This is my first mini cooper- 2008 Mini Cooper (not the turbo), it has almost 40,000 miles on it and is an automatic...it's the oxygen blue one with white rims and white stripes.

Problems:
I live in a rural area with lots of hills etc. and I feel every bump in the road when I drive, also when I hit the gas to increase speed at about the 50 mph and up the car starts making louder noises and you know that sort of knock/thump sound your tires make on the freeway in any car when it runs over those marker things in the road? Like a rhythmic knock/thump- my car does that on the freeway no matter if it's that kind of road or not and I don't know if it is just the way minis are or if it's a transmission/suspension/something else issue.

My car is certified pre owned and I bought the extended warranty and when I asked the guys at mini about it at my last oil change they said it was nothing...but it does not feel like any of my previous cars!
NONE of my other cars ever made this knock/thump rhythmic noise. Also, this past summer it was hot as hell outside and my car wouldn't start at all, mini sent someone to jump my battery and it only worked for a few minutes and then wouldn't start again after I turned it off after running it for about 15 mins. After replacing the battery completely the car has started fine.

I am looking for a small car, automatic 2 or 4 door with awesome visibility out all the windows that is the best combination of reliability/cheapness(not just to buy but cheap to own throughout the life of the car)/ and cute factor. So far mini gets a 10/10 for the cute factor but seems to be getting low marks on everything else. If I wanted a piece of crap car I could have got another mustang for a lot cheaper. I feel like I paid almost 25k for a car that only people who don't own one are impressed by.

Anyone here that knows about cars and isn't trying to sell me something please take pity on me and tell me what you think is the best car for me and/or WTF is wrong with current mini. Any help appreciated.

 

I can't fathom your description. What tires do you have on it?

 

I just bought 4 brand new tires from firestone like 2 months ago and had that stuff done so I don't think it is related to the tires since they are brand new and it is still making noises and it made noises with the other tires that were run flat. These tires are not run flat...it was about 600 for 4 tires, don't recall the exact name of them. They are supposed to be pretty good for snowy weather but don't have chains on them.

I can give you the VIN to my car if that would help?

 

Getting rid of the runflats should have cured the feel every bump problem unless you have a non-stock suspension. If the noise is the same as before you changed tires and is as you describe you need someone to look at the suspension and drive shafts.

Did the guys who said it was nothing drive the car under the conditions you specified and listen to it? If not, I would suggest going back or to another MINI dealer. A Certified Pre-Owned MINI comes with an extended warranty and you perhaps bought the extended service rather than the extended warranty? Either way, you paid a lot of money so don't be shy about expecting what you paid for.

When the MINI works properly it is the most fun car to drive. Good luck and good night.

 

I forgot to add:
You can put the last seven digits of your VIN in the website linked below to determine what options your car had installed at the factory.

http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

 

Thanks for your help, I will do that...hopefully it will lead me in the right direction because I love the size and looks of my mini but right now I'm feeling like I should have just bought something more reliable.

 

Question about the knock/thump - is it just a sound or do you actually feel something as well?

 

Get the service manager in the car with you and take a drive. Let them experience the problem.


Taking your MINI to the tire dealer and letting them listen/feel could be another (closer/easier?) first step.

 

My last vehicle (Ford Ranger) vibrated like crazy at exactly 70mph anything below or above was fine. I never found the source for the vibration and just last week traded it in for the Cooper I just bought. My final thoughts were that the drive shaft was out of balance but never got around to getting it checked and rebalanced.

Does the vibration/sound increase when turning?

Is it specific to your 50mph speed or is it always present but louder/more noticeable at 50mph?

Can you feel it in the steering wheel? (Wait is this model car drive by wire, can you feel those sorts of vibrations through it?)

Are there any other sounds that accompany this? Squealing, screeching, low pitched grinding sound?

Don't fret over the past battery issue. That happens. I live in the south and can kill a battery each summer if I don't take care of them. Usually all that's required, if they aren't too old, is topping off the cells with a bit of clean distilled water every few weeks when its really hot and cleaning the terminals. Weird solution I know but it works. The electrolyte will evaporate in excessive heat.

