OK, this is not about interior squeeks, rattles, etc... This is about a consistant noise while car is in motion.

I have a '03 MCS/Works, that has developed a repetitive and consistant "clicking/rubbing" noise that is very evident with the drivers window down. The noise increases and decreases with the speed of the car and can be heard quite easily with the radio off or volume turned down low. I first thought I had picked up a nail but that was not the case. Sounds like possibly a brake pad is bouncing off the disk. My dealer supposedly has looked for it but has yet to offer a reasonable explaination, a few times after them looking for it, it is gone for a day or so and then comes back, one servicewriter said they sprayed the brakes with something to make it temporarily go away.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

Does it go away when you hit the brakes?

 

First thing that come to mind is a rock in the tire.??

Does make a clicking sound but not a rubbing sound.

Earl

 

Could be a bunch of things. You need to try a few things to narrow it down a bit.

The suggestion of seeing if the noise goes away when you brake is a start. Also, is it more pronounced if you are turning the car a bit to load up the wheel bearing?

On all front wheel drive cars there is a thing called a constant velocity (CV) joint which is a type of bearing on the drive shaft. When these start to fail they make a clicking noise which can be quite loud especially when the car turns in a tight circle.

Hope this helps. Good luck tracking things down. Oh, if it is the CV joint you'll definitely find the problem when if fails

 

Mine does this on occasions. It's a sound not unlike that of squeaky sneakers, and that's just about what it is. In my case, the tire 'squishes' against the rim. As a test, I sprayed the tire at the rim with a spray cleaner and it went away (I sprayed the rim on the inside and outside).

This is not the first vehicle I had which did this either.

 

Was having the same clicking sound from the left front of my '03 MC. Turns out it was the synchronisers gone belly up. My SA said that the trans company had gotten a bad run and they could turn up in feb to june '03 builds. Does your clicking quit when you throw in the clutch? If so, take it in and have the trans checked.
I get my newly rebuilt one next week.

GOOD LUCK!

 

No rocks or nails in the tires, Increases and decreases with the speed of the car. Is pretty much constant when driving

Will check again and confirm if it continues when turning, with clutch in, braking etc...

Mine is a November '03 build.

Sometimes sounds like clicking and sometimes sound like rubbing?

 

check that the passenger seat belt is INSIDE.

 

Here's an update: My neighbors must think I'm a freak driving around the neighborhood with my head out of the window, speeding up, slowing down and swerving about.

It's more of a rubbing or repetive contact type sound/noise, with ever rotation of a wheel or wheels it increases and decreases accordingly with the cars speed, sounds like it is coming from front left wheel area of car but this is kind of hard to tell while driving safely. Is present also with clutch in or out and also during brakeing.

 

Try jacking the car up and turning the wheels one at a time and see if you can isolate the sound.

Earl

 

I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry to read about this problem with your MINI. If you want our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK MINI and mention Reference # 200335600140 so that we can discuss your concern.

 

Sounds like a carbon copy of my noise with the exception that mine stopped when the clutch was depressed.
Good Luck.