2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. IT BROKE APART AND FELL IN PIECES INTO THE OIL PAN. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.

PLEASE REFER TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT 10443238 FOR THE INITIAL INFORMATION. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE FOLLOW UP. THE CAR WENT IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE DIESELING SOUND THE CAR WAS MAKING. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OTHER ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE CHAIN TENSIONER WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST IS $2200. I STARTED RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. THIS LED TO A WEBSITE 'NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM'. USING THE SEARCH OF TIMING CHAIN, THERE WERE 15 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME REPAIR DONE ON THEIR CARS. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THESE TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS OR EVEN COMPLETE TIMING CHAIN BREAKAGE, THAT BMW HAS ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO OUTLINE THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO SERVICE ALL THESE CARS. THE BULLETIN NUMBER...

I HAVE THE S (TURBO) MODEL. WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE (LESS THAN 40 DEGREES) AND THE ENGINE IS COLD (SITTING OVERNIGHT) IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE AT START UP. THE FIRST 60 SECONDS OF IDLE IS AWFUL. THE ENGINE CLATTERS LIKE A DIESEL AND THERE IS A BUZZ AS WELL. LIKE A LOOSE HEAT SHIELD OR SOMETHING. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND TRUCKS IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE SOUND LIKE THIS AT IDLE WHEN IT'S COLD. THE ENGINE OIL IS FULL AND I HAVE SYNTHETIC OIL IN IT. SO OIL VISCOSITY CANNOT BE AN ISSUE. I AM WORRIED THAT ENGINE DAMAGE IS BEING DONE AND I AM GOING TO GET STUCK WITH AN ENGINE OR CYLINDER HEAD REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, THE ENGINE BEGINS TO QUIET DOWN AND THEN SMOOTHES OUT. BUT THOSE START UPS!! ABSOLUTELY GOD AWFUL. I WOULD...