What is this buzzing noise in my footwell?
 

EDIT: Sorry folks, just realised this seems to have gone into the wrong message board - this is just where the little pop up in the bottom right put in. Could a mod move it the most appropriate one when they get a minute?

Hi guys, I've had this buzzing noise in my F56 for the last few months. The buzzing is most audible at 0:22 and 0:38 in this video:


I've put it in to the main dealer a few times and each time they've said they've been unable to reproduce the noise.

I've tracked the noise down to the passenger's side footwell area. It's not there all the time, but I cannot for the life of my figure out what triggers it. The only thing I've noticed is that if the noise is going to come on, it'll probably come on within 10 minutes of setting off. If it stops, it tends to stop after I've come to a complete stop at a traffic light and then set off again. After it stops, everything then tends to be quiet until I turn the engine off, leave the car for a few hours, then get back in and set off again.

It doesn't seem to be coming from any loose trim. The noise sounds mechanical, like it's coming from something spinning like a fan, belt or wheel.

I'm putting it in to an independent on Monday for my MOT, and I'm also going to ask him to look at this. If anyone's ever had this problem before it'd be great if you could let me know what you tracked it down to to help him track it down and fix it!

Moved it for you.

Just an update - had the car in at my local independent BMW/MINI guy and he couldn't reproduce the issue. He checked out the brakes because a user on another forum pointed out a TIS entry that noted a sound like this could be coming from the brakes, but he said there was no play in them (although they were slightly corroded and lipped). Back to square one :-(

I have the same annoying noise! I feel your pain but I’m so glad someone else has it because it’s driving me insane.
I think I’ve figured out where it’s coming from. It’s the black plastic panel that’s at the very end of the footwell. It’s next to the footwell light (after the glovebox where it meets the carpet) and it’s got some kind of round vent. If you lightly tap it with your finger you’ll recognize the rattle. If you (or an equally OCD passenger) put some pressure on it the noise stops!

what I have to figure out now is how to remove it so I can determine if it’s the panel itself or something is touching it and making it buzz. If someone has any input on how to remove it or fix the noise altogether please say something. It’s maddening!

Thanks for the insight! I know exactly the piece of trim you're talking about and sadly I found it wasn't this piece of trim. I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the brakes - I've found that, in my case, the noise will disappear completely after a few heavy applications of the brakes. My local BMW/MINI specialist had a look and said that my left front brake pad is quite badly corroded on the inner side, and also said that it's lipped. I'm hopeful that in a few months when it's time to service the brakes that that'll fix the noise.

Incidentally - I know how to remove that piece of trim! Here are the instructions I followed, which helped me rule it out as a cause of the noise https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nel/1VnXy4YTxk

I just received a letter from MINI this week regarding a footwell issue. Not sure if it's the same thing, but, visit www.mini-rp.com and enter the last 7 of your VIN to see if you qualify for a repair or reimbursement.

I do have the same issue and I am curious to know if you have fixed it. If it is indeed an issue with the brakes, why holding down the trim stopped the buzz? Let us know.