I have noticed that the Mini has changed my driving habits. From day one I love gettting into my car and taking off.

No I find myself waiting for people to leave the area.

Why...

Because I'm a afraid to turn the wheel and let them hear the power steering. It's loud. I didn't notice it from inside, with all the windows closed you can't hear it. But outside...wow.

It's almost embarassing....it is embarassing...that's why I'm afraid to turn.

It seems to get louder with time....or its my imagination. I have to stress this is at slow speeds, like from a dead stop and turning hard.

 

(sound or no sound ... ) I look forward to turning ... and look for roads that let me turn as often as possible! :smile:

 

This is one of the reasons that (back when the car was first out) people asked if it was an electric car. I personally love the electro-hydraulic feature, mainly because of the fact that it doesn't draw constant power from the engine like a belt driven pump. I agree it is a little loud, but I never wait for people to leave the area. I'm usually quick to start it up when people are around cause I love to show off the growl of the Stebro exhaust.

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[img]albums/album25/ama.gif[/img]VinceAndJessica.com
Alta pulley, Stebro exhaust, Pipercross intake, Progress rear anti-sway bar.

 

That is so funny because it's true! It is an embarassing noise, especially in a parking lot or at a drive-up window at a fast food restaurant. I've read posts where people were asked if the car was electric, and I think that noise could possibly be the reason they would think that. I cringe if I'm driving through a parking lot and people are checking out my car and I have to make a turn. Nobody's ever said anything to me about it, but they must be hearing it, it really is loud.

 

I think there's a 12-step program available for those afraid to turn.

Seriously, I love the way the MINI sounds... You ever listen to your MINI on a hot summer day, with the AC on full blast, and the power steering fan going, and the radiator fan going, all at once? I swear, it sounds like a freakin' jet engine under the hood with all those fans whirring madly. Yes, it turns heads - -such a small car making so much noise. But it's a cool noise, not an offensive one, not like an old jalopy...more like a finely tuned machine.

Don't be afraid...turn that wheel...baby steps... :smile:

-Joe

 

Just tell folks it's your ionized plasma supercharger building a charge.

Actually, I have had several folks think that the power steering whine is the supercharger.

See ya,
JS

 

Perhaps I don't understand--and I mean no disprespect--but why on earth would you be embarassed by the whine? Loud, yeah. Entertaining for first-time motorers, sure. Embarassing??? Is there some negative attribute I'm unaware of that's associated with a whine?

No flames intended, but people, get over it. Or drive in a perfectly straight line wherever possible but, honestly, I'd be more embarrased about not taking full advantage of the car's handling capabilities. Your friends probably think you're big weenies.

 

OmToast,
I agree to a point. I guess my problem is, the whine makes the the car sound cheap. And I don't like that image.

 

You know what the Sound is, You know why it's there - you know that it's ok and the car's not broken - so (bottom line) it doesn't really matter what the uninitiated think ...

 

No... that's not the sound of cheap. The sound of cheap is some kid's bass rattling the windows of every house on the block. I LOVE the sound of my Mini: "Grrrrrrrrr... Mmmmmminnngggg... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Emmmmmmmmmmm... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr..."

 

I LOVE the sound! When I first test drove the MINI and heard that sound, I had no idea what it was, but it sure sounded high tech! Sort of a cross between a jet engine and something James Bond would be driving.

If you're really that self conscious about the noise, just blip the throttle a bit, and anyone nearby will know it's NOT an electric car!!! LMAO!!!!

The things people worry about. Gotta love it!!!

Motor on baby!

 

No intention of flaming or anything, but if you've spent any time on this forum you've left yourself wide open on this one and I just can't help myself.

If you spend your time worrying about what others think you will have less time to realize what a wonderful car you are in possession of and how lucky you really are. :smile:

C'mon. be embarrassed when you pass loud flatulence on a first date, or the size of your.....

 

>>Just tell folks it's your ionized plasma supercharger building a charge.
>>
HAHA

>>Actually, I have had several folks think that the power steering whine is the supercharger.
>>
ditto

I personally don't mind the sound at all. However, I couldn't help but laugh at my first meet a couple weeks back when large groups would pull into the parking lot. Sounded like a bunch of kids on swings "wheee wheee!" haha. of course... you could just check out OctaneGuy's sig and see a direct connection between drivers and the "wheee!" sound

Whenever I drive, I look forward to the turns... the handling is one aspect of the mini that initially caught (and maintained) my attention.
so yea, TURN THAT WHEEL! haha

-Nardo

 

I find roads with as many turns as possible. And I just love the way my MINI sounds. Like no other car I've ever had. If you don't like the whine just turn up the stereo.

 

[piling on]

Yeah! It sounds totally tech to me, too--at first I thought it was a little weird, especially at the drive-through! But now I dig it. Enjoy yo' MINI!

 

If you are embarassed by the sound the MINI p.s. makes you are definitely driving the wrong car. The MINI attracts attention like no other. It's not a car for those requiring anonymity.

 

>>This is one of the reasons that (back when the car was first out) people asked if it was an electric car.

Ohhhh, so that's why these 3 people in my community kept asking me this is the new electric car the first week I got it!!

 

Cheers!
Clover

 

If you're bored and sitting in your driveway you can use the whine to make music:

left-right-left-right-lefffffffffffffffffffffft = Riders on the Storm

left-right-leffffffft, left-right-leffffffffft, left-right-left-right-leffffffffft = Jingle Bells

left-right-left-right-leffft-right-left-riiight-left-right-left-right-left = beginning of violin solo, The Devil Went Down to Georgia


and so on. :smile:



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Just bolt on an aftermarket intake and a Magnaflow and never worry about hearing that whine again.:smile:
Oh yeah, this is also a great combination to stop those annoying electric car questions too!

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03 B/W S model; Madness intake; Cibie 45 lamps; Magnaflow exhaust; H&R springs; Helix swaybar

 

I like the steering whine! It's great character, and I actually find myself showing it off to others; not embarassing - FUN!

Now, when I drive "normal" cars, I always wonder "what's wrong with the steering? I can't hear it!"

 

OmToast has the right idea. I have fun with my whine as well. One of my favorites that I do while waiting for my food at the drive thru is a siren. The wail of a siren is very simple to create with slow movement of the wheel. :smile:

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Nope... I dont get bothered by it either... I love the car its perfect... I hope you never thought that people will laugh at you for driving such a small cute car.

 

I don’t mind the whine; however, my MCS power steering has developed a pulsation that can be felt in the steering wheel at low engine speeds when maneuvering in a parking lot. It is only noticeable at low engine rpm’s so my guess is it is a low voltage to the power steering motor due to the low engine speed and the alternator not producing enough voltage.

 

The crew at the track last weekend wanted to black flag me in the pits because they thought I had a failing power steering pump. It sounds like my friend's old '67 Impala convertible.

Later, they wanted to black flag me because of the supercharger whine while blasting down the front straight at 110. They thought something was wrong with the engine.

It's supposed to do that, really.

Yes, it's supposed to do that too. Yes, I know the other Mini doesn't do that but he has a stock air box so you can't hear it.

It's a new and different machine that makes new and different noises.