It's an important part and definitely not cheap.... You might want to have it verified as bad or going bad before spending the money (Best.... Dealer).... I hate to see money spent as a "Parts Replacement Procedure"..... I'm sure Bentley was a test procedure..... Probably a simple vacuum gauge.... Have you noticed the brakes didn't have the same assist?
Diffinantly stop driving it and get that checked out...When that vaccum pump goes it can cause a world of problems....
^^^ If the pump locks up the exhaust cam stops. The engine runs until the pistons hit the valves. In short the engine becomes junk in an instant.
Everything seems to be working properly. Brakes are working perfectly, no power loss or anything like that. Now I do seem to hit a rough spot in the idle every so often, and then there is the tapping. It just can't be easy can it??
I would still get the problem diagnosed..... The MINI engine, unlike other engines, needs to generate the vacuum via this pump.... What has me wondering.... The vacuum pump just sits there being driven off the exhaust cam. It's connected by a "tongue and groove" joint.... The idle jumping around has me wondering if it's not timing or tensioner issues.... Ala... loose chain.... That possible loose chain can be causing the idle bouncing around..... If the exhaust cam is jerking.... It could be creating the clatter you hear in the vacuum pump connection... Anyway.... Just my $0.02 worth of internet mechanic analysis.... Long story short.... Don't bork your engine.... But make sure you know what's causing the problem and not the symptom.... Just seems premature for the vac pump to be going on a 2010 MINI..... Especially when the timing chain has been a real "go around" known issue.....
I have read of a couple of cases of a seized vacuum pump causing total borkage of the engine. Not a common problem, but a huge one if it happens to you. Timing chain & tensioner on one end of the cam & vacuum pump on the other. Possibly related.
Its not a constant thing, just a slight shudder in the idle from time to time, the rpms barely drop and then it evens back out and runs like normal.
Talked to one of the guys at Best Motor Works, and he said they have never had to replace one for being noisy but normally for leaking oil. He said to call back tomorrow afternoon to see if they can fit me in for a quick look see tomorrow after work. I made a recording of the noise, but I can't attach from my phone.
John & Anson can help you out. Both are accomplished wrenches. I'm glad to hear you are getting this looked into.
Stopped at Best Motor Werks and had Anson take a listen to the noise the vacuum pump was making. He told me that it's working just fine and that my car is probably the quietest running Mini they have had in the shop, lol. He did tell me that if it gets louder it will need to be replaced pretty quickly. So hopefully that will give me a little time to save a little extra to buy the part and not have to rush. So I'll probably order one soonish and just go ahead and change it before it becomes a problem. John and Anson were awesome and I really appreciate them squeezing me in when they were so busy. Thanks guys.
I have a 07 cooper S and had the chains replaced like 3 times all under wro. I still have to tap some but all is fine. So I have given up on my noise but it could be the chains. I would look into them and the oil pump could be noisy too