I've read through some of the threads regarding "cold start" issues and listened to the sound on the video but I'm not sure if this is the same thing.

I've started the car 3 times since last night and all 3 times the engine definitely had a rougher, throaty kind of growl to it upon start up. I haven't called the dealer yet but thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else has experienced this.

Two of the 3 times it was outside and around 38 degrees and damp. This morning in my heated garage it happened also.

I only have 425 miles so far so I hope its not a problem.

 

Mine seems to make the cold start noise after a brief run. As long as I don't do that it never makes the noise. When I say "brief" I mean if you start it to move it a couple of feet and then shut it off. It will then make the noise on the next start.

 

Mine does it at start-up if its a cold start. By cold, I mean just sitting over night. Ambient temp does not seem to be a factor. It's a definite "growl" sound. Almost like a fan hitting a shroud, if you know that noise. It goes away in a very short time when you start driving. Here's the wierd part on my noise: It's worst, loudest and most prolonged right after I've jacked the car up (one side at a time) to clean those d**n white wheels. Soons as I let it down, then start it up, I get that horriible sounding "growl" and it lasts for the first minute or so of driving, then goes away. In researching this problem earlier on this forum, someone suggested this noise was coming from the supercharger because it wasn't getting any oil. Same thread also said that oil level in supercharger is, by design, low. So, I wonder, when I jack up the car on one side, is that permitting oil to run to one side of the supercharger, and thus not being at the proper level when you first start the car? I konw this is "reaching", but if anyone knows about this problem or what might be causing it, please get back. Thanks for any help!

 

Its just the car's way of telling you to flog it every once in a while.

I've got nothing else.

 

I can do that!! Seriously, I don't think there is anything wrong with the car...just wanted to see if others have any insight.

 

I've had the cold start once on my 2009 MCSa and, like "2008 Cooper S", it was after letting the engine run for less than 30 seconds to move the car, then shutting it off and restarting it the next day.

I would not ever describe it as a throaty growl. It was more as though the engine was running without oil...a metallic clattering sound (clackety-clackety-clackety). It hasn't happened again, nor have I run the engine without letting it warm up before shutting it off again. Our low temperatures have been in the 30s here, but that hasn't had any effect.

 

Well you have a turbo not a supercharger, though the oil bit does have some merit it shouldn't ever make that kind of noise unless there is a baaing going bad.

Have you checked the radiator fan to see if it is spinning when the noise occurs?

There could also be a blockage in you intake causing the noise, it's pretty simple to check the area inside the air filter box and surrounding tubes.

Definitely check with the dealer, if nothing else it can be documented in case the problem gets worse or something happens down the road.

 

Geekswrath,

Whose post were you responding to?

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with our cars, as in a systemic problem. I have a noise at times when I start mine but it's not bad nor does it last long. On a related note, I am a little concerned about the starter not releasing imediately though. Seems the starter stays engaged a bit too long after releasing the push to start button and the engine catches... sort of a grinding sound....

 

This sounds like the well-documented cold start issue with the R56 MCS and JCW. There are several threads on this issue in the Problems and Issues section of the forum. MINI is supposed to be working on a fix that is due in December. It apparently has to do with the cam chain tensioner not getting enough oil at startup which causes the chain to rattle against the guides.

 

Oops, got my posts mixed up there. I guess I was responding to Blueper instead of the OP, sorry I did not specify.

 

Thanks Bishamon! My 09 Clubman S may have this issue. Cold start in the morning, gone after about 90 seconds. It's done it three times in 1500 miles.

 

Yeah, my 08 Clubman has it too.....

Bishamon: There are a ton of threads tracking it... Any recommendation for the most pertinent / active / helpful one?

Thanks bunches!

 

Oh good, glad to know I'm not the only one... So there's nothing to be done about it huh?

Cause it's done it to me even after letting it warm up... So I dunno.

 

My 09 MCS a similar sound for the first 1000 miles, seemed very noisy, but now it has actually become substantially quieter with noticeable improvements in gas mileage and acceleration. In addition (I have the 16" run-flats) It seems to handle the same roads better (less jarring on bumps) I suspect that the break-in period for the engine, tires and shocks has occurred No other problems to speak of, and I can't wipe the smile off after every drive. Hope this is of some value.

 

To clarify from my original post, I don't believe this noise to be the cold start issue that has been well documented in several threads but with no resolution by MINI USA (very loud clatter with a metal against metal sound).

This is a noise that is consistent when my MINI has sat outside in the cold for a long period of time and I start it up. The best way for me to describe it is as a growl or rough sound. After the engine warms up, it goes away. I haven't actually spoke with the SA about it but I did mention it to my MA and he said this is a normal characteristic of the MCS and that there is nothing wrong.

I haven't had any problems or issues with this car and I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT more and more each day. The purpose of my original post was to see if this was a potential problem or a normal "variant" of the car when it is cold outside.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Sounds very much like the 'cold start' issue that is very common with the R56 MCS, which can be described as a growling noise. I suspect your cold start issue is the same as the one a great many others are experiencing.

 

I think that's what I have too. Sounds more like an interior blower fan than anything under the hood.....

 

I think my Cooper S does the same kind of thing on start-up: the engine just sounds ruff. Does it seem like you don't have the same kind of pick-up for about 5 minutes that you do after the car is warm?

To be fair, my MA did tell me to "let the car warm up for about 5 minutes" before driving it hard. My guess is this isn't a malfunction, but the car is working as intended. It just needs to warm up, yeah?

Not that I've ever had a car that needed to warm up like this. Or, I've never had a car that I knew needed to warm up like this.

 

1258 miles on my week 39 2009 MCS, no odd sounds or clattering at startup, even when I dont drive the car for a couple days and/or ambient temps fall below 10-20 degrees F.

It was 14 degrees this AM, and I hadnt driven the car since sunday, no noises, smooth startup and operation.