I agree with the above postings. If your car is under warranty bring it back to the dealer and show them the issue. If they still disagree bring it to another mechanic and explain the situation. Get a second professional opinion. You shouldn't even really need to pay for it. Just explain that you have this issue you are experiencing and the dealer is giving you the run around. They should be happy to help as it may mean more business from you in the future.

Vibrations at highway speeds could be anything from minor to major. It could be as easy as balancing the wheels and tires better to a blown crank bearing. Of course the latter would manifest in a bit different, and more dramatic, manner. If I were servicing the car myself I'd start by checking the tire balance and condition, move to wheel bearings, then CV joints and axles, and on and on until I found it. Don't leave out brakes either. A pad could be dragging or a rotor warped.

You shouldn't worry too much it could be something minor in the grand scheme of things.

 

Have you checked your tire pressures? It sounds like they may have been overinflated, if you recently had them replaced. I had this same issue when I switched from 16" run-flats to 17" non run-flats, which the shop had overinflated. I was getting that hollow "inner tube" thump sound that you're describing. My guess was that they went by the inflation pressure on the tire, or by the sticker on the door jamb (which referenced my factory 16" run-flats).

There are many explanations as to why your shop may have overinflated them...but letting out a bit of air just to the manual's recommendations made mine ride a lot better. Keep in mind that this car will always ride a bit stiffer than a car aimed more for comfort, such as your Mercedes. And the majority of us on here didn't buy a MINI just because it was "cute".

 

You should also consider taking a similarly equipped model for a test drive to see if you have the same issue. If so the MINI may not be the car for you.

 

A few things, but I do have 2 questions ..
1. When did you purchase your MINI?
2. Did you not test drive it?

If you bought this car recently, and you paid 25k, you got ripped off. You can purchase a brand spanking new 2013 MINI Cooper base for the same price. The issue will be selling or trading it in.

The MINI is NOTHING like any other cars out there - it's built to be agile, and to me, drives like a go-kart on steroids. Clearly, none of the previous cars you have owned are like this.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if you are contemplating getting rid of your MINI because of a thumping noise, and instead of getting on this forum to ask for opinions about the noise, you ask for opinions about the car you should get rid of the MINI for .. chances are you already have your mind made up about the MINI.

The MINI is definitely not for everyone. The noise are hearing is not normal, and if you have the extended warranty, it would be highly advised that you bring your car to your local MINI dealer.

Of course, all of that is null if you're already asking about what you should get instead.

I own a MINI, and I am impressed by it. I absolutely love this car, and if my 07 dies any time soon, I'll get a new 2014.

 

It has something to do with your tires. Go out & look at the tire sidewall, read what it says, brand model number & size. Report back here.

What is the air pressure in the tires?

 

To answer the questions:

I bought the mini in Austin, TX about a year and a half ago and the car had about 30k miles on it at that point- the actual car I think was 19k but after the service plan, taxes, fees etc. it was like 23 something I think. I did test drive the car but only around town and never got past 45-50 MPH which is when I noticed the noise. I also never really noticed the noise until about 8 months ago...the first few months I was still kinda high off of how totally cute the car is and usually had the radio on anyway.

I am NOT experiencing any vibration! No vibration, It is just a noise! The noise doesn't even bother me much except it makes me worried that it is a sign the car is going to break down or something. It's very rhythmic and it sounds like a knock OR a thump not a knock...thump...knock...thump. but rather a knock...knock...knock. Sounds kinda similar to something turning over and hitting the same thing again and again.

The second sound which I think is a second problem altogether is the "yrrrrrr zrmmmm" racecar sound when I reach about 50 mphs and I'm worried it could be a transmission issue and that because the transmission is hard to get to in the minis that mechanics are just saying it is not a problem. To me it sounds similar to when I have tried to drive a manual transmission car and not been so great with the gear shifting(despite trying my best).

