Hello fellow MINIacts.

Question.

Is a MINI suppose to sound like this? I'm concerned because I saw a video where a man said the CAI caused his truck to suddenly start knocking.

An so, when I turned on Zippy this morning to show my son my new CAI I heard what sounds like a diesel engine.

Is this normal, should I be concerned? Anyone else have a video of their MINI idling?

Here's Zippy idling. Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Changing your air filter system should have no effect on engine sound at idle, did it just start sounding like this after the CAI installation?
Does it quieten down after it warms up?
Our justa has started sounding this way at cold start up but quietens down after it warms up. The dealership service department has told us it sounds "normal" to them but I don't know if I agree with that as it didn't used to sound that way.

 

I have a '13 Justa and it's never sounded like that. However, where I live it's never been started in what I consider cold weather.

 

We live in SW Florida and its 78 degrees here today. zippy always sleeps in the garage so she's never exposed to cold weather. If you consider low 50s cold.

She's always had this sound, but I guess with the addition of the CAI I'm paying more attention to it. It does seem to quiet down *some* after she's warmed up.

Odd. :(

 

I have an S not a justa, but your engine seems a bit loud, although my S engine is pretty noisy at idle with various tapping and clicking noises and sounds a bit different when warm versus cold. I doubt the noise in your video is from the CAI. When I've installed CAI systems before on 2 non-turbo cars the increased noise is only the rushing of air and more grunt under acceleration, not knocking. You could always put your original intake back on.

Here is a video of an R56 justa I found:

 

Thank you NeonSteve ...

So here's Zippy at night warmed-up some. Not sure if there's much difference.


Here's inside the cab. Aside from folks making noise in the Publix parking lot, she idles pretty steady. No CEL to date.


Here she is outside again with the bonnet closed.


Thoughts anyone?

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did you check your oil level? make sure oil level is near full mark of dipstick. how often do you change your oil?

this sound is similar to issue with timing chain. if your MINI is still under warranty, go have it check for 'cold start' noise.

 

This thread might be helpful:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...a-clubman.html

 

Guys one final thought.

Install instructions STEP 1 say to "Disconnect the negative battery cable"

Well, I forgot to do this BUT prior to turning the car back on I DID disconnect the cable for maybe 2 minutes then reconnected it.

I realize the CAI instructions say disconnect the cable at STEP 1 because it "erases" something but it never says it needs to remain disconnected for a predetermined length of time (like the time it takes to swap the OEM box with the CAI kit).

Do you think I may have thrown the computer off by not leaving it disconnected long enough? And if so; the computer may still looking for the OEM box and not providing the correct air/fuel mixture causing this knocking sound someone earlier identified as "pre-detonation"?

BTW I use Sunoco 93 Octane exclusively.

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I just checked the oil and its topped off.

To date (knock on wood), Zippy has never consumed oil. I'm attaching a few pics showing the dipstick wiped dry and two following to show the level. This was taken 1st thing this morning with the car cold.

Also, just for bells and whistles I disconnected the battery performed this maneuver which I read on a non-related NAM thread.

"Try putting the stock box back on, cleaning the maf, and disconnecting the battery (followed by pressing on the brake a few times to drain the rest of the residual power in the car), and reconnect everything. It will allow your ecu to readapt to environmental settings and driving... which may help."

I'll leave the battery disconnected and door open (just in case) for 30 minutes.

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Oil level.

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Oil level with wipe.

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Your photos are not attached to your last 2 posts. You're not sure how the engine sounded before installing the CAI, correct? The engine may have sounded like this before the CAI was installed, right? My S had a broken timing chain guide at less than 50,000 miles, and it was louder than yours but only for a minute after cold starts. Sounded like a loud old diesel engine. It was so loud I was embarrassed to start it. You can probably find videos people have posted of the death rattle. I don't know what your sound could be but I doubt it's due to the CAI in any way.

 

Neon, see if this works.

Update and observations:

This may be helpful for some or maybe of no real importance, but here goes ....

1- Disconnected battery for 90 minutes, depressed brake pedal several times and left the door open.

2- Depressed brake pedal a few more times after 90 minute battery disconnect (step #1) then reconnected battery.

3- Unlike before, where I only left the battery cable disconnected for maybe 3 minutes, THIS TIME when I turned the car on a clock and date display came on with 00:00:00 showing. Currently, even though the radio presents are still there, the date and time need to be set. Again something that didn't happen before.

4- Started Zippy, and almost immediately noticed a difference in the sound phenomenon.

5- Took Zippy for a test drive and noticed the following (I should note, maybe it's butt dyno, but I don't think so. I drove Zippy barefooted, after all this is Florida - it's 78 degrees and I didn't get out of the car). Besides, what a better way to *feel* the throttle response than to push on it barefooted.

Zippy is quieter on the road, very responsive and idles like butter. Overall, I noticed a vast improvement.

However, you be the judge.

Zippy video pre battery reset.




Zippy video post battery reset.



Maybe it's just me.

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Hmmmmm

Let me try this again.

Pre battery reset.

Post batter reset.

Regards,
David.

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I see your dipstick photos now; not sure why I didn't before.

Your engine is noticeably quieter after the extended battery disconnection. Wow, that is unbelievably crazy! I don't understand it. I wish someone could explain it. I am glad you found a solution and there's no major problem.

 

Thanks Neon.

She actually sounds quieter on the road too. I only hope the ECU doesn't decide it wants to mess with us humans and revert (or adapt) back to how it was. :( (fingers crossed).

I guess one needs to disconnect the battery, step on the brakes and leave disconnect a while for the system to dump previous settings? Beats me!
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