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.

- Midlothia, VA, USA

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 is M11 02 07. About a dozen parts have to be replaced under this service bulletin. When the timing chain stretches too far out of spec or just breaks, and the car is under warranty, BMW will fix it. If it's out of warranty, the $2200 cost is the customers problem. BMW will not admit that these parts were under engineered, but they are. The replacement timing chain and tensioner are more robust to handle the engine loads. If the parts were properly engineered in the first place, BMW and it's customers would not have had to make all these expensive repairs. In some cases when the timing chain broke when the car was still within warranty, intake and exhaust valves ran into the pistons causing the need for entire engine replacement. The cost for that was $9000. If this happened when the car was out of warranty, the customer had to pay the $9000. Because of the number of people affected, this issue just screams recall but BMW will not step up to it. Please begin an investigation and help us!!

- Oxford, MI, USA

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 love to see an investigation started on this vehicle. I have read about this issue in MINIcooper forums online and this is a widespread and complained about issue. BMW has apparently tried a number of fixes to no avail, but something has to be wrong. Something is just not engineered correctly. I bought the car used in the spring of 2011 and the temperatures were warm enough that the cold start clattering wasn't too bad. But by October when the morning lows were colder, the problem really began to show up. Nothing has broken yet but it sure sounds like something is ready to let loose. Help!

- Oxford, MI, USA