Also, not a big deal but I have had this happen on basically all of my newer model cars(except ironically, the crappy mustang) my brakes are not quiet, if I stop for fast food for example I can hear them squeaking quite loudly...not the really screech sound but like a baby version of that and it's embarrassing. Mechanics for all the cars say it's just the way brakes are made now but there must be something I can do? They say getting new brakes or brakepads won't stop that noise...but no other cars in the drive through lanes ever have it so it seems possible to create cars that both STOP and DON'T MAKE ANY EMBARRASSING NOISES while stopping.

Thank y'all for your advice- I especially think that test driving another mini and seeing if it makes the same sounds and then getting the service manager to ride in my car and listen to the sounds it makes when it reaches over 50 mph is awesome advice and I will definitely do that.

Edit to add: If I end up trading my car in and "upgrading" to a newer mini should I get the turbo and what is the best year? I like the idea of going super fast and having lots of power even though I won't be racing it or anything(I liked that about my Mercedes- everytime I stopped at a stoplight and had to go again it went very quickly and it went up hills super easily). What is a fair price for a 2013 or 2014 mini with less than 100 miles on it? Even if they both have less than 100 miles on them shouldn't the 2013 be less money since it is technically a year older model and thus resale value will be affected?

Also: Yeah, I don't really want my car to feel like a go kart on steroids...I can buy a go kart for a lot cheaper. I want it to feel powerful and smooth and still be cute as a button for an affordable price. Ideally, it would look like a mini, drive like a mercedes and cost less than 30k. Blue Book says brand new CLA250's are supposed to be right under 30k but all the dealers in my area are selling them for 37k and up.

 

Besides getting the service manager to look a little closer, id check the wheel liners for signs of tire rub. I had a piece of mine come loose, but it would only flap out to contact the wheel within a very specific range of speed.

 

I would NOT recommend a turbocharged MINI as a more reliable alternative to a base MINI. Most of the serious second generation MINI problems are unique to the turbo charged cars. I just upgraded from a trouble free base hard top to a 2014 turbocharged Roadster that is leased. I'll see how it has gone over the next three years before deciding whether to buy it or not. Reliability aside, you would definitely enjoy driving it more. I have a thread comparing the two here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...oadster-s.html

2013 models are currently being discounted up to $2,000. Also see MINIUSA.COM for special offers from MINI. The 2nd generation MINI hardtop is now officially out of production.

My brakes have never squeaked on any car. "They are just made that way now" is part of the game of seeing what outlandish lies a customer will believe. Considering that your id is "SillyGrrrl" I wonder if you aren't unconsciously inviting it. That's not an accusation, just food for thought.

 

I am sorry to hear you are having such problems with that dealer as you sound like a very nice person. Could be they are taking advantage of that, or something is being lost in translation between the MINI service advisor and the technician. Most times there are only very brief statements posted on the orders for the tech to read. If it's not obvious sound the tech could miss it.

Unfortunately, there's myriad of things which could be causing what you describe. If another MINI dealer is out of the question, then try going back and insist that you and a technician take a ride together in your MINI so you can demonstrate the issues first hand.

If they hear it, and insist "normal conditions", then ask them to demonstrate that same anomaly in another MINI of same vintage/pedigree from the lot.

Good luck !

 

Thx for the advice about my car. As for the suggestion I may unconsciously be presenting myself in such a way as to assure people do their worst by me...it's a possibility I suppose but it seems more likely that car dealers and some mechanics are maybe under quota strains or plain old greed so they do what they do to whomever they can do it to and balm their guilt with "well, she was openly vulnerable so really was asking for it. If it wasn't me that screwed her over someone else surely would have." It's an interesting train of thought but this is probably not the best place for it.

 

I see you are in North Carolina, are you in Raleigh? If so I know an independent garage that I have used for years and trust. They are competent and will not try to rip you off. If you are in Raleigh you will need to go to Charlotte or Richmond VA for a different MINI dealership.