Hi all, did a quick search but didn't find any threads on this. I have a MC (a couple weeks old) and whenever I open the door to get in my car I hear a faint whir that reminds me of the motor on a CD changer or something, but I have no idea what it is. Another strange occurrence is one time I noticed a whir near the back of the car (near the right wheel) after I had turned off the car as I was getting ready to leave. I'm pretty sure it's not anything bad, but still would be nice to know what it's doing.

 

Mine does the same thing. From my best hypothesis I believe it to be the fuel pump priming the system getting ready to start the engine. On 'normal' cars you would hear this buzzing sound when you turned your key to the "On" position.
I have the Comfort access system in my car btw, this might be related to the phenomomon described because as soon as you open the door, you can start the car up without inserting the key, so the car/fuel system needs to be ready to start up on a momments notice

 

Mine does the same thing, I always thought is was just the unlock actuators... Who knows...

 

Door(s) and gas cap unlocking... fuel pump priming for start-up.

 

i wondered about this as well but i guess its answered now...

 

You are exactly right. Put a cd in to the radio and it won't make that noise.

 

+1

 

steering lock coming off on a comfort access car perhaps ?

 

Yes I always get the CD changer one, but just tonight I go the buzz from the outside near the rear tire

this was after shut down, and it took me a while to find it...when I did I restarted the car, then shut off and it was off very confusing...maybe a quick glitch in the computer was keeping the fuel pump priming??

 

I always think of that noise as my MINI saying, "Alright!!! We're going motoring!!!"

 

Your actually hearing your electric water pump. It runs to cool down the turbo after a hot drive. stick your head near the right side of your turbo, see if its more audible.

 

Huh, I was wondering this same thing too, figured it wasn't anything serious.

There is one thing though, after driving from home to my daughters school to pick her up, I sit in a carline waiting for her. When I turn off the car, I can hear a knocking sound while sitting in the car it only happens 2-3 times. Any ideas? (I don't drive the car hard or anything either, its still breaking in)

 

In highly technical terms, this would be "exhausty type stuff." I've had cars of all makes and models make the turned-off clang-clunk-clang noise every now and again.

 

+1

 

Whoa slow down there with that high falutin' wrencher talk! (just kidding ya!)

 

i always hear a sound near the turbo after turn off the engine, the sound is like water boiling. Thats normal too? or is the radiator that have a leak?

 

YEah I heard the same noise and notice it comes from the turbo when it's how.

 

After you turn off the engine water/coolant is circulated to cool down the turbo charger. This is the sort of fan noise you hear. Perfectly normal, but another little "quirky" thing about MINI's (actually my 335i did it too). The kind of clunking noise you hear is the metal contracting as it cools down. Again, nothing to worry about. Just think of these little noises as your MINI's way of complaining about being shut off and parked.

 

But the OP does not have a turbo on his MC and also stated the noise was coming from the right rear tire area so both of these explanations are incorrect for his/her car.

I really like this explanation of the sounds

 

If you think the Mini exhaust system make loud clanking noises, you should hear my GMC Terrain after it's parked. The muffler clangs and bangs like it's being hit by a wrecking ball.

 

If its heard before starting its the fuel system priming for startup. Most German cars will do this. I believe its related the the way the Bosch-Motronic fuel system works. Every VW I have had does this.

If its after driving then its probably the electric water pump working.

 

I've had German cars and a few Jags that keep the ventilation on low even after the car is off. After about 5 or 10 minutes, you can here a soft woosh as the system shuts off. I was sitting in my MINI last weekend reading the manual (first car that requires RTFM to understand the quirky interface of the computer ), and heard the same sound after about 10 minutes.

Whatever it is -- fuel pump, CD changer, ventilation, I'm certain it's perfectly normal.

 

The only noise I have heard from my car, that is germane to this thread, is the "whir" noise. I've heard that sound often. It is always upon entry to the car, not after driving, not hot, and with the key/fob very much still in my hand and nowhere near the GO button!!

The sound emanates from the dash, somewhere very close to the center tower. It does very much sound like a CD motor, but clearly was not the CD. In my mind, I had always attributed it to a damper or valve actuator in the HVAC moving to a prestart position. But I have nothing technical to back that up......

Just my two cents.

 

This is an interesting thread. I always get the whirling noise when the door is opened and I just assumed it had something to do with the window being slightly lowered for closing. Now I'm wondering if I over simplified this and it's actually something else.

 

the when opening door whiiring is your fuel pump priming. The noise the op is hearing if its comingfrom the right rear tire is the Evap canister. For what ever reason, mini usese pressure in the gas tank to purge the system not vacum like most other manufacturers. soo...... when the car is at rest you can hear a audible clunking noise as the gas tank presures down and changes shape. to prove this look under your gas tank you will see that the pop rivets on the straps have acutally either come out or fallen off. its ok thought no problem to worry about. other wise the whirring noise by the right rear is the pump it self doing the pressurizing. its a pump