My parents 2003 mini cooper s seems to be making a weird almost knocking sound from the engine. It sounds like its probably the supercharger. Or something along those lines. Anyone have any advice or know what it is? They bought a supercharger and I'm going to install it tomorrow but if someone thinks its something different please let me know. (I attached a video I think)

 

Could be the timing chain tensioner. Is the sound more noticeable on the (U.S.) drivers side? Is it louder when the car is cold?

 

Video isn't there. Could be crank pulley.

 

Yeah it could be anything. Pullies, rod knock, sc, timing chain parts.

Kind of crazy you started out by purchasing the most expensive item first. Hopefully you got lucky and the sc is the problem. My bad sc sounded like someone puts some rocks in it. Plenty of videos out there where you can hear it. Since you are already doing it I guess it doesn't matter.

 

As others have stated, it could be a number of things.

It's tough to diagnose a noise from a stationary video. Unless you move the recording device (phone?) around during recording, which would better pinpoint the origin of the noise, it's almost impossible from our vantage point to determine where the noise emanates from.

That said, it almost sounds like the clutch throwout bearing. Failed timing chain tensioners tend to have a more raspy, higher pitched rattling than depicted in your video.

Does the noise go away if you press the clutch pedal and slowly release?

 

It's definitely hard to tell from that video. I'd determine the source of the noise first before attempting to replace parts, especially expensive one's. Taking a probe around and listening to specific areas under the hood might help distinguish where it's coming from. Do you notice the noise change frequencies or sound when you rev it up a little?

 

yes...lots of things to check before swapping the s/c. i know i'd be kinda frustrated if i changed out the s/c, only to have the same noise in the motor after it is all back together. hopefully, it is something simpler, and you can set the new s/c aside for future need. good luck

 

The motor can be run for a few seconds with the belt removed......if there noise goes away, then they can look closer....
A bearing could be bad in the alternator, or anything....to toss a $2200 fix at it is kinda incompetent unless the person doing the repair can explain WHY they think that item is bad....
The person doing the fix could be right....but they should be able to explain why...be it from localized noise, etc.