So I bought a 2012 Countryman S All 4 in august. I knew of most of the gotcha's around this generation, and I knew what I was going to have to do on the car for maintenance (basically.. do all fluids. )
The price was right and it had the single option I wanted.. the cold weather package.

What I didn't do.. (and I have been kicking myself in the *** on this one) is take it down a bumpy road.. Everything around me was smooth roads.
Purchased the car after a week checking out other R60's as this one seemed to be in the best condition.

Sigh..
-----------------------------
So I have this knock.. coming from the front left wheel when I hit a bump and only when I hit a bump. (not when turning) its a nice bone chattering "oh my.. what did I just break!" knocking.. like suspension hitting the frame.
The dealer (used bmw specialist) has been absolutely amazing. I brought the car back the next day and told him about the knock. He immediately thought Sway bar bushings, and replaced them at no cost to me. Inspected the links and said they were good. NO change.
He then replaced the entire strut assembly and top housing. No change.
I've been there when he has checked the links and there is no play in them.. But to my untrained senses.. I'm second guessing it.

He's had the car about a week now off and on trying to fix this and has thrown a lot of new parts at it. (Again, no cost to me.)

He had me bring it to another bmw/mini shop who immediately said that if it wasn't the swaybar bushings, its the bottom motor mount.. and that there were marks on it from hitting the frame. (which i think was from us using a pry bar on it to test the mount.. which felt fine at the time) New mechanic also said all suspension was tight. So motor mount (and one time use bolt) ordered from local mini dealer...

OK. So at this point I got the motor mount and put it in myself last night. NO friggin change. The old mount was warn, but not shot..

So now we are at a loss. I've got the car going back to the 2nd shop next wednesday, and the dealer I bought it from is willing to fix whatever is wrong with it, he's just at a loss as to what it could be.

I've got 2 new moog end links coming friday *just* for good measure that I will put in myself over the weekend.
I know I could have the dealer do it, but I just want this fixed and I'm sick of waiting/being scared of hitting a pothole.
I grew up in a shop, so I am pretty mechanically inclined but I have NEVER heard a noise like this before lol.


My local Mini dealer is booking right now in the middle of October.. I don't want to wait that long.


Any suggestions?

TLDR:
If I hit a bump with my right (passenger) tire, NO noise... Left: Sounds like the suspension is falling apart. When at highway speeds this can be a little scary, and normal city driving makes me nervous as the roads around my work are absolute garbage. Swaybar bushing and bottom motor mount replaced. links are supposedly fine by 2 mechanics but I am thinking about replacing them just for good measure. ($50 shipped 2 day for moogs which I have had good luck with in the past)


(I can try to take a video while driving later on late this afternoon. not sure of the noise would be heard though)

 

check the transmission mount. I once had it fall on the subframe luckily right next to my house...

 

I second MiniToBe on the tranny mount, that's where my knock came from. Not saying that's DEFINITELY what yours is, but its absolutely worth a check, and not too difficult of a repair

 

This one? No.. that's the lower engine mount isn't it?

It wasn't this...

 

Here's the sound/video clip.
At 3 seconds and then again at 30 seconds..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XdFrDfi37LvpBCN76

 

Not this, this is the lower engine mount. The transmission mount is under the ecu/fuse box.

 

Had mini order it (the transmission mount) just in case.
Doesn't look too hard to get at (according to newtis).
I've got it going back into the independent shop tomorrow and I will have them check.
I'm worried that it's the control arm bushing, as that one looks to be a b**** to do. Hopefully it is the transmission mount.

 

So.. we got it fixed when it want back to the BMW shop.
Apparently they missed it last time, and the shop I bought it from missed it multiple times.
All new suspension later it was:
*Drum roll*
A missing caliper bolt!!!!
Holy crap. Apparently my driver side caliber too bolt was missing, and the bottom one was really loose.
They charged me a nice $150 for finding this out.. but hell....

I talked to the original shop about it and they are going to give me a few free oil changes and a free inspection sticker next year for their mistake... They were the ones who changed the pads on the car last.

Sunofa...

 

I think lots of people have been there and done that. Spent times of time, money, energy only ti find the simple solution... Thank you for following up and sharing your solution! Glad the turmoil has ended. There was a scientific solution and it was not ghosts lol...

 

Thanks for taking the time and posting the fix.

 

Hi Guys,

I am also chasing a knocking noise. Front left (driver’s side) metallic knocking. It’s not a deep knockingsound but almost like a bad CV joint chattering knock. It’s definitely not the CV joint, as I’ve had that replaced, but I’m rather trying to describe the sound.
So far I’ve put in new top shock mounts both sides, cv joints and new anti roll bar links, both sides.
It is most notable driving over cobble stone roads at low speeds, when it gives a continuous cluck-cluck-cluck. (sorry for the description). Otherwise it does it on small bumps or uneven roads. It definitely sounds top left just in front of me in the engine bay (as the driver)

I’ve now ordered the transmission mount.
any suggestions would be much appreciated. It is driving me nuts!