I recently bought a 2003 S (with JCW). It has very low mileage -- 9,500 and seems to be in great shape all around. I've notice, though, that when I make slow turns to the right (like turning into a parking space), I hear a creaking sound coming from the front right side. It sounds more like something breaking in than something broken.

This is my first Mini, so I don't know if this is normal. Has anyone else ever experience this?

 

Power steering pump doing its (normal) thing would be my guess.

 

CV shaft?

 

Sounds to me like the strut mounts or guide support that needs to be replaced. I had the same problem on my MINI. do a quick search on NAM and you'll find a thread about cracked strut mounts etc. If there is still a warranty, should be covered

 

What are the chances that it could be the strut boot/s? When I bought the car (from Carmax), the boots were torn and they replaced them for me. Could having new boots cause this kind of noise -- it doesn't sound like the metalic groaning I get when I turn the wheel of my ancient Nissan Xterra. More like the sound of someone rubbing his thumb slowly across an inflated rubber ball.

 

how ancient could it be? they have only been made for like 8 years or so.

i would check the bushings, they squeak, could need some kind of lube, not sure though. also could be ball joints.

 

OK, maybe ancient wasn't the right word. How about decrepit? It's a 2000 with more than 140,000 hard miles on it. So, chronologically old or not, it feels ancient.

 

If you can get under the car, and reveal the sway bar - give it a few good tugs back and forth and see if some of that noise can be duplicated.

~ Did you get a car fax history report with the MINI from the dealer ?

~ Any idea if it was ever in an auto crash ?

If it's bushings, they are relatively inexpensive and if you are good with tools, you may want to replace the OEM's with some from MINI-MOSS Motors. They are harder providing better steer response, and last longer too.

 

I got the car from Carmax, and in addition to the report they provide, I did a Carfax report. There are no reports of any accidents, but I'm starting to suspect it was in an accident of some sort regardless of what the reports say. Or maybe it just hit a really bad pothole at some point.

It's still under a 30-day warranty and they've been good about fixing other problems I've encountered. I'm bringing it in next week. Fingers crossed.

 

sounds just like the guide support that my MINI had replaced...

 

Did you ever find the solution to your problem? I have the same exact problem, it sounds exactly what you described above. I figured it was the CV Boot, but I don't know what's wrong with it or if it is even a 'bad thing'. Can anyone help me with this? I'm a newbie to cars

 

I had the creaking noise you describe. Had the rubber bushings that sit atop the struts replaced for a small fortune at the mini dealer. Sound is gone. So is my money.

 

my bado