This is my first 4cyl car, and really the only Cooper I have driven. Its a 2003 MINI Cooper S and I was wondering if the ticking noise I hear while driving next to a brick wall is normal. I dont hear it in the car unless I am driving next to something like a wall. The other sound I am getting is a little wierd slight clacking noise when warming it up in the morning, but that goes away when I press the clutch in, odd. Like I said these might be normal for this car, but thought I would check, car runs perfect though. I went with 5w-30 for the oil, maybe 5w-40 would quiet it down some.

 

You don't have a rock in your tire do you?

 

LOL good call

 

Well the second one you are talking about is clutch chatter, nothing to worry about there.

The first one could be the water pump gears in your SC dieing. How many miles on your MINI?

 

Ticking sound. See if anything here sounds familiar:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=18230

 

I kinda meant lifter ticking, I wasnt sure if it was common. On my 2004 GTO it was common mainly because it was an aluminum engine and you could hear everything. I was just wondering if the lifters are typically heard when going past walls, etc. Like I said though you cant hear it in the car while driving, even with the windows down. I guess I need to see and hear other MINI's to see if its normal...the clutch chatter was more of a worry, but if its normal on these cars, I guess I will live with it.

 

Ok the ticking sound is definitely the engine(either lifters or coils), can hear it with the hood up, can also hear it exiting the head as well. Are these engines noisey by design? Or am I just letting paranoia set in? Like I said this is my first 4cyl car, and first time in a MINI.

EDIT: Nevermind, seems like its normal Fuel Injector noise....

 

I don't know if you have colved the noise, but from my experience, that ticking sound means out of oil. My last car was a 2000 4cyl VW Jetta that was notorious for eating oil.

I'd be driving home next to one of the hwy barriers and would hear the ticking. Took it to the shop soon afterwards asking the same Q you are and they reported that it had less than a quart of oil in the engine!

Hopefully, that's not your problem as I don't think MINIs eat oil like VWs can.