Don't know if this has already been posted, but MINI is recalling most (or all?) F56 models due to a side impact safety issue. This appears to be an expansion of the base Cooper only recall.

Here's an article explaining the recall in more detail.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/29/mini-hardtops-nhtsa-recall/

 

Yep,

Most owners of affected cars should have gotten a letter informing of this recall a couple of months ago. It appears that they're going to have to remove panels and install additional material in the back seat side area.

I'm wondering... Since they're already going to be in there. How much more work would it be to retrofit the storage kit (if I paid for the panels myself)? I'm going to have to have a chat with my SA later today.

 

Ok, dodged this bullet. Only builds up through March 2015 it says.

Annette

 

And the more they take the car apart, the likely chances are "Rattles" that were not there before, now exist. Really don't need the rear foam added.....REALLY don't need a car that now rattles.............

 

I don't have no stinking back seat! And surprisingly no rattles either.

 

Me neither.........nor do I need or want one..

 

Is that where the fake pops and burbles and engine sounds eminate from? Hope they don't degrade that!

 

To the best of my knowledge, the pops and burbles are real, aren't they? The engine sound is "enhanced" though through some audio system.

 

Ahhhhhhhhh no. They're fake.

 

If they're fake, then where do they come from? In sport mode, rev the engine, and lots of pop and burbles happen outside the car from the exhaust. The car isn't just digitally producing these and playing it through some speaker.

 

Sorry but they're real. I'd like to know where people are getting their info.

 

There are many threads on the F56’s Active Sound Design (ASD)



How to Defeat Active Sound Design (ASD)

Engine noise enhancer

How to enhance Active Sound Design (ASD)

Anyone figure out how to disconnect the active sound feature yet?

 

I'm not arguing they aren't being enhanced by the ASD. I'm arguing they do exist, and aren't solely being produced by the ASD. Weather you can hear them without ASD inside the car on the other hand I don't know. However, the pops and burbles are real, as they can be heard outside the car. They are coming from the exhaust. Again, due to soundproofing material in the car, I don't know if without ASD you can hear them or not, or if ASD enhances the popping and burbling inside the cabin. However, roll down the windows and I definitely hear popping and burbling coming from outside my 15' Cooper S in sport mode.

 

Hmmm... I took video and sure was real to me!

http://www.motoringfun.com/2015/06/1...uning-kit-f56/

 

This has been discussed so many times...the pop and burbles are real sounds, though the method in which they are created is artificial. Since the 2nd gen LCI MINIs, pops and burbles have been produced by introducing small amounts of fuel into the exhaust manifold to create the sound.

Yes, the engine sounds on the 3rd gen Cooper S are also artificially produced by the Active Sound Design system and come through the speakers. This is DIFFERENT than the pops and burbles. Engine sounds and exhaust sounds are not the same thing.

 

I believe the fuel is added into the cylinders when the exhaust valves are open and is sucked into the exhaust manifold.

 

Exactly!!

 

Yeah, creating the sound by the use of electronics would be completely fake, whereas pumping extra fuel into the exhaust system just to generate those pops and burbles is completely real and indicate what awesome power the driver has under his/her right foot.

 

The pumping of extra fuel into the exhaust system is a result of the timing changes when switching over into sport mode. There is the use of electronics inside the car that modifies the sound throughout the rev range. This is just used to beef up the sound of the car and it doesn't have anything to do with the "pops".

An example can be seen here:



Let me know if you have any more questions. I work with these systems all the time as a part of my job.

 

EXCELLENT description and example.

 

Recall work starts next month, not sure if any or many of the letters have gone out to owners yet. The dealers are just being prepped now.


The procedure is less invasive than you might think. The rear side panels are removed to cut away some sound insulation for the added protection foam. However, if you own a 2014 (or 15) that had the AC/evaporator odor issue, you had a much more involved and potential rattle-producing procedure performed as the entire dash and everything from the firewall to the shifter is removed from the vehicle.

I am curious as to what part of the storage package involves the rear interior side panels? The main difference with the storage package would involve replacing the rear cargo area pan and well trim. Those items are not removed or affected by this procedure.

 

Will we be compelled to have this done? I really don't care to do it. I virtually never have rear seat passengers.

 

I don't use the rear seat either. I dislike having dealers do any work on my cars. Not just Mini. The results of modifications/fixes like this don't always go well. Been there. Done that.

 

I could be mistaken but I always thought that safety recalls aren't voluntary but required by law.

 

THAT EXPLAINS IT! I've had a minor annoying (infrequent) rattle from near the steering wheel after the car got back from the A/C evap recall. I'm not bothered by it, but I did notice it.

As for the storage package. Your post now explains that they don't involve the same panels. Shucks. I might still have a chat with the SA to see if that's possible since my car is going to be in anyway. Kill two birds.