Timing chain disaster
Discussion
Some points / questions.
There is no way you or anyone knew the oil level at the point of failure. Its possible to drain the sump, however unless its dry or really very low its difficult to prove the oil level as so much is held internally. Some companies have the ability to do forensic engine strip but your run of the mill main dealer, nope. They throw it in a skip or send it back to the factory.
Running with the oil low warning light on will do zero damage. They are designed to come on when the engine still has enough oil to operate for a considerable range at high load. Imagine you are in the middle of some back of beyond state in the USA and you are 200 miles between petrol stations... thus they turn the light on when its "low" but still able to operate for a considerable time. But your light was not on...
Dipping the oil after failure will probably give a false reading. The internals could be FUBARd. Is there even a dipstick on a countryman?
How did EH find out about this "problem" with the oil? Sounds to me like you maybe lead them down that path. You have already said you know nothing about cars, thus your comments have zero worth. Perhaps you should have said nothing. If it was your mechanic, then even worse IMHO.
Re-building the engine is probably possible, but maybe not worth it. Replacing it with another engine is probably better cost wise. Main dealers will not do this though. I suspect a main dealer would be charging IRO £8-10k for a replacement engine supplied and fitted. You can probably get a warrantied second hand unit for about 1/4 that cost. Labour to change, maybe £1.5k.
There is no way you or anyone knew the oil level at the point of failure. Its possible to drain the sump, however unless its dry or really very low its difficult to prove the oil level as so much is held internally. Some companies have the ability to do forensic engine strip but your run of the mill main dealer, nope. They throw it in a skip or send it back to the factory.
Running with the oil low warning light on will do zero damage. They are designed to come on when the engine still has enough oil to operate for a considerable range at high load. Imagine you are in the middle of some back of beyond state in the USA and you are 200 miles between petrol stations... thus they turn the light on when its "low" but still able to operate for a considerable time. But your light was not on...
Dipping the oil after failure will probably give a false reading. The internals could be FUBARd. Is there even a dipstick on a countryman?
How did EH find out about this "problem" with the oil? Sounds to me like you maybe lead them down that path. You have already said you know nothing about cars, thus your comments have zero worth. Perhaps you should have said nothing. If it was your mechanic, then even worse IMHO.
Re-building the engine is probably possible, but maybe not worth it. Replacing it with another engine is probably better cost wise. Main dealers will not do this though. I suspect a main dealer would be charging IRO £8-10k for a replacement engine supplied and fitted. You can probably get a warrantied second hand unit for about 1/4 that cost. Labour to change, maybe £1.5k.
motco said:
There's a low oil light on my 16 year old BMW and that's with a standard dipstick.
There isn't on my 2010 Mini Cooper S but it does have a dipstick although they are known to break and give the wrong readings ( pick up oil from the tube) our F57 Mini has no dipstick and is electronic. There is an oil quick check which states oil ok and another option to measure the oil. The most oil we have taken out of a Mini is 19 litres... 
The issues with these engines is why my son decided to go for a 330 CD this week rather than the 120/123d that we originally had in mind.
There were just so many cars on the market with broken engines, and such tales of woe on t'internet about the 120/123D engines self destructing that we eventually decided to steer clear of the 2.0 diesel engines entirely.
Best of luck OP, if it's any help there is no way the oil level being either at minimum or slightly below it would be the cause of your timing chain giving up. Maybe if you'd been running for a while with a couple of litres below minimum it might have, but if there was oil on the dipstick and no warning light on there's plenty for the engines to run on without issues. I checked the oil on one of my cars a few weeks back, it took 1.5 litres just to get the oil to register on the gauge, let alone another 1 litre needed to top up to max again. I did kick myself for allowing it to get that low however and now check more often.
There were just so many cars on the market with broken engines, and such tales of woe on t'internet about the 120/123D engines self destructing that we eventually decided to steer clear of the 2.0 diesel engines entirely.
Best of luck OP, if it's any help there is no way the oil level being either at minimum or slightly below it would be the cause of your timing chain giving up. Maybe if you'd been running for a while with a couple of litres below minimum it might have, but if there was oil on the dipstick and no warning light on there's plenty for the engines to run on without issues. I checked the oil on one of my cars a few weeks back, it took 1.5 litres just to get the oil to register on the gauge, let alone another 1 litre needed to top up to max again. I did kick myself for allowing it to get that low however and now check more often.
I asked before but went unanswered....
If you know the oil level was fine two weeks earlier then the level is low but not low enough to trigger the warning light and the engine goes caput, how often does Mini/EH think you should pop the bonnet and check the dipstick? Daily? Weekly? Before any journey? Every 100 miles?
If you know the oil level was fine two weeks earlier then the level is low but not low enough to trigger the warning light and the engine goes caput, how often does Mini/EH think you should pop the bonnet and check the dipstick? Daily? Weekly? Before any journey? Every 100 miles?
