R50/53 Weird Engine Noise
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Neutral
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4
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From: Connecticut
Weird Engine Noise
Hi everyone, I could use some guidance on a new noise that my '05 R50 has developed. I am fairly handy in fixing the car but I have no idea where to start looking for this noise.
I have taken a few people out in it and for some reason describing the noise is the hardest part of the whole thing. I would use a sort of "radio static"ish sound coming from the engine bay. The noise only happens when the engine is under load and I'm in a high gear for the speed I'm going. So if I plant my foot at 2k rpm or something like that ill get the noise. It seems to disappear about the same time as the engine is catching up in terms of power, so like 3.5k it will be gone. Either that or I just cant hear it over the engine but I definitely think it goes away. When I am at the speed I want to be at and lift my foot a bit the noise goes away. Sometimes I can hear it a little right after a downshift also but not nearly as pronounced.
I would say the sound is coming from right in front of the drivers side foot-well / steering wheel area it seems, but the engine bay is so cramped together I cant be sure it really is. The sound is only reproducible while driving so I cant open the hood and listen as I cant put the engine under load in my garage. Just revving the engine does not make the sound.
I am going to try and record the sound later but it is not terribly loud so I am not sure if i can get it on a phone mic.
Some basic info about the car. It's an 05 Mini cooper base model and has almost 160k miles on it. Fyi the miles are all highway from commuting an hour to work and back every day. Engine oil changed every ~7k. and 93 gas used on it since it was new. No engine work ever done to it.
I have taken a few people out in it and for some reason describing the noise is the hardest part of the whole thing. I would use a sort of "radio static"ish sound coming from the engine bay. The noise only happens when the engine is under load and I'm in a high gear for the speed I'm going. So if I plant my foot at 2k rpm or something like that ill get the noise. It seems to disappear about the same time as the engine is catching up in terms of power, so like 3.5k it will be gone. Either that or I just cant hear it over the engine but I definitely think it goes away. When I am at the speed I want to be at and lift my foot a bit the noise goes away. Sometimes I can hear it a little right after a downshift also but not nearly as pronounced.
I would say the sound is coming from right in front of the drivers side foot-well / steering wheel area it seems, but the engine bay is so cramped together I cant be sure it really is. The sound is only reproducible while driving so I cant open the hood and listen as I cant put the engine under load in my garage. Just revving the engine does not make the sound.
I am going to try and record the sound later but it is not terribly loud so I am not sure if i can get it on a phone mic.
Some basic info about the car. It's an 05 Mini cooper base model and has almost 160k miles on it. Fyi the miles are all highway from commuting an hour to work and back every day. Engine oil changed every ~7k. and 93 gas used on it since it was new. No engine work ever done to it.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
I'm noticing a similar sound on my 05 Cooper. I'm pretty sure its something loose on the exhaust, like heat shielding touching the exhaust or maybe a mount? Haven't had a chance to get under there and look yet. Hasn't really gotten any worse yet so I haven't made it a priority, but this will be a good excuse to work on the car this weekend.
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