[bazza white]

After someone else in the thread above has the issue I've ordered and will replace asap. Fingers crossed its the latest revision.


Wallnut blast next and should be on for a while touch wood.

[rigga]

Try an independent mini specialist for the valve cleaning, much cheaper than BMW, and even some main dealers don't offer the service, mine cost £150, and did make a difference to the way the car ran.