Service bulletin SIM-11-04-13

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10054635
Published by NHTSA	2014-02-11
Manufacturer's number	SIM-11-04-13
Manufacturer's date	2014-01-01
Replaces	SIM-11-04-13-A
NHTSA component	ENGINE

NHTSA's summary

MINI: TENSIONER SPRING FORCE COULD BE TOO LOW AND SEVERITY OF WEAR CAN CAUSE RATTLING NOISE WHEN IDLING OR STARTING COLD ENGINE, AND TIMING CHAIN INTERNAL TOLERANCES IS NOT CONSISTENT. MODEL R55, R56, R57. NO YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 3/14/14. *PE

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Engine

Vehicles listed
MINI COOPER	2013
MINI COOPER CLUBMAN	2011
MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE	2009

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
M010419	2020-02-18. Service bulletin. CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N14 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HDP) SERVICE BENEFIT CLASS VEHICLES: The MINI vehicle may experience a sudden engine operational failure reduced or loss of power while driving and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) may be illuminated along with high-pressure fuel pumprelated faults stored in the Engine Control Module (DME). PROCEDURE Perform the corresponding diagnosis/vehicle test and run the test plans to completion as applicable.
M110612	2018-12-03. Service bulletin. During Engine Oil Service a Small O-Ring Is Found in the Oil Filter Housing. No customer complaint has been received. During the scheduled engine oil service, the technician notices a black rubber o-ring lying on the bottom of the engine oil filter housing. The o-ring has been dislodged from the non-return valve inside the engine oil filter housing. No subsequent engine damage occurs from the dislodged o-ring. Engine oil filter housing (1) Rubber o-ring (2) The material dimensions of the rubber o-ring are not satisfactory, allowing it to become dislodged from its installation location.
M120113	2018-12-03. Service bulletin. N16 Engine: FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal Is Stored in the DME. Certain areas of the US experience extremely cold climate conditions during the winter months, which can cause the Service Engine Soon lamp to illuminate while the engine temperature is increasing to full operating temperature. The following fault may be stored in the DME: ??FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal CAUSE Unfavorable DME knock sensor diagnostic at outside ambient temperatures below -5° C
M110309	2018-11-26. Service bulletin. Whistling Noise from the Water Pump Area. A whistling or squealing noise is heard from the engine at idle and/or at higher engine speeds. CAUSE 1. Noise is caused by the water pump. 2. Noise is caused by the friction wheel of the belt tensioner.
M110112	2018-11-26. Service bulletin. Engine Oil Leak. The customer states that a small engine oil leak can be seen from the underside of the engine. CAUSE The internal sealing of the oil pump volume control solenoid valve is compromised, allowing engine oil to leak from the oil pump volume control solenoid.
M120113	2018-11-26. Service bulletin. "N16 Engine: FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal Is Stored in the DME. Certain areas of the US experience extremely cold climate conditions during the winter months, which can cause the Service Engine Soon lamp to illuminate while the engine temperature is increasing to full operating temperature. The following fault may be stored in the DME: FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal While performing test plan B1214 M KNOCK SENSOR, the following error message will be displayed: ""An error has occurred during execution of a service program. Fault code: 61/3."" This error in the test plan will not allow diagnosis to continue. The test plan error will be repaired with ISTA/D 2.36.0. CAUSE A DME calibration error in the knock sensor diagnostics results in an increased sensitivity threshold to cold temperatures."
M110414	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. N16 Engine: Oil Leak from Cylinder Head Sealing Plug. An oil leak can develop at a sealing plug located in the cylinder head, just below the vacuum pump. The sealing plug was not tightened sufficiently during production.
M110414	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. N16 Engine: Oil Leak from Cylinder Head Sealing Plug. An oil leak can develop at a sealing plug located in the cylinder head, just below the vacuum pump. CAUSE The sealing plug was not tightened sufficiently during production.
M120114	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. N16: Fault 274D Mixture Adaptation Is Stored in the DME. Certain low speed, light-load driving conditions at lower outside temperatures could cause the Service Engine Soon lamp (MIL) to illuminate. The following fault would be stored in the DME: Fault 274D: Mixture adaptation, lower engine speed range (mixture too lean) CAUSE 1. Possible intake/exhaust leaks, or a faulty component as listed in the test plan 2. Unfavorable DME software
M110112	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. N16 and N18 Engine Oil Leak. The customer states that a small engine oil leak can be seen from the underside of the engine. CAUSE The internal sealing of the oil pump volume control solenoid valve is compromised, allowing engine oil to leak from the oil pump volume control solenoid.