Engine Whistle at idle?? - Page 2

checkercoop · #26 04-15-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phineascomehome

well it was inconclusive....the stuborn little shiat wouldnt do it. I shouldnt talk that way about her.

I have a feeling that the temperature had some influence on it, it got down to like 32 when they had my car in the shop, and the noise never did it when it was that cold. Plus, they wouldnt keep it in the shop to find the noise because I needed a rental and they wouldnt pay for it anymore if they couldnt find a problem( not to say they didnt believe me, but they couldnt see it)

So i have my service man on speed dial and will take it back if it does it again.

Yeah thats what I had to do the first time (except it was more pronounced when cold)...it wouldn't whistle, so they couldn't find where to pin point it...so they said to come back when it does...so a week later a cold front came and it did it at every idle

Today was the coldest day of the week (cold front came in)...i thought it would be perfect to show them, but it actually worked against me...luckily he believed me (and it did whistle a few times when provoked) and he ordered me a new tensioner and will see what that does

phineascomehome · #27 04-16-2008, 12:15 AM

yeah, they gave me some lame excuses like, well you still have a lot of warranty so don't be worried. I am thinking, that isn't the point, WTF is warranty good for if they just send me away instead of finding the problem.

however, I began to think rationally and realized that I am not the only car in the shop, and it wasn't a problem that would leave me stranded, and I DO have a lot of warranty left, so I do have time to resolve it.

haha, I guess irrational thought can be common when it comes to my car. lemme know how the tensioner replacement does for ya.

checkercoop · #28 04-16-2008, 06:34 AM

yeah i know what you mean...I've been in a lot these past few months and its never anything serious (just a rattle hear and there...the engine whistle...nothing to leave me just annoyances). But you do tend to think "Its a brand new car, so it shouldn't do this"...but i do feel that whenever something stupid happens or something I am unsure of, I will just wait it out and see what happens...if it gets worse and can actually be heard then I will take it in haha i dont want to be annoying haha

rrcaniglia · #29 04-16-2008, 08:53 PM

I started my R56 '08 MINI this morning and guess what--there was a whistle! Never noticed it before. 41deg F. It continued after I backed out. Seemed linked to rpm. Lost track of it in traffic after I left the neighborhood.

Got to work (30 miles later) and it was gone. Tonight, leaving work, temp around 60deg F, no whistle.

My MINI dealer is two hours away. I'll be tracking the diagnosis here so I can tell my dealer when i next make the trip.

checkercoop · #30 04-16-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

I started my R56 '08 MINI this morning and guess what--there was a whistle! Never noticed it before. 41deg F. It continued after I backed out. Seemed linked to rpm. Lost track of it in traffic after I left the neighborhood.

Got to work (30 miles later) and it was gone. Tonight, leaving work, temp around 60deg F, no whistle.

My MINI dealer is two hours away. I'll be tracking the diagnosis here so I can tell my dealer when i next make the trip.

Yeah just find out every which way that it occurs and how you can make it happen on command...that way you can prove it to the dealer...the only few things it should be is the water pump, tensioner, or alternator (thats at least all ive heard it to be)

Unfortunately mine didn't stop at the water pump so now my 7000 mile car has a remanufactured water pump and a soon to be tensioner

rrcaniglia · #31 04-17-2008, 08:12 PM

I paid attention today. There at start-up (45degF). There when I got home (74degF). Can only hear it when in the garage, though that might be a result of 25 years of military aviation.

georgia7377 · #32 03-21-2010, 07:48 PM

I have taken my 08 in 5 times in a 4 month period for the same sound. They have supposedly replaced the water pump twice, belts, and tensioner. Flushed the coolant twice, and had my MINI for the entire past week. Have had it back 2 days now, and guess what??? It started squealing again. Not constant, but it's still doing it. Built it brand new, paid $30k, and it's not even 2 years old yet. I don't understand. If ANYBODY has resolved this issue please let me know what the fix was so I can relay it to the MINI dealership. Thanks

phineascomehome · #33 03-21-2010, 10:10 PM

I dont know what mine was, it was never actually diagnosed. Mine eventually went away. I noticed that the noise greatly reduced when the air conditioner function was on, and when it was off it came back full force. Last summer i went without the blower on, hence the whole climate control was inactive, and didnt hear anything. I dont know what to tell you man. When i took mine in the service center was with the BMW service center, and frankly, they treated me poorly. Since then, they have moved the mini operations to a separate location with autonomous service center and I have had exemplary service since.

just keep with it. remind them that you the customer and that while this is a device with a warranty, they are obligated to service your vehicle without question. Though this is not 100% true, you must stand firm on your side and dont let them budge. If need be, call the dealership management and express your concern, imply that there is an arbitration clause, and you will take all steps necessary to ensure that your vehicle is in optimal operating condition.

And to address the mechanics who might think i have a one sided, completely closed minded perspective: I do. This is a vehicle that I am paying close to 30K for before interest charges. I recognize that you can do your best under the circumstances; however, if I wanted a vehicle that persistently made horrendous noises i wouldve purchased a preowned whatchamacalit at an auction for $1500. Remember, this vehicle is suppose to reflect BMW's superior engineering. A squealing wretched noise from under my hood in a car with 20K miles does not epitomize paramount engineering.

My surly 5 cents lol.

georgia7377 · #34 03-21-2010, 10:16 PM

Thank you phineascomehome. I'm not giving up on my MINI yet

As long as it's under warranty, I will continue to bring it in. The sad thing now is they totally know who I am. Guess I will be calling them with the bad news in the morning.

checkercoop · #35 03-21-2010, 11:26 PM

Just keep pushing. Mine didn't work after the first waterpump replacement, but did after the 2nd and a tensioner replacement. It is definitely something caused by a combo of things at certain rpms/weather conditions. I only had it ever show up at around 500 rpm (lowest idle, warmed up, no AC, no nothing). Originally happened during the summer. The replacement pump happened in the winter. Just stand your ground and tell them it needs to be replaced until it stops making the noise. Otherwise threaten the lemon law on them.

Oxybluecoop · #36 03-21-2010, 11:43 PM

If your referring to a sound similar to a turbo spool mine's had that sound for it's whole life. Mellow at idle but when you hit the gas it climbs in pitch. Very noticeable in a drive-thru when your next to a wall.

PRinTX · #37 03-25-2010, 07:44 AM

Checkercoop, this thread is like a journal of all mini owners. I have i high pitch noise that sometimes sounds like a supercharger whine. Took it to different dealers and they all said is common. So, as long as they keep checking during normal maint. I'm ok with it.

checkercoop · #38 03-25-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRinTX

Checkercoop, this thread is like a journal of all mini owners. I have i high pitch noise that sometimes sounds like a supercharger whine. Took it to different dealers and they all said is common. So, as long as they keep checking during normal maint. I'm ok with it.

No this is about a different sound I believe. I know I get a supercharger like sound like OXYBLUE mentioned, but that is welcomed I think because it sounds awesome when at high revs. The sound this thread is directed to is a whistle only at idle that sounds like a 20 year old car with bad belts. It just is not normal. Now its vast normality amongst owners, to me, indicates a design flaw. It is some sort of bad combo of parts because my idle whistle has been long gone now after 2 replacements.

The dealers also told me my loud clutch clicking noise was normal, until they finally took it apart 2 years later and found out it was never greased from the factory. Don't believe everything they say because everyone messes up and it should be corrected since you paid for it.