Question 1

What does a timing belt do?

Accepted Answer

The timing belt, or cambelt, is a vital engine component with a key role to play in keeping your motor running smoothly. It ensures the top and bottom halves of your engine rotate precisely in time with each other. 
Essentially, this ribbed rubber belt with teeth synchronises the crankshaft and camshaft’s rotation. It controls the sequencing and timing of the opening and closing of the valves on the cylinders in your engine to provide the right combustion. 
Camshafts, made up of the main journals, the lobes (or bulges) and the ends, control the valves in the cylinder head. A rocker head takes the spinning motion of an overhead camshaft and turns it into the movement that opens and closes the valves. 
Timing chains essentially perform the same function as cambelts but may be slightly noisier. The chains generally last as long as the vehicle (and generally require less frequent replacing), although the plastic guides they run over may not.

Question 2

How often should a timing belt need replacing?

Accepted Answer

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach for how often to replace yours—a lot depends on your motor’s age and condition. 
There’s also huge variation between manufacturers and different engines. So you might need a new belt after 4 years, or 6, or after driving 40,000 or 100,000 miles. Consult your car’s manual—most manufacturers’ recommendations are based on time passed or miles driven, depending on which elapses first. However, we’d always suggest treating these recommendations as a maximum, and erring on the side of caution.

Question 3

The law, vehicle regulations, and your MOT

Accepted Answer

The timing belt will not be examined at your car’s MOT, but the associated issues of running a car with a faulty timing belt can lead to severe engine damage, which can.

Question 4

What happens when we replace your timing belt?

Accepted Answer

Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will disassemble the parts of the engine to access the timing belt and proceed to examine the timing belt, the belt’s pulleys and tensioner.
Wherever required your timing belt will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.
You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
Once the timing belt has been replaced, our mechanics will test your car thoroughly to ensure the correct running of the new part and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

Question 5

What causes a timing belt to stop working correctly?

Accepted Answer

Like most car parts, your timing belt will wear out eventually due to cracking, snapping or tearing. Timing belts are also unpredictable, with few warning signs of damage. (Although starting issues and noise may offer clues.) Driving your car infrequently, oil leaks and temperature changes, among other factors, can all play their part.

Question 6

Symptoms of a malfunctioning timing belt

Accepted Answer

If a grinding or squeaking noise is being emitted from your engine, it could be a malfunctioning timing belt.

Question 7

You hear unusual noises coming from the engine

Accepted Answer

If your timing belt has broken, this can cause problems with your engine that lead to the vehicle not starting.

Question 8

Mini

Accepted Answer

Mini is a British automotive marque that has been owned by the German multinational vehicle manufacturer BMW since 2000.The Mini brand was originally introduced in 1969 when the vehicle model became a marque in its own right, breaking away from the Austin and Morris brands under the British Leyland umbrella.

Question 9

How popular is Mini in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

The Mini Hatch was the 7th best selling car of 2018 in the UK. Mini is a consistent favourite among buyers with a leaning for British cultural icons and retro styling.There are around 750k Mini cars on the roads, showing that the brand is still as popular as ever due to their compact sizing, attractive styling and its reputation as a classy and classic small car.

Question 10

Mini: a premium product of British motoring

Accepted Answer

With its unique and unmistakable styling, Mini is firmly placed as a premium product. Its ownership by BMW has added advantages in production, by being able to lean on the executive luxury German marque for many of the advanced technological systems and specialist industry knowledge used in their manufacture.

Question 11

A piece of British culture and a Hollywood star

Accepted Answer

Enhancing its popularity as a household name, the original British Mini became a star of the silver screen when it appeared predominantly in the gold-heist movie ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969, starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward.  With a remake hitting the screens in 2003, the new Mini was called on to star once again, and a selection of Mini hatch models continued the tradition by featuring in the film.

Question 12

Mini: a new competitor to the most popular 3-door hatchbacks

Accepted Answer

Despite its small footprint, the Mini hatch is providing real competition to the Audi A1 and VW Polo due to its premium quality build. And with the weight of BMW behind them, it’s easy to see why.

Question 13

Mini’s reliability and reputation

Accepted Answer

Mini ranked 22nd out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. That might not look so great at first glance, but bigger brand names fell further down the list. Mercedes, Jaguar, Jeep and Land Rover all featured in the lowest 5 places.

Question 14

Recent Mini recalls and reliability issues

Accepted Answer

Various recalls have been made on Mini models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.

Question 15

29/09/2019 – Mini Countryman (2016–2018)

Accepted Answer

A crash guard is lacking for the high-pressure fuel pump in the engine compartment.

Question 16

13/07/2018 – Mini Countryman (2018)

Accepted Answer

The bearings on the front axle could break.

Question 17

20/01/2017 – Mini (2016)

Accepted Answer

The side, head and knee protection airbags of the front passenger seat may not work.

Question 18

05/12/2014 – Mini (2014)

Accepted Answer

There is a fault affecting the adjustment mechanism (recliner) of the front seat backrests.

Question 19

31/10/2014 – Mini (2013–2014)

Accepted Answer

The flange nut on the mounting plate of the emergency spare wheel may become loose gradually.All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.

Car make and model	Average dealer price	Price estimate	Average savings
Mini Roadster	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini Hatch	£474	£364 - £445	£69
Mini Clubvan	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Convertible	£636	£466 - £582	£112
Mini Clubman	£575	£438 - £536	£88
Mini Mini Hatch	£565	£405 - £528	£98
Mini Coupe	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Clubvan	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Paceman	£480	£300 - £557	£51
Mini Convertible	£699	£524 - £640	£116
Mini Coupe	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini Hatch	£474	£364 - £445	£69
Mini Clubman	£575	£438 - £536	£88
Mini Mini Hatch	£565	£405 - £528	£98
Mini Paceman	£630	£501 - £613	£72
Mini Clubman	£559	£412 - £503	£102
Mini Mini	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Clubvan	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini	£469	£300 - £498	£70
Mini Roadster	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini Hatch	£474	£364 - £445	£69
Mini Clubvan	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Mini	£330	£270 - £330	£30
Mini Convertible	£636	£466 - £582	£112

Mini timing belt replacement

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Our expert insights into Mini timing belt replacement

Our expert insights into Mini timing belt replacement

What does a timing belt do?

Symptoms of a malfunctioning timing belt

How much does it cost to fix my car?

What happens when we replace your timing belt?

What does a timing belt do?

Symptoms of a malfunctioning timing belt

How much does it cost to fix my car?

What happens when we replace your timing belt?

Our trusted and certified garages

Millennium Garages

London, UK

Holocene Motor Group

London, UK

Blenheim Transport Ltd

London, UK

Canning Car Care

London, UK

Dundalk Motors

London, UK

Universal Automobile Engineers

London, UK

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We cover all makes and models — anywhere in the UK

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