Been away from the Mini world for awhile. My wife traded her 2005 R52 Cooper ragtop for a 2015 F56 2dr Hardtop. Things have changed since 2005. Most for the better. The new 3 cylinder turbo motor is a lot more responsive than the old 4 aspirated one. My question to those who have one is engine noise. This engine seems to clatter like a diesel. Lots of power but the noise is odd. Engine oil is fine, car runs well, is this normal?

 

The 3-cyl I've found has kind of a unique sound and what you're hearing is most likely normal. I personally love the sound of the 3-cyl engine the Cooper has

 

i think its the direct injection. my 2009 cobaltss made that ticking noise and i was worried about it but my tuner said its normal.

 

yeah, it does sound a bit like a diesel. I am use to this sound now. I wasn't at first. The performance and engine response it amazing. A well engineered 1.5L/3cyl. engine...I think Mini (BMW) got it right .... well done ! A masterpiece.

 

bit early to call it a masterpiece, it does perform very well though, I guess time will tell.

 

I'm inclined to agree. Drove an F55S and an F55 "Justa". Ended up buying the non-S. I can't even call it a Justa. I am proposing the 3-cylinder Turbo now be referred to as a Notan, as in "not an S".

 

Notan, love it! Or notanS? I test drove an IsanF NotanS as a loaner for a day, and agree, at low rpm it sounds and feels a bit dieselish. This was a dealer car, so I assume in perfect condition and tune state.
Notan!

 

Agree 100%. No need to wait an instant classic. It sounds like a BMW 6cylinder but with half the rev range. That's all. :-)

 

BMW had long ago the K 75 3 cylinder, it worked well.My Triumph 3 cylinder bike makes a very "nice" sound when accelerating.The 3 cylinder has more character.

 

Guess it's a noise that needs time to adjust to. New engine, New noise

 

no noise= it's the sound of....

 

Gasoline direct injection sounds that way, because Diesel's are direct injection too, albeit at a much higher pressure.

As long as your car sounds the same as other 3-cyl Cooper's, then it's totally normal.

As for the exhaust sound, a 3-cylinder sounds more interesting than a 4-cylinder to these ears, "because snowmobile".

 

Yup, love the exhaust sound "because muffler delete"