I have a 2017 Clubman ALL4 S with ~87k miles on it, everything is stock. A few months ago it started to make a groaning or creaking sound when the body shifted going over bumps which seemed to come mostly from the passenger side. More recently it does it when going up hills as well (a slow creak as the body shifts, I suppose). It's far more noticeable when the car is cold, or was just started and nearly goes away entirely when the car has been driven for awhile.

I sprayed silicone lube on the control arm bushing, which quieted things down quite a bit. At this point the sound seems to be more coming from the middle part of the car than the passenger or driver side, so tried the same thing on the engine mount with no change. I think there might be multiple problems, but the fact that it gets quieter as I drive makes me question if it's only a suspension issue.

I'd rather not go down the "throw parts at it" path, so wanted to get input as to what I might look at doing first. Thanks!

 

Sounds travel through the chassis pretty good, so not always easy to track down the source. My first assumptions, based on your description, would be something suspension related. I think your silicone lube test may have pointed to part of the issue. I would look at both the control arm bushings but also the upper strut and shock mounts as potential sources. I have ~96K on my '17 and have some creaking/groaning when traversing over speed bumps, which is also why I have a small pile of suspension parts sitting in my garage waiting for install (i.e.- front control arms, struts, shocks, mounts, etc). Good luck.

 

Possible the motor mount since its on the passenger side, but usually with that noise its the strut mounts. AKA Guide supports. https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2017-...ension/Shocks/


Watch as their is EDC/DDC versions and NON EDC/DDC versions. Thats the electronic suspension option with wires coming out of the struts

This is what people found at low speeds.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ow-speeds.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...end-clunk.html

Their was a NHTSA on this also.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...53718-9999.pdf

 

Awesome, thank you both, this is super helpful. I'll play around and report back on what I find.

 

Welcome!

 

correct

 

You bought from a private owner or the dealership?

 

where are you located?