I just took delivery of Cooper S yesterday. Went through the car yesterday and opened the two panels on the side of the boot area. On the left side there was a tool kit attached by a velcro strap that was kind of loose. I was wondering if yours might be slapping the side of the car when you pull out? However, I suppose it would continue to happen throughout your drive. Also, are the attachment points for the rear mounted batterty tight, or could it be shifting on you. Again, would probably happen all the time, instead of only on initial drive.

First post, sorry if I messed it up.

 

>>I agree with door locks idea. I have a thunk or thump from time to time in addition to the locks. It was driving me up the wall. Then I realized that it was from the ***** on the boot lid swinging free and hitting the side panels. I tested the idea while parked (just let swing and fall against the panel next to where it hangs) and sure enough the sound was the same.
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>>John
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Sorry John But it's not the reason. I taped the ***** to the boot cover and tested it and sure enough the thump was still there. It really appears to be comimg from the rear sun roof area.

Maybe Kona is hitting the side DaMINI with his/her tail.

 

I get the 'Thump' too. And the bowling-ball description fits the bill exactly! I do NOT have a sunroof...

I have been getting a lot of creaking in my roof lately (last few months, mostly when it's cold) but the 'Thump' has been there since the beginning, whether the boot is empty or not. It's definitely not the door locks as those usually happen well after I've heard the 'Thump'.

 

I also have the thump - and yes, while it is low frequency and thus harder to localize - I don't believe it is coming from the roof area, but lower and towards the left, almost directly behind me (US car). It happens far below the 12mph ABS test or the auto door lock trigger point. It also does not require flexing of the carriage, as I noticed yesterday pulling out of my parking spot at work.

It cannot be characterized as a metal flexation, since those are more hollow. It also cannot be called a 'thud' as when a two smooth surfaces, one hard, one soft collide. It's much more muffled, as though one hard, solid object had bumped into something carpeted, and the initial slap that would be there has diffused into a 'thump'.

All items appear to be secure in the boot, and it happens with the stereo off as well as on, so I seriously doubt that it is my jack or amp. Any other theories?

 

First of all, I think some people are talking about different noises.

A single hard thump occassionally heard just after first driving off IS the ABS performing a self-test.

Thumps related to going over bumps or specific types of motion are unrelated to ABS.

I repeat, THE "BOWLING BALL" THUMP IS THE ABS SELF TEST.

 

So, the ABS self-test takes place in either reverse or 1st, and not neccessarily each time you start the car?

 

The ABS clunk does not happen every time you start moving. I don't know what governs the interval (time, number of cycles, etc.).

I don't think gear affects it. I've only noticed it in 1st gear, just as I start moving forward, around the same time the doors lock.

 

My husband thought I was insane when I told him about the loud thump, sounding like it was coming from the rear right passenger side. He's putting a call in now to a buddy of his that is a MINI tech - I'll post whatever info we get up here.

 

I have the thump too. I usually hear it about 5-10 seconds after I first start driving the car after having it turned off. It sounds like a sub kicking in, a nice sub in fact, its a very clean sounding bass sound. I'm thinking that maybe its something to do with the parking break, since I've heard a parking break make a thump sound before, and I always use my parking break. It doesn't sound like it's the speakers because it sounds as if its coming from the very back of the car, in the boot. I know for certain its not the door locks because I don't have auto door locks. It can't be something rolling around because it only happens when I take off for the very first time. My best guess is either something parking break related or something with the axle/wheels in the rear.

 

Listen carefully to the "ABS thump" when you start the car.

Sometimes it will be to the left, and sometimes to the right.
My guess is each time the car is started, it tests one of the parts of the system. It tests each wheel individually so on a certain start you will hear a thump from the rear left wheel area, another start it will be the rear right wheel area. I have never heard noise from the front wheels - likely drowned out by engine noise, and the rear wheel tests presumably resonate with the back of the car.

 

It only happens when the car has been stitting for a while. And yes, it sounds like a "bowling ball" rolling and hitting the side of the car.........I thought it was something that I left in the trunk...........this is too strange. As long as I am not the only one to hear it..........

 

I did a search and found this thread, which I see is 2 years old, but wanted to see if people were still hearing this thump and if it is truly the ABS as Countrym indicated.

I hear my thump when I am backing out of my garage, which is well under the 12 mph, and I have taken the back left boot apart to see if anything is loose and have not found anything.

 

I hear a noise too when my S is still cold, as I'm backing out of the garage and pulling away. What I'm hearing is from the exhaust, and I think its the "burble" I've heard about. It happens after giving it some gas, then letting off the throttle as the revs drop back to idle. Its definitely very pronounced when the engine is cold, but diminishes after it warms up. This sort of "cold-blooded" behavior is familiar territory to me, it happens all the time on motorcycles. Is it possible that this is sound we're all hearing, or are you folks getting some other noise?

 

You're talking about the exhaust burble... You should hear it most in second gear...

The burble is different from the thump in this thread, and yes it's still the ABS...