NHTSA Complaint #10551696 — 2009 MINI COOPER S

I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 24K MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 28K MILES. IT HAS BEEN STARTING AND RUNNING JUST FINE, UNTIL THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER. NOW IF THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE FOR A FEW HOURS WITH THE TEMP BELOW ABOUT 45 DEGREES, THE ENGINE RATTLES AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE WHEN I FIRST START IT. THIS IS A VERY LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE IS SO BAD THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT WARMS UP AND THE SOUND GOES AWAY. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE, I AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDE SYSTEM. I WISH I HAD RESEARCHED THESE CARS BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE BECAUSE NOW I OWN AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. *TR