nope. i'm a mechanic, so i work on my own car. i figure i'll just wait it out and see if it gets worse, since it has been making this noise for a while. if it does, i'll just replace the compressor. unfortunately i'm not a MINI tech, so i don't know how much this would cost a dealer... but if i had to guess, i'd say about 3 hours labor and maybe $500 to $700 for the compressor, plus evac/recharge. around $1k, just a guess.

 

I contacted DTM and you're right on the nose. Over $700.00 for the part and at $117 an hour labor for 4 hours we're looking at over $1K.

 

I have an 04 MCS with same noise. Below 80 F. compressor is very quiet,above that and it whines starting around 3,000 rpm and gets louder with increased rpm. My dealer explained to me that the compressor is a dual scroll design,under normal load its quiet,with reduced output. With increased heat/load the compressor adjusts to max output which results in more noise.
Mine started doing this in 2nd year of ownership,I'am approching 4 years soon.It still whines when hot and still blows colder than "you know what".
Hope this helps put you at ease.
Happy Motoring, jeff

 

I don't buy that explanation. Sounds like the dealer doesn't want to deal with the problem. My A/C makes no noticeable noise at any engine speed or under any condition, and works quite well.

 

$117 an hour!! holy crap! i work at a honda dealer and the rate is $89, which i think is pretty high already. damn! if only us techs made even half that....

 

Now I'm being told it's the altanator...

Everyone wants to charge me to even just LISTEN to it to pinpoint the problem.

This is seriously driving me nuts!!!!!

Can't someone diagnose the problem and back it up with FACT? I'm getting "maybe it's this" or "maybe it's that" but it'll cost ya $$$$ for us to tell you EXACTLY what it is.

This to me is a poor way of doing buisness.

 

actually this is the right way. you can't get a free diagnosis. do you pay when you go to the doctor? yes, even if he DOESN'T fix the problem. at least at a shop they are responsible for actually fixing it.

if shops gave away free diagnosis you could take that information and go somewhere cheaper to get the work done. that's why almost all shops charge a flat one hour diagnosis fee. you can get a free *guess*, but to get what you want (backed up with FACT, as you put it), that will cost money. usually that money is put toward the repair, so you are not wasting any money if you choose to fix the problem. after all, why should a shop take the time to diagnose your car if you aren't willing to follow through and get it fixed?

 

My fan has been running after I turn the car off as well. Today, I went back to my car after an hour and the battery was dead!:impatient Evidently, the fan ran the battery down. Good thing I work across the street from Downtown MINI. The SM let me use the jump box to start my car. I drove it over and he said the high speed fan switch has gone out on many cars...to the tune of $600.00 replacement. He can't look at it for a week!
I unplugged the motor when I got home and am soliciting help here if anyone has replaced the motor themselves. He said the bumper and radiator need to come off so I figure most of the cost is labor.
Anyone had any experience with this?

 

My '04 has the AC whine. I asked about it, and was told it was normal. I really don't care as long as the AC works well, and it has for almost 54K miles.

I have only noticed the electric engine cooling fan running on after the car is shut down if the car is low on coolant or it is VERY hot. Since I noticed this some many miles back, I have kept a closer eye on the coolant level and top it up regularly.

One thing I know is a common problem is that the cheap plastic OEM coolant expansion tank and cap leak often and plenty. I am replacing them this Saturday with an aluminum tank from Canton and a 30psi pressure cap. Here is the place where I got the tank and cap:

http://www.livermoreperformance.com/mini_tanks.html

I hope this will reduce the leakage and the frequency with which I have to top up. Plus it is pretty good bling for the engine bay!!

 

Rorei,

If it is the alternator, I would think (hope) the cost is significantly less.

 

why are you bying parts at a Mini Dealer? They'll charge an arm and a leg. Look for a rebuilt A/C unit.....

If you want to diagnose your own sound, get a mechanics stethoscope or a piece of vacuum tubing that's a couple of feet long. When the car is making the sound at idle, listen to the various parts. You'll get to the A/C from under the front of the car, and the alternator from above. IT will be obvious where the sound is coming from.

To remove the bumper cover and put the car in "service mode" is very, very easy. To take the front off, you have to drain the A/C and brake the lines. The whole radiator support will come off very easily. The cost for the fan part is expenve becuase I think you have to buy that fan, as it's integrated.

There's an eBay story that sells stuff like this. Search, and if you don't see it, phone them to see if they have one that hasn't been posted.

It's worth it to try topping the A/C, but usually sounds like that rarely go away once they rear thier ugly head. Just keep driving and when it goes, fix it.

The fan being so loud means the fan is at high speed (it's a two speed fan) it should run this way for a bit, then slow to a less noisy level, then stop. If your fan is on often, check your coolant level. If it's fine, drain, flush and refill, and add a bottle or two of Water Wetter. The fan running often but not always is a sign that either your car is running hot, or the temp sender is going. I've never heard of a faulty temp sensor on the Mini, but it's possible.


Matt

 

I just went thru "the fan running at high speed more often than normal" thing, along with having to refill my coolant tank twice in one month. The dealer found a cracked and leaking thermostat. Replaced and all is fine. Check it out.

 

I drove home and unplugged the high speed fan. I shut off immediately...duh...I plugged it back in about an hour later and it did not come back on. I drove it back to work and no fan. Later in the day, still no fan. I turned the a/c on and the fan came on. Turned the a/c off after a minute and the fan shut off after about 30 seconds.
sound like a switch prob? did it reset? would a cracked thermo cause this?

 

My 04 MCS started doing the same exact thing (was quite for 3.5 yrs) - took it to the dealership and they replaced it under warrenty saying that it was a sign of a failing A/C compressor.

Max.

.