Great! Thanks Greg

 

Just got off the phone with BMW usa. They will be sending one of their traveling engineer/technician types to come look at my car soon.

 

Dropped the car off yesterday. Someone from BMW/Mini came and worked on it with the dealership tech. I guess they did some experimentation with the sway bar and drove several other F56 vehicles. They did not find a cause yet, but did take audio recording/ measurements that they will turn over to engineering for them to look into.

Picking up my car tonight and I do not know when or what kind of resolution will come from this. I still have hope they'll figure it out.

 

Well that's progress. Thanks for the update!

 

They are putting new rear shocks on my car on Monday. It can only be shocks or the bushings. I'll let you know if this works. My noise is obvious no visit from bmw necessary. It was not like that when I bought the car.

 

Yes please keep me updated! If BMW is too stupid to figure this out I will do so myself and go the aftermarket route if necessary.

 

I've been reading a lot about noises in both older Minis and BMWs, and it seems like this noise could possibly be associated with "rear sway bar end links," which apparently are not of good quality on former Minis. I wonder if this could still be the case with the F56?

 

on this last trip they supposedly disconnected the end links to see if that was the cause and it was not.

i'm still thinking it's the shocks, but i'm waiting on word from GregoryK and Donnaj to see if I should just buy a set on my own.

 

I dropped off my car today. They were going to replace the rear shocks and the driver's seat bottom. Gave me a call this afternoon. Changed my oil. Wrong parts for both issues. Another month wait. Great! Another month of rattles....this is bs.

 

My rear shocks are being fitted tomorrow! But it's weird how, since the fault has been pinpointed, the knocking hasn't bothered me nearly so much, in fact I've hardly noticed it!! Ha. Fingers crossed it's all fixed tomorrow, I'll be spitting feathers if it's not cured!

 

MY KNOCKS HAVE GONE!!!

 

So they replaced them and it stopped the noise?

 

Yep! Both rear shocks replaced
Maybe this sounds weird but the car just feels 'tighter' now. AND quiet! They must have been proper knackered!

 

great!!! i'm glad your car is fixed!!!

Would you be willing to share your VIN with me?
Also, could you maybe scan the paperwork from your service visits that show your complaint documented, what they did to diagnose, and the installation of the rear shocks? This would be a HUGE help!!

I would like to gather as much information as possible to give to my dealership to help get my car fixed because as of now I am still being told that this is normal and they haven't found a cause.

thanks!!!!

edit: i'll also send you a PM

 

Greg. It is interesting to me that you are having to prove to your dealer that something is wrong. BS in my opinion. My dealer took my word for it and did not take the car for a drive till week after they ordered the parts. This whole issue is well known. There were recalls in the UK.
Time to change shops imho.

 

I agree with the other Greg: you're getting the runaround. They flew in some tech to look at your car, and record stuff? Seriously? Just replace the freaking shocks and see if it fixes it (it will). Shocks are cheap, takes an hour or two. Bad dealership IMO. Next think your fuel pump will go out and they'll say it was because you put "bad gas" in it.

 

I like to think of it in terms of purchasing anything manufactured. If I bought a small plane and landing gear was faulty...or the flaps fell off.... or a fridge where it broke down after 2 months. Mini USA & Mini Canada need to get their **** together and have a "no- nonsense repair policy"!

 

Thanks for the support guys. Unfortunately in Pittsburgh we only we have one dealership.
I've even been getting the runaround from Mini USA has is calling the noise normal.

I requested that they ask the engineers/technicians who are calling it normal the following question:
How can you say that this is normal and not a safety issue when you have not determined the cause of the noise?

They do not have the slightest clue what it could be. All we have determined out of several days is that it sounds like it might maybe possibly be coming from the rear suspension.

 

Congratulations! Now you can enjoy cruising with the coop' without the annoying knocks.

 

Got my shocks replaced, but my cabin fan makes a high pitch squeal and the dealer verified, tried to fix but when they couldn't resolve it quickly said about half the cars make that sound and I need to wait and make an appointment with the traveling MINI engineers for official diagnosis. = more waiting and frustrated

 

Is your car an S? With or without DDC?
I'm still trying to get my shocks replaced :(

 

S with DDC

 

It's like driving a new car! Bloody fantastic!

 

There is a GOD!

 

Head for Philly, or Cleveland. You'd be amazed how different they can be with sits like this.