I was not sure where to ask and figure the general talk group might be better for this:

We have a 2014 cooper S roadster with around 27-28k miles. My wife complained of a faint knocking like sound a few days ago that would come regularly these last few weeks. I took a drive with her tonight and at first I could not figure out what she was talking about. Well until we pulled in our steep driveway where I did hear something strange. I pulled back and forth the full length of our drive way a few times and indeed there is what would almost sound like a random knock faint sound (as oppose to something related to frequency of wheel spin) possibly coming from the rear but I'm not certain of that at all. I've only felt it going forward and it would show up at any speed (though I was going slowly in our driveway). It's also hard to tell whether we feel it in the steering or not. And because I heard it when we were on our steep driveway I thought it could almost be axle or wheel baring related, or something of sort, but I'm not too sure. The car only has 27-28k, only 2.5 years old. It seems to young for this.

I checked the rear suspension to see if something looked loose but I did not find anything at first glance. I'll have to lift the car over the weekend possibly.

Is there anyone who might know of a similar common issue on these model year cars (loosely on these gen models). Otherwise it might be one of those "can't replicate" problem at the dealer and it's not easy for me to take the car over there, so I'd feel better having some ideas...

I figured it could be a lot of things from the brake pads, to some worn out bushings, or end links, etc... but the list could be long to hunt down if someone has a good idea of a known issue that might be more likely the cause of faint random knock sound, possibly felt in the steering but not overly.

Thx! Greg

 

Hello TG,

Check the lock latch on the trunk. It might be out of adjustment and rattling. Push down and open the trunk. Also is this on with the top up only or top down? i know you put a spare wheel back there, maybe its from the mount ?

 

It's with the top up since the temperature have been quite below freezing.
It's not quite like a rattling sound sort of thing. It's more like an interference or mechanical strain or play like sound. Pretty low thump like noise a bit random in frequency. It reminds me a bit of brake pads knocking when going reversing then going forward. But it doesn't happen when using the brakes.

The spare tire isn't on but I could easily remove the plug just to be sure and check that one out.
It feels more like it is wheel/suspension/drive train related... I even wonder if it's related to the low temperature (?)

I'll check the boot latch but I don't recall seeing anything loose back there. It's worth checking that area.

Thanks for the reply.

 

The factory runflats over bumps get pretty loud in the back , I know that, I would check the boot latch adjustment and your spare wheel hook up.

 

No runflat here.
No spare mounted.

I do need to check that latch but I'll be surprised it's that from the nature of the clunk sound. It does feel more like a drive train or suspension component.

 

The rear upper shock mounts are the only other ones that really make a clunk noise. But those should last a bit longer. Make sure you look at the foam part on those. 33526754123

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/33526754123/