OK - searched every keyword I could think of and can't find this particular topic. My '06 has been gratifyingly rattle-free, but this past week with cooler weather (all the way down to 57 degrees!) in SoCal, I'm hearing a strange "rustling" or low-pitched creaking- not really a rattle, but a noise that seems to be generated by the driver's side door trim contact with the window or vice versa - roll the window down and the sound stops. Roll it up and it's back - you can sort of duplicate it in the stationary car by pushing your hand against the door panel. Car's under warranty and I'll mention it next service, but wondered if anyone had any clever fixes.

 

It's the window regulator - MINI has a TSB on it and your dealership should have an updated part to fix it.

-Michael

 

Of course the first thing to do before anything else is to strike firmly around the edge of the door panel to be sure that all rivets and clips are fully seated. Next time you take a ride and the noise comes back push on the circular trim piece; the one that surrounds the arm rest. If that quiets the squeak then take a strip of felt and cut into small squares, push the small pieces into the edge between the trim piece and the panel at any location that rattles when tapped with the finger. If the trim isn’t the cause, pull the door panel, place adhesive backed felt in the channel where the door latch wire travels, pull the plastic rivets and place felt on the backs and replace, check the interior hard foam to make sure it isn’t vibrating. Foam buzz/squeak can also be quieted with felt.

 

Very clever.