Mini One 2012 - Engine idle issue

[miasoldman]

We have an issue with our 2012 Mini where it is not idling properly. It looks like my son was using the car when it was low on oil. The issue started after he drove for 60 miles. The RAC came out and thought it might be the Vanos unit. The engine error light is on and apparently the diagnostics from the first garage were highlighting 1) Oil Pressure Valve 2) CAM Shaft system faults 3) Exhaust idle control fault. The first garage said they couldn’t fix it and suggested we take it to a specialist.

The car is now in another garage who specialise in German cars. They just called to say there is too much oil and the car might need a new timing chain.

Has anyone had similar issues ?

I am no mechanic but not sure how a timing chain will be the root cause of these errors.

UPDATE : the garage now think the car needs approx £2500 of parts and labour to repair. The parts required are :

2 new Vanos units
New timing chain
CAM shaft sensor
Guiderail
2 tensioners
Top side rail
Sprockets

Anyone had a similar experience / issue with their Mini ? Be interested in feedback/views on this

Edited by miasoldman on Thursday 9th January 21:51

[cuprabob]

miasoldman said:

We have an issue with our 2012 Mini where it is not idling properly. It looks like my son was using the car when it was low on oil. The issue started after he drove for 60 miles. The RAC came out and thought it might be the Vanos unit. The engine error light is on and apparently the diagnostics from the first garage were highlighting 1) Oil Pressure Valve 2) CAM Shaft system faults 3) Exhaust idle control fault. The first garage said they couldn’t fix it and suggested we take it to a specialist.

The car is now in another garage who specialise in German cars. They just called to say there is too much oil and the car might need a new timing chain.

Has anyone had similar issues ?

I am no mechanic but not sure how a timing chain will be the root cause of these errors.

Any help / feedback would be much appreciated

A stretched timing chain could cause the "2) Camshaft faults" as the sensor on the crankshaft and the camshaft(s) monitor the time and if it's out it will trigger a fault. A symptom of incorrect timing is a rough idle.

[miasoldman]

Thanks Bob, appreciate the feedback. I understand the logic form the garage based on that. I would say the idling issues are where the car might idle then lose revs and stall. When driving the car, I am having to really rev it up to take off. When I was driving this morning , I had to keep revving the car about 2000 revs to have any chance of pulling away without stalling.

[21TonyK]

miasoldman said:

Anyone had a similar experience / issue with their Mini ? Be interested in feedback/views on this

Not specific to your problem but if not maintained and babied a bit as they got older these cars do seem to have the potential to throw up some big bills which previous owners may have avoided by selling the car at an appropriate point. ie. before a timing chain needs doing.

It's not specific to Minis though and other things can and do crop up.

I've just been quoted 800 quid to put a new clutch in a 2011 Mini One. Cars probably only worth 3K with 90K on the clock but the chain has been done and aside from the clutch it runs perfectly and will go one for a few more years with a bit of care.

I guess its whether the car is worth the investment.

Edited by 21TonyK on Monday 13th January 19:43

[miasoldman]

Tony thanks for the response. This is the 2nd hefty bill for this car but not as sore as this latest quote. I am questioning the value of spending that much on a £4.5k car but my wife loves it and it does run well….normally

[21TonyK]

For me it comes down to what value it is to me, not what its worth to buy or sell.