I haven't been driving my cooper much later but the last couple of times I have taken it out, I have notice a smal knock when I press on the gas or take my foot off the gas. At first I thought that the noise do to road induced vibration but I can reproducably make it happen if I step on the gas in the 10-35mph range. It seems to also happen when I take my foot off the gas but less noticeable.
Would this me a loose motor mount? Any ideas where I should look to try and fix. At this point, it isn't very pronounced but unlikely to get better.
Ian

 

Do you hear the noise when in neutral?

does it come through on vid?

 

Didn't think of trying it while in neutral. Will try tonight and see if I can catch it on a recording

 

That and see if it goes up/down with engine RPM and/or independent of vehicle speed.

 

Ran through several tests yesterday. There is no click if I press on the case when in neutral. This only happens when I step on the gas or tack my foot off of the gas when in gear. It also seem to happen when I press or release the clutch.
I have attached a short recording with my camera on the floor below drivers seat. You can hear the clicking sound when I press or release the gas. Hopefully the video the video/audio uploads correctly

 

You are aware of the known weakness in the R53 motor mount? You have inspected the top right mount for fluid leaks?

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Will check it out when I get home. I would have swore that the noise was coming from near my feet on drivers side. And not from the passenger side

 

I didn't see any obvious leaks around the top passenger side engine mount. Is there anyway I could test to see if that is where the noise is coming from Dont mind replacing if needed.

 

check your axle boots, axle bearing on passenger side, and control arm ball joints and bushing

 

Ok so no noise when in neutral. So not the engine most likely

Transmission, axles, suspension. If you can replicate the sound with brakes, in natural, at speed, you can rule out trans. and axles?

This an r50 or 53?

 

This is an R53. 128k miles. Can't replicate it with the breaks. Although I don't get the knock when I release or engage the clutch with eh parking break on, The engine does shift. I am going to try that this weekend with a helper to see if that point me anywhere. Is ther an equivalent to the engine mount that is on the passenger side on the drivers side. It sound sand feeld like it is coming from some where drivers side. If I shift really gentlely so there is no obvious shift in engine, ther eis no knock.

Earlier this year, I did a lot of work on the car.
- Replaced catalytic convertor ( P403 code. Turns out catalyst in converter was totally gone.)
- passenger side axle (boot was torn)
Suspension and steering: struts, both tierods and tierods ends, passenger side lower ball joint, both sway bar links)

I didn't notice the noise after I did the work but with covid, wasn't driving the car that much.

last weekend, i checked the bolts on the sway bar links, just in case, and they were all tight

 

sounds like your on the right track.

with these cars getting older you can assume bushing and ball joints need replacing...

when you go back in I’d plan on a total refresh. Both sides.

have you refreshed you trans mount? Sorry if you already said that.

does the sound come through on video?

 

I have a passenger side engine mount on hand. Have not replaced it yet. I have not replace the trans mount (would first have to figure out where it is <grin> You can hear the knock in the video (camera was on floor between my feet). Knock whenever the is hard accel or decel. If I am very gentle when accelerating, there is no knock. I replaced the bushings 12-18 months ago. Drive side lower ball joint seems ok. and new lower ball joint on passenger side. Given the age, refreshing wear parts is the plan. Other than the trans mount, what else should I look at doing. Plan on replacing the trans fluid in the next couple of weeks.
Ian

PS after a bit of searching for the Trans mount, That is in the position I would have guessed that the noise was coming from. Is there any way to inspect it without pulling it out. As you mentioned, given the age, Maybe it just makes sense to do it
PSS. What parts do I need to order to replace the mounts? Is there anything else I should do when I am in there?

 

Punch in your vin here, you can see an expanded view of the parts.

realoem.com

the mounts are an easy job. No service mode needed. Plenty of videos on the YouTube

The video is inaccessible for me...post on YouTube maybe?

 

I tried changing the video format Maybe that will allow you to see/hear the video.

 

no joy. tried on my iPhone and Mac :/

 

Here is the video uploaded to YouTube.

 

I think its the same sound my son's 2006 R50 makes. Have not looked into it yet.

I'd start with motor and trans mounts. Not too expensive and if they have not been replaced you need them anyway...

 

I have thr passenger side mount. Where cod i locate the other person I need to orde?

 

Rear and passenger upper motor mounts available from NAM site vendors, Amazon, Evilbay and below:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...tor+mount,5552

Quick rundown on the lower's R&R procedure in this video:

 

buy a mobius action cam, flashlight and some good link lock velcro and start mounting it and test driving till you find the problem!

I find them pretty useful, see below sample

 

Great idea!!!

 

You have an engine mount (top or bottom) that is on the way out or broken.

 

Just curious which one did you use, and how /where did you anchor it to the bottom of the car?

 

Ok. I am going to tackle this this weekend. I have the 2 mounts on the passenger side top and the one on the passenger side lower. A this point, I haven't ordered the transmission mount on the drivers side below the air box. That one seems to be quite a bit more expensive. Is there a way to rebuild the bushing if it is damaged?