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Are there any examples of any members of the Adeptus Mechanicus saying screw you to the Imperium and joining the Tau?

on the first, yes (see: Dark Mechanicum), on the second no.

Yes, actually.

In Fire Caste by Peter Fehervari, set approximately 50 years after the Damocles Gulf Crusade, Tech-priests are monitoring an Imperial installation under the supervision of the tau.

It isn't clear if they're completely renegade, or just going about their business regardless of who claimed to be in charge, but it's implied that they were in league with the Tau Empire since they shared rejuvenat technologies with the tau around this time.

The Por'o in charge of the installation was over eighty years old thanks to the tech-priests there.

That would be very interesting to see.

if they're completely renegade

Surprisingly, they are loyal to Imperium - as far as tech-priests can be

One must remember that that whole war was a collaboration effort by both sides. With Tau advisor next to imperial commander, for example. So, tech-priests giving tau access to their facilities is, strangely enough, them obeying the Imperial Authority.
After the events of that book, tech-priest in charge broke their cooperation, and some time later mounted an attack on remaining tau forces, while being glad he will erase the truth of their cooperation along the way (see 'Vanguard')

Thanks, Survivor. Sounds like I need to give Vanguard a read.

Survivor19 wrote:

Surprisingly, they are loyal to Imperium - as far as tech-priests can be

One must remember that that whole war was a collaboration effort by both sides. With Tau advisor next to imperial commander, for example. So, tech-priests giving tau access to their facilities is, strangely enough, them obeying the Imperial Authority.
After the events of that book, tech-priest in charge broke their cooperation, and some time later mounted an attack on remaining tau forces, while being glad he will erase the truth of their cooperation along the way (see 'Vanguard')

Still if they shared technology (and didn't just use it on the Tau) that's a pretty big deal.

SomeRandomEvilGuy wrote:

Survivor19 wrote:

Surprisingly, they are loyal to Imperium - as far as tech-priests can be

One must remember that that whole war was a collaboration effort by both sides. With Tau advisor next to imperial commander, for example. So, tech-priests giving tau access to their facilities is, strangely enough, them obeying the Imperial Authority.
After the events of that book, tech-priest in charge broke their cooperation, and some time later mounted an attack on remaining tau forces, while being glad he will erase the truth of their cooperation along the way (see 'Vanguard')

Still if they shared technology (and didn't just use it on the Tau) that's a pretty big deal.

The AdMech oftentimes has much less issues making deals with xenos than the Imperium. The AdMech is a seperate empire from the Imperium, and not bound by imperial laws and dogma on xenos. If they have to make a deal with xenos to get to their beloved sacred technology, so be it.

The AdMech are the ones who dictate tech policy to the Imperium, though. If xenotech is heretical to the Imperium, its because The Adeptus Mechanicus told them it's Heretical.