If I spent serious money on a modern car, any car, I would service it every 6 months or 6000 miles, all this 20k service interval will be proven to be a false economy in the long run as the early wearing of engine parts will create more problems like this thread is showing.
When I had a F10 5 series I was terrified of the chain snapping, so much so I paid 48 quid a month for a BMW warranty, and took it to main dealer for the main service it was due during my ownership, cost 550 quid.
What a mug.
When I had a F10 5 series I was terrified of the chain snapping, so much so I paid 48 quid a month for a BMW warranty, and took it to main dealer for the main service it was due during my ownership, cost 550 quid.
What a mug.
Bennyjames28 said:
If I spent serious money on a modern car, any car, I would service it every 6 months or 6000 miles, all this 20k service interval will be proven to be a false economy in the long run as the early wearing of engine parts will create more problems like this thread is showing.
When I had a F10 5 series I was terrified of the chain snapping, so much so I paid 48 quid a month for a BMW warranty, and took it to main dealer for the main service it was due during my ownership, cost 550 quid.
What a mug.
The early owners will benefit with extended intervals as less outlay on top of the purchase/lease but it's the later owners that will suffer but not really the worry of the manufacturer unless poor reliability affects the brand and they sell more spare parts as a bonus!When I had a F10 5 series I was terrified of the chain snapping, so much so I paid 48 quid a month for a BMW warranty, and took it to main dealer for the main service it was due during my ownership, cost 550 quid.
What a mug.
That is crazy about being so worried about something happening, not what you want after a costly purchase!
CO2000 said:
The early owners will benefit with extended intervals as less outlay on top of the purchase/lease but it's the later owners that will suffer but not really the worry of the manufacturer unless poor reliability affects the brand and they sell more spare parts as a bonus!
That is crazy about being so worried about something happening, not what you want after a costly purchase!
I loved the car, just wish it was a 530d, I wouldn't have paid BMW for a warranty then.That is crazy about being so worried about something happening, not what you want after a costly purchase!
As 2015 it will have the updated chain sets so early recalls are irrelevant. Just because it is a chain driven engine they can still fail and the N47 has a reputation for it. Mines on 155K miles and still sounds sweet. I asked my independent about doing the chains and their opinion was don't bother. Its an engine out job and costs £1k. If it fails it is normally just a few bits need rebuilding and typically costs from them about £1.2K
It should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
It should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
P700DEE said:
As 2015 it will have the updated chain sets so early recalls are irrelevant. Just because it is a chain driven engine they can still fail and the N47 has a reputation for it. Mines on 155K miles and still sounds sweet. I asked my independent about doing the chains and their opinion was don't bother. Its an engine out job and costs £1k. If it fails it is normally just a few bits need rebuilding and typically costs from them about £1.2K
It should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
Hi thanks for you reply. I did post previously about that. It's now at a mini specialist garage -not mini or EH . Yeah well this the 1st 2nd hand car I have bought hence why I took the guarantee. I made sure it had full BMW service history but has meant didly squat. I don't think I will be buying another 2nd hand car ever again. They have quoted about £2500 plus labour to fix going on similar repair but he hasn't seen the engine yet. It's at his garage but no space till Wednesday to look at itIt should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
WoodL said:
I don't think I will be buying another 2nd hand car ever again. They have quoted about £2500 plus labour to fix going on similar repair but he hasn't seen the engine yet. It's at his garage but no space till Wednesday to look at it
I nearly always buy used and have never ever had an issue in 30 odd years and most have been serviced by me. Then again I have never bought a Mini or BMW.My sister had a 3 series, many years ago and the timing chain went on that too.
WoodL said:
P700DEE said:
As 2015 it will have the updated chain sets so early recalls are irrelevant. Just because it is a chain driven engine they can still fail and the N47 has a reputation for it. Mines on 155K miles and still sounds sweet. I asked my independent about doing the chains and their opinion was don't bother. Its an engine out job and costs £1k. If it fails it is normally just a few bits need rebuilding and typically costs from them about £1.2K
It should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
Hi thanks for you reply. I did post previously about that. It's now at a mini specialist garage -not mini or EH . Yeah well this the 1st 2nd hand car I have bought hence why I took the guarantee. I made sure it had full BMW service history but has meant didly squat. I don't think I will be buying another 2nd hand car ever again. They have quoted about £2500 plus labour to fix going on similar repair but he hasn't seen the engine yet. It's at his garage but no space till Wednesday to look at itIt should be covered by the warranty, if not yet another reason never to take an after market one out!!!
Don't let EH fix. Don't take it to Mini main dealer, find a good local independent and get it fixed by them. Could be cheaper than EH fixing on warranty via mini if they don't fully cover the cost.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff