So yesterday I went to go look at another R53. Everything mechanically was fine and no issue apart from when turning at slow speeds there was a rubbing noise. It sounded very similar to the wheel rubbing on the wheel liner but it wasn't. This sound was only coming from the left front wheel. The guy looked at it after I left and told me it was the rubber top mount on the shock. I don't want to buy this car and end up replacing the steering rack because of my negligence to not look into this plus the dozens of cosmetic imperfections the car has. I am leaning to where the rack meets the column is a bit rusty since the car sat for a while. Any help would be appreciated on what this could be.

 

Wheel bearing?

 

I also have a similar sound as I've turned the wheels at full stop or turning out of parking space at crawl speed. This was noticable when the temps were below 55°F. I currently suspect the top strut perch where coil makes contact or the upper strut bearing. Although I cannot confirm since the temps are now in the 60°s and no longer makes noise or presents an issue.
Sorry. I wish I could provide a more conclusive answer.

 

Thanks for that information. That is what the guy told me so thats a good thing. It was about 45 F yesterday so I suspect it would be that.

 

Have not encountered this with my MINIs but with other cars a slow sharp turn would have the front inside tire scrubbing and this could make a sound like something was rubbing. If the sharp turn was made a higher than a crawl speed the tire scrubbing would make a noise/produce a vibration that would remind one of what the car feels like when ABS kicks in.

The inside front tire scrubs because due to geometry of the front wheels/tires the inside front tire does not make full contact with the pavement.

Pic to show you want I'm talking about:


Cold temps made this worse. And as the front tires wore they got hard -- from heat cycles -- and towards the "end" (at about 40K miles) they were real hard. (And noisy as all heck.)

'course if the car in question has been in an accident or has a bad steering rack or bad steering hardware or bad uspension then the tire could be rubbing/touching something. Ideally it would be nice to get the car lifted by its tires and with the front wheels turned full lock first in one direction then the other with a bright flash light look for any area where the tire comes "close" to anything. Check for any signs of contact on that anything and on the tire too.

If you suspect the rack one test is to on a flat empty parking lot at low speed make a full lock u-turn. Let the steering wheel come back to "center" on its own. Note the position of the steering wheel. Do this several times turning in either direction. If the steering wheel doesn't come back to the same position that's a sign the rack is bad.

 

that's what I was thinking

 

To be sure a wheel bearing -- both wheel bearings -- need to be checked for play or signs of issues. One usually hears the wheel bearing when driving down the road and if one then weaves the car if the noise changes that's pretty much a clear indication of a wheel bearing just a matter of determining which one. But there is no rule that says a bad wheel bearing can't make itself known at other times in other ways.

 

Well ill update everyone, I bought the car, 2006 Factory installed JCW kit with lots of carbon goodies. The guy sprayed some lube on the rubber top mount and the sound went away. Will be changing them out anyway for either coilovers or a refreshed suspension with lowering springs.

 

On my 06 JCW with BC coilovers, if I turn sharply the axle rubs the sway bar link. Does it on both sides, though. The car sits a bit lower than stock.