Hi, brand new guy here. I recently acquired 2012 Countryman S All4 and so far I'm loving it. The only thing that bothers me is this weird noise that seems to be coming from the transmission or transfer case area??? It sounds like a gear whine. It doesn't affect my driving, the car runs smooth actually, just that noise that bothers me. It happens when I'm around 25%-40% on the gas pedal. The noise will last for about 4 seconds then it'll come back after 2 secs or so. Coasting on the freeway, the car is silent, until I step on it. Not sure what it could be, here is a video:

 

Have you checked the oil level in the transfer case. I had a mechanic contact me and asked if I had a transfer case to transmission bypass hose for a 1982 mini. I replied no why. He told me that Mini Coppers have the same issue as the old FJ Toyota Land Cruiser does.

The issue for the old FJ40, FJ45, FJ55, & FJ60 is the transfer case front oil seal fails and the oil is sucked into the Transmission. Thus draining the transfer case of oil and overfilling the transmission. When transfer case gets low bearings can fail. When the transmission over fills it sometimes comes out the front transmission seal and leaks all over the clutch ruining the clutch disc plates. The oil crystalizes the clutch disc material.

The way you find out is, remove the fill plug from the transmission. If oil comes out its over filled. Then check the transfer case level, it probably is low. The correct fix is transfer case seal replacement.

Many guys buy the hose as insurance. Even after they replaced the seal. And pulling the transfer case is not a quick job. The hose buys them time. You still have to check your oil levels on both the transfer case and transmission. This fix will not work on an automatic transmission as the oil type is different. I wouldn't be surprised if the automatic doesn't suck the oil also but i don't know. You have to look at the transmission fluid when you change it to make sure. And many oil change places don't look at the oil when changing.

I am trying to find out what the distance is from the center fill hole of the transfer case is to the center hole of the transmission. Im sure it varies as the transfer case model changes and the manual transmission model changes. I would appreciate it if people could give me the distance and the year and model of their mini and if they know the model of transfer case and manual transmission.

its best to use a stiff power cord and mark the cord where the center of the plugs are then measure that distance with a tape measure. You want a smooth flow from on to the other.

With that distance information I can then make
hoses for the minis. These hoses are stainless steel braided over a heat resistance teflon hose. The ends have brass banjo fittings crimped to the hose.

I really want to understand the extent of the mini problem.

Sorry i did not mean to hijack your thread. Im wondering if you have that problem.

This is what the hose looks like when installed on a stock 1974 FJ40 4 speed and transfer case. A 12.75” hose. I have made them all different lengths for different drives people have installed on their FJ 40, FJ 45, FJ55 and FL60 Land Cruisers.

The hose shown is a 17.5”

 

Sounds like the transfer case is on its way out. Mine did the same until it all came apart internally and started leaking.

 

call the dealer for warranty repair.

The transfer case is a separate sealed unit there is no exchange in fluids! how ever as mentioned above, check or replace the fluid.