I looked at the service procedures in the Bentley manual and they use the timing chain links along with the tool. 

When the tensioner is installed, it should have been locked in the fully compressed position.  After installing the tensioner, it had to be manually released - is this what you did?

Ken

Thanks for the reply! ?? but if the links in the timing chain aren't always accurate then what would I have to go by? If I do get a timing tool how would I set the chain? Sorry if I'm confusing or asking dumb questions. 
Thanks 

It seems the use of the copper links in the timing chain is not always accurate.  We recommend the use of the timing tool to set the timing.

Hello everyone, "I'm new to this page" I have a quick question I was hoping you guys could help me out with my problem? I just recently rebuilt my 02 Mini Cooper S 2 specs.. I did the startup not too long ago everything seemed fine so I finally gave it some gas. It doesn't seem to pass 3000 3500 RPMs and it starts to pop and backfired. I decided to do a compression test sadly it came back at 90 across the board. I had the block hot tanked and honed at a machine shop before the the built. I shot air into each cylinder and no valves seem to be leaking. I'm getting some blow by tho "cold temp", it's not a lot . But I'm second-guessing my timing , I didn't put piston one TDC when I set my timing chain. But I made sure the copper links are where they need to be. I hope my piston rings are fine   my question is what's the correct way to set the timing ? I double-checked everything gas , spark , vacuum ect..