So on MTTS, driving through the wide expanses of the SouthWest we found that our MINI convoy often settled into a 90mph cruise, however in our 06 MCS this proved a bit annoying...

At exactly 90mph I get a very loud howling sound coming from the front of the car. I am convinced it's wind noise and nothing else more dramatic but haven't traced it down to which portion of the car it is coming from...

We have the regular MCS bumpers (no aero kit) and the driving lights - otherwise the car is stock. The sound is best heard with the sunroof and windows closed, it seems to come in and out at 85mph and becomes constant at 90. I haven't pushed the car much beyond that speed yet to see if it goes away as speeds climb further (what's the point in CA anyways, with the CHP out everywhere)...

I did notice the driver side wiper moving a little bit and wonder if it might be the culprit. I'll pull the wipers off temporarily this weekend and go out on the freeway to see if it still happens.

Anyone else noticed this and tracked it down already?

-e

 

I experienced something very similar to your situation: Very loud howling at 85-90 mph range. Curious to see if anyone has insight as to what this is.

 

The only time I had my MCS that fast was at the track. I can't say that I heard anything unusual between 90-105, but the windows were down and the engine screaming at 4000-6500 RPM.

 

I also hear this noise. It starts at 90 mph. My guess is the passenger wiper. MCS stock bumper no driving lights.

 

mine did this as well, when I changed to an M7 ram-air hood scoop it went away. not sure if it was the scoop or the change in airflow behind/after the scoop...

 

I've gotten it also, and my wife was able to pinpoint the noise to the headliner, at the front where the map lights are.

 

EASY EASY FIX to this issue.




Slow down.

 

yes, this comes on around 80 or so mph. I mentioned to the dealer and he said to try the recirc button and see if it still does it. When I have the recirc button in, it does not do it. Not sure why it happens but at least I can quiet it if needed.

 

I got a similar noise problem however mine was from the upper rear corners where the window meets the door frame gasget.

Sounds like mine was a different occurance but maybe worth checking out.

gl, erik

 

i have this problem, too. lots of wind noise at about 90 mph, especially in reverse.

 

dang it, yours too?!

 

Close the boot.

 

mine too. not at 90, but what the op was describing. a howl, separate from the mounting wind noise.

 

slow down slow down... sure sure...

you try driving at the flow of traffic down here in SoCal and tell me if you don't just get passed by everyone including truckers at speeds less than 80...

and besides if it howls at 90 here in the states, what must it be like on the autobahn in germany at 130???
there's no way they would stand for it IMO... that's why i'm wondering if something's loose and creating the noise...

i read on another thread someone doing a high speed run while on a motoring trip had one of the A-pillar black trim pieces fly off never to be found ever again... I wonder if one of ours is loose and is creating all the noise...

I'll try the wipers and the recirc...
interesting comment about the hood scoop...

thanks,

-e

 

Me too, at +-90 mph, windows & sunroof closed, stock bumper no driving lights. Haven't tried w/ recirc on/off but I believe it does not discriminate between the two.

It's actually a good indicator of when I need to slow down (a bit).

 

Coming back from MOT 2006 in NH we hit 112mph in a short burst and the wind noise was pretty good... but I expect that in pretty much any vehicle at those speeds. It was more of a droning sound than anything else. I attributed it to a harmonics thing going on. Pretty cool. ;-)

 

IBTL

Has it occurred to any one that maybe MINIs weren't meant to be driven at 90 or 112 MPH on public US Highways?

Eric wrote: you try driving at the flow of traffic down here in SoCal and tell me if you don't just get passed by everyone including truckers at speeds less than 80...

and so? So what if they pass you? I think you missed the point

 

It's air getting under the plastic trim pieces covering the corners of the windshields. Mine got worse after the windshield was replaced. I was considering a silicon bead down the edge of the trim piece to block air getting in there.

 

I'll agree to half that statement. IB4TL, the MINI can go very fast but not when the public is around, as most drivers are idiots, we even have a seperate thread as proof.

No noise here. What are you running from tires, could it just be road noise? I notice the MINI is much LOUDER on the contcrete than asphalt.

 

I think the high angle of the windshield plays a part as well What's funny is that in my experience (After 11,000 autobahn miles) it reached max volume at around 90-95. At 141 (Fastest I could get it) it wasn't much louder than at 95 Oh yeah, and the passenger wiper was lifting off quite a bit at about 100 too

 

have had the problem on occasion. found out that the windows that apear to be closed are a fraction open. when this happens try hitting the window up buttons. for me the noise goes away.

 

I get it too. Starts at 86 mph and drives me crazy so I just turn up the tunes! I used to think it had to do with the A/C but now I don't think so. Someone told me that it may be some type of valve not closing properly - I don't know what I'm talking about obviously....all I know is that I want to know what it is and make it stop (without slowing down)!!

 

:razz :

 

this is so true, mine is louder after a new windscreen, b4 teh new glass it would do it at 100 plus mph now it starts at around 80 dont noe how im goin' to explain this one to my dealer but hey its a problem, right!?

 

What means these words, "slow down?" Does not compute!