Hello and greetings from Portugal!
So I was wondering if someone could help me out.
Recently bought a 2017 F56 with 40,000k. And straight off the bat I found the steering (especially in highway speeds) to be extremely "loose" and actually pretty scary! I had no feel for the road..
Bought it in to local Mini shop and they said that everything was ok after driving it for a bit. Have to say that everything else felt ok, and no extra "noises" where present.
Well I couldn´t live with the awefull handling , so after reading alot online I ordered Powerflex front end control arm bushes and also Powerflex engine mount and took them to a Mini "specialist" shop to have them aplied.
Imediatly I gained 100% in handling , but.... An awefull clunking noise appeared from the front end! On speed bumps it sounds as metal on metal grinding and on uneven roads, every little irregularity is joined by awefull clunks. More apparent on slow speeds..
So basically what I gained in handling I lost in confort!
So in a few weeks taking it back in to the shop. They have no idea what it could be (shops here are so/so...), but I´m guessing the "usual" suspects? Drop-links , anti-roll bar bushes, ball joints ( although in this case since I changed the bushes on the control arm there is no way to change these..?)
Any other ideas..?
Thanks for your time and sorry for the bad English!

 

Is your car still under warranty? You might want to have the upper engine mount and the transmission mount checked. Did you install Powerflex street or race type of bushings? The race type bushings for lower engine mount could have contributed to decreased comfort as you would feel a bit more engine vibrations.

Are you still on the original RFT tires? With 40K, they can be scary to drive. Lowering the tire pressure to 33-35PSI could help a little.

 

Hi, unfortunately no longer under warranty. Installed the normal street Powerflex bushings. I knew that I would get an increase "tremor" with the lower engine mount , but nothing too bad. The gain in little to no engine movement was a good trade-off...
I put in 4 brand new Hankook tires with alignment. No change in the "loose" steering, but with the fornt end arm bushes all was resolved...

Will have to ask them to check the upper engine mount. Never thought of that. Would that justify the clunking noises..?

 

Do you feel any hesitation or jerkiness when shifting from 1st gear to 2nd? That's one of the symptoms when my upper engine mount went out. If it gets bad enough, I guess you could get metal on metal clunking noises. But in that case, you should be able to detect it by visual inspection. There are some useful photos and info in another thread - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html

I am assuming that you have determined that the noises are not coming from suspensions.

 

What about the obvious?

Bushings were not installed correctly.

 

That happened to me when I replaced my bushings myself. Check swivel bearing and control arm connection, a loose connection is a common issue that can cause a loud clunking noise.

 

Sorry for the late reply.
This was my first thought. Thing is this is all new terrotory here in Portugal, since shops have no idea other than fitting OEM parts.
With the heat the noise has been getting unbearable, and I actually think it´s the bushes.
Either incorrectly installed or not lubricated enough..?

 

Also apoligize for late reply..
Took to local shop to check all suspension joints nad they are of opinion that it´s the actual bushes that are "creaking".
And with the increase in heat it´s getting impossible to drive with the noise.
Thing is that to make sure it really is the bushes I have to buy OEM parts and fit them. And for that I was quoted 700€...
Totally lost...

 

I don´t feel any hesitation when shifting, no...
Yes, as far as the shops can tell , all is fine with the suspension.
They greased the bushes , but I think they are on so tight that it won´t penetrate anywhere..