When I first get in my 09 MCC, there is a very faint strange whirring noise coming from the dashboard for just a couple of seconds; any ideas?

OOO I have that too!

Does it happen when the vehicle is cold or hasnt been started in a day or so? for me it sounds as if something is loose in the air intake... almost like pebbles rattling around in there...

Hopefully its something simple...

Yes, me too. Just opening the door. It seems to be coming from the CD player area. Maybe it's checking to see if one is in? I'll have to try leaving a CD in the player

Interestting idea; will give it a try as well. Thanks!

I also hear a similar sound when standing outside the car and I unlock it with the remote, then when I stick the key in the dock, I hear something whirring in the dash for a few seconds, what is that?

Is it the power steering? I know in the R50/R53 there was "whirring" noise that was from the power steering.

Before you start the engine?

Could be I guess, it's definitely a small motor sound to me, I just don't know why it would be running.........

But what's the sound when you just unlock the doors?

I haven't really noticed. I'll listen for it next time.

On my R50 (and it's not quite as noticeable on my R56) there was this almost sort of whining sound, which was the power steering stuff. It was actually in the little "MINI idiosyncrasies" book that came with the car.

i think everyone else is talking about the cd player searching for a cd.

hobbs - i have this sound as well. when i asked the dealer service they said it's a normal sound that goes away after the engine is warmed up. i just let my car idle for ~2 minutes when it's cold outside and have eliminated the problem...

The steering system in your R56 and R55 MINIs is all electric and completely different from the Electro-Hydraulic setup found in the R50 and R53 1st Gen MINIs. In the earlier cars you had an electric motor driven power steering pump, hydraulic lines and power steering fluid.

Same noise for me in my 08. Had the same thing on my VW and was told it's all the electrics "waking" up when you open the doors or hit the locks. I do get the pebble rattle sound when the car sits or is real cold over night which goes away after a short time.

CD Player.

Okay, I was going to be cute and just say that, but here's the rest of my 0.02: The MINI sound system seems designed to "buffer" all the inputs so that there's no delay in delivering audio once you turn the head unit on. My guess is that the computer is telling the CD player to spool up and be ready-even if there's no CD in there.

I believe that it is the heater/ ac system vent doors resetting them selves from the previous cooldown.

I agree with djam43, my SA told me about the vents "resetting" when the car is unlocked and the key is put into the ignition. These cars are clever, hey what!!

Thanks for the tip, I have also noticed it going