There is a strange noise that I hear immediately upon opening my door in my MCSCa. It reminds me of the sound of the fuel pump priming in my 914 when you first turn the key to the run position. The sound is not coming from the windows going down slightly, it occurs a split second after that.
Has anyone else heard this sound? What is it?

 

Depending where your key is (in ignition?) and if your vents are set to closed/opened. It might be the circulate air vents re-opening/closing.

 

At the point that I hear the noise, my key is still in my pocket. As a matter of fact the noise happens quickly enough that I can't even get my backside into the seat fast enough to tell exactly where it is coming from. I keep wondering if it has something to do with the convertible top.

 

Maybe I should read post first....

EDIT:
It might have something to do with the windows still, I'm unsure. Sorry

 

Sounds to me like it's just the little tiny bit that your window rolls up and down to prevent damage to the seal when you open or close the door.

 

My 2006 MCS does the same thing. You open the door and you hear this electric motor start running. It sounds kind of like a vent is opening or something. But it's not quick (like the side windows), it lasts for about 7 seconds.

If I remember correctly, it doesn't always do it. I think you have to let the car sit for a while before it will do it again. But I haven't actually tested that theory.

I don't think it's anything to worry about, but like you, I'm curious as to what it is. To me, it sounds like it's come from behind the center console.

(there's more electric motors in this car than any other I've ever owned!)

 

I'm curious to know what that is also. I get the same thing.

 

If you hear it when you UN LOCK it could be the lock solenoid for the gas door

 

I keep hearing the same thing, but can't predict it or identify it. Sometimes I'll hear it after sitting in the car listening to the radio. After many seconds of silence, an electric motor sounds out for a few seconds. The best way I can describe it is it sounds like an electric mirror adjusting automatically.

Greg

 

Merely the arming of the passenger ejector seat. You did specify the "00" option when you ordered your car, right?

 

Yeah, that's a good description of the sound. "An electric mirror adjusting automatically".

 

it is the recirculate vent opening. if you want to hear/ test it, just start the car and turn on the air. after that push the button and you will hear it again.

 

Our 06 MCSC has the same motor sound from the front passenger side. It does sound like a motor or something engaging. I only seem to hear it when we first turn on/off the vehicle. I assumed it was a pump of some sort (AC pump) engaging. More info on this would be great.

 

I have the same noise in my GP. This is my 3rd Mini, and the other 2 didnt do it.. as for the vents,, i guess possible. My other to cars had the controlled temp systems,, The GP is manual settings.. IM NOW ON A QUEST TO FIND THE NOISE

 

After reading some posts here, it occurred to me that I do not hear this sound when the car has been locked...only when I open the door when it has been sitting in my garage unlocked for a while. Now, it may be that the noise occurs when I unlock the car, but I can not hear it at that point because I'm outside. I'm going to try messing with the air controls as suggested and see if I can reproduce the sound.

 

I believe it is the heating/cooling system vents. I notice it when I adjust specific controls, for example, the recirc button.

 

It sounds like the same sound as the vent motor from the recirc button but I sometimes hear it when I'm just opening the door to get in. ???

 

Maybe Mini has an automatic function that seals up the car by closing the recirculate door so the interior is sealed from the elements. Then when you unlock the car, it automatically opens again.

Dunno.......just a guess.

 

Try putting a CD in the stereo and then try opening the door. The noise should go away. Most likely it is the stereo.

 

Yep, mine is the CD player. Why would the CD motor whir when the door is opened???? Oh, well, mystery solved.

 

I to have noticed this noise, but it seemed to come from the rear area of the car. I always thought it was the electric fuel pump "priming" or something.

 

It sounds like a processor to me...like an on board computer firing up.

I do not think it is the CD player. We have a CD in and it still makes the sound.

Could it be the auto leveling system of the HID head lights.

 

I thought about that as well... We're due for some service soon, I'll try and see what the lame dealer says about this. If anyone has any additional information, it'd be great. Seems like we're all having the same sound...

 

Mystery Solved! It is definitely caused by the recirculation setting. It must be some vent which closes off air from the outside. If I sit in the car and push
the recirculation button, I hear the noise. If I push it again, I hear the noise again. Now, why it does this automatically after the car has been sitting is a mystery...but it must happen automatically for some reason. Since I have a convertible and almost always drive with the top down, I may have never figured out that the recirculation is thesource if I hadn't explicitely gone looking for it.