i'm sure this has been talked about before, but I can't seem to find anything about it.

I hear this little motor sound when I start up my MCS. sounds like it is coming from the glove compartment area. last for about 2-3 seconds. sounds like something is opening or closing... maybe a vent or something?

anyone know what this is? or is it not normal?

 

Probably the fresh air vent operating.

 

Probably the power steering pump and or the fuel pump...

 

ABS pump - the brake block is there behind the glovebox and the ABS pump pressurizes the system. You'll hear that in many new cars with ABS, but it's more hear-able in the MC because the pump is so close to the firewall (heck, it's so small that EVERYTHING is close to the firewall!)

There are also a few vent sounds that come in as the a/c system normalizes.

 

I just had to giggle at all the replies being totally different.
I noticed a constant clicking coming from my dash. It is intermitten yet constant.
What is that.
Is that the same thing you are asking about?

 

Hallalieuah

I Made It To First Gear

 

hmmm... i thought someone would know for sure... all the things people have suggested make sense, but i'm just curious which one it is. It's actually pretty loud... kinda surprising. guess i'll ask my dealer and report back. gotta have them look at the passenger side window which is making a little squeak on it's way up.

off-topic in my own thread -- does anyone else "hear" the shift of gears from 1st to 2nd? I really hear the gears when I shift from 1st to 2nd but don't hear it as much in shifting from 2nd onward. just wondering if this is normal or is something I need to have checked.

 

OK, it's the Fetzer valve contacting the Frammis clamp, over there on the left side. You'll need a Philstein gauge (the metric one, not the SAE) to measure the clearance in the Fetzer, and then tighten or loosen the Fetzer to accommodate.

(note: the above is pure, unadulterated BS. Only automatic Minis have both a Fetzer valve AND a Frammiz clamp, and the Philstein gauge is only available in SAE units of measure).

No, wait - even that just mentioned ABOVE is cr@ p... there is actually no known Fetzer valve (I stole that from Chevy Chase), Frammis clamp (made that one up) or Philstein gauge (ditto, SAE or metric).


BUT seriously,
I, too, notice the "clank" or "whack" between 1st and 2nd and will be mentioning at my first service. I don't think it's much of a concern, and may in fact be "engineered in" - like the burbling backfire on deceleration on Mini S's - to make the car feel/sound more sporting. Wouldn't put that past 'em.

The bzzzzzzzt noise (non-continuous) is something that resets on startup, either ventilation (interior) or ABS/DSC (engine compartment).

Mention it at your service call, or call the dealer and ask - likely they can give you an answer by phone - my dealer (Mini of Pittsburgh) has been wonderful in that regard.