Alright, I'll make this short and sweet. Got in an accident, not at fault, insurance paid 20,000$ to fix car, no idea why it wasn't totaled. Transmission, left axle, basically all of the driver side under the hood replaced plus the clutch. After, I found that the car made a horrible grinding, but NOT metal on metal, sound when cornering decently. Now it makes the same noise except at just under 3,000 RPMs in any gear, not in neutral. I can press the gas pedal harder and harder but at a very certain point it makes that noise. As soon as I let go the noise stops. I took the car in and of course it doesn't make that noise. I think it only makes it when the car is a little more than just "warm." Thanks in advance, you guys are really great. I hope that is enough info. And yes I already searched NAM and couldn't find squat.

 

It is probably too late since you have taken the car back but many states have a law that says if X percent of the book value then the car is totaled. I am very surprised to hear not totaled.

(sorry for the no-help on the noise)

 

That's going to be really hard to diagnose here. Definitely bring it to MINI and have them look at it. Insurance should cover it. Sounds to be something in the drivetrain, but it could be a lot of things. Damage that wasn't found, damage not repaired, damage not repaired properly (which would be the shops' responsibility), etc...

 

Gut feel is your motor mount(s) are broken, causing the engine to shift around and touch the body or frame members causing the vibration noise you are hearing. If it is not the engine itself, then it is probably the exhaust system. It could be bent and touching the car somewhere causing the noise as well.

They should be able to put it up on a lift and figure it out.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I actually suspect the engine mount because the other repair shop I took it to to get some other work done noticed that the distance between the body and the tires on the front left and right side are different.