Hi all.
My GF just picked up a 2013 CMall4S white with black top. The car looks great, and I have to say, I'm a bit jealous and getting the itch to pick up a MCS myself.
I do have a concern with the 2013 CM and I wanted to see if other CM owners had a similar issue.
The car has a really loud pining sound coming from the engine bay. We have a Honda as well as a Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and neither of the two on their worst day sound like that. I don't know if that is the sound of having the S on the car, but it's quite unusual. It sounds like the car needs a tune up or if the lifter valves are knocking. The car currently has 500 miles on the clock.
Is that the normal sound of a CMS??
Someone pointed out that their Mini does not sound like that, but they also did not have the "S" type either.
I'm just looking to see if that's normal or if other 2013 CMS owners hear the same thing. All comments are welcome.

 

Have you (or GF) already contacted the dealer about this? Hopefully, 91 octane or higher is in the tank. Best of luck.

DISCLAIMER: I do not have a CM All4S.

 

We did reach out to the dealership and they compared it to a CM and it did sound different. We left it overnight for a service tech to look at it in the AM. We got a call back from them stating that they ran it through the diagnostics Ann they issues a clean bill of health.
They did mention that they compared it to another CMAll4S in the lot, and that the engine sounded identical. ( however we weren't present for the second comparison).

The sound was noticed with the gas that was in the car when it was handed over. Since then, we filled it with premium 93 but sound is still the same.

 

The motor in these Countryman have direct injection, so they will sound almost diesel like when they are running. It still makes me look twice every time I walk past it while it's running.

 

Direct injection. Sounds like a diesel clacking. It's normal. Took me a while to accept it too.

My 2011 was like that, and the 2013 I have is no different. Just make sure you put 91 octane minimum.

 

Thank you all for the quick replies. We feel more at ease.

 

Yes, both our 2011 and 2013 have the same diesel like sound also. The 2013 might be a bit quieter. But the 2011 was a manual shift and the 2013 is automatic, and the idle speeds may be a bit different. I was also thinking perhaps that they revised the sound insulation under the hood. The cars are certainly much noisier at idle then the R53 was.

 

You're hearing the injectors..I like the sound

 

Reminds me of an old jalopy.

 

Yep everyone asks me if my CM S is a diesel when they walk past.

 

If you're in the states your CMall4 is quiet! When its -20C here in Canada (-4F) the countryman puts out more noise than my friends gmc sierra diesel but once it warms up after a good run it purrs like a good kitty.

 

If it sounds like a sewing machine, than it's normal, pretty much!

 

Great comparison Shoof. That's exactly what it sounds like.

 

heh. had me looking a couple times when first driving the car. im new to mini's so it had me scratching my head the first week too

 

After having two direct injection turbocharged four cylinder motors, they make plenty of diesel-y puttering and even some valve tick.

 

They told me it was a heat shield rattle...

 

I assume "they" is the dealer. So did they fix it?

 

Yea I do mean the dealer. No they said its not a problem and sent me on my way.

 

If your heat shield is rattling, it's a different noise than the rest of us are discussing, and it's not normal. While in their opinion it may not be a problem (and it's likely true that it won't affect the operation of the car), if you don't like the noise you should insist they correctly repair it. Who is the dealer?

 

There is a clicking noise that does sound diesely I have that too. But the heat shield rattle doesn't bother me I can only hear it with the Hood open. My dealer is schomp mini.

 

I beg to differ with those saying the CM sounds just like a diesel. My significant other has a new diesel SUV. My 2011 CM idles with an even louder clacking than hers.

 

Honestly, I think this is normal. My '07 MCS does it, the brand new 2013 (15 miles off the lot) loaner Countryman S did it.... I think it's just a thing. My dad mentioned the sound when we were driving around and I kind of shrugged.

I guess I didn't assume that a brand new car had any issues, especially with it being a loaner car. I would think MINI would keep it up to par service wise.