2005 Mini Cooper Timing Belt/Chain Replacement

[supertans]

Excuse my ignorance, but I seem to have read somewhere that ALL Mini's need to replace the above around 60k mileage ? My wife's 2005 Petrol Mini Cooper has just clocked up that figure so was wondering if indeed this would be the case & if so how much - we live in the East Midlands area for pricing.

Any thoughts or assistance would be much appreciated.

[and31]

No you don’t need to replace the “timing belt/“chain at this mileage-it’s a chain and will only need replacing if it gets stretched-ignore the previous “advice “ you’ve been given-my modified 2005 cooper s is on the original chain at 75,000 and no sign whatsoever of needing a new chain and hopefully won’t ever need one

[Dave.]

My chain tensioner went at around 50k mile/10yrs old. (S though, but the same applies iirc)

Replaced it myself which fix the death rattle but it came back after a few weeks.

The plastic chain guides had broken up and ended up in the sump, a couple of small pieces were in the oil pickup.

Got the chain/guides/tensioner/sprockets replaced at a garage.

If it’s a keeper, might be worth changing the guides and tensioner. Not a terrible job if you’re handy with the spanners, but probably quite time consuming.

[RiccardoG]

Dave, is that for an R50 with a Tritec engine or a R56 model MINI with a Prince engine?

We have a 2005 Cooper (Tritec) and not aware that it needs any belts/chain guides replacing nor that they can rattle.

[Dave.]

RiccardoG said:

Dave, is that for an R50 with a Tritec engine or a R56 model MINI with a Prince engine?

We have a 2005 Cooper (Tritec) and not aware that it needs any belts/chain guides replacing nor that they can rattle.

Mine’s an R53, but I believe the block is pretty much the same as in the R50 barring a few internals.

The chain tensioner can fail/seize, causing the chain the flap about which can damage the chain guides.

When the tensioner goes bad you’ll know, it makes an horrendous noise.

Edited by Dave. on Wednesday 26th June 19:29

[RiccardoG]

Dave. said:

Mine’s an R53, but I believe the block is pretty much the same as in the R50 barring a few internals.

The chain tensioner can fail/seize, causing the chain the flap about which can damage the chain guides.

When the tensioner goes bad you’ll know, it makes an horrendous noise.

Edited by Dave. on Wednesday 26th June 19:29

Thanks, was not aware this could be an issue (having owned ours 10+ years). Good to know in case weird noises come to be!

And yes, the engines in R50 & 53s are pratically the same as far as I know, even though I believe the R53 had stronger internals.

[Pistom]

Generally, it only needs repair if noisy and only gets noisy if it's not been maintained with regular oil changes and top ups when it even hints at being less than full.

[supertans]

RiccardoG said:

Dave, is that for an R50 with a Tritec engine or a R56 model MINI with a Prince engine?

We have a 2005 Cooper (Tritec) and not aware that it needs any belts/chain guides replacing nor that they can rattle.

Just checked and it says its an R50 - whatever that means !!!

[Dave.]

Means it's a One or a Cooper Hatch

R53 is the Supercharged Cooper S Hatch

R52 is the Convertible, whether it's a One/Cooper/Cooper S

That covers the first gen.... Things got a little bit simpler with the 2nd gen

[RiccardoG]

Pistom said:

Generally, it only needs repair if noisy and only gets noisy if it's not been maintained with regular oil changes and top ups when it even hints at being less than full.

Ah... We've changed the oil every 2k miles on average (based on age), so hopefully won't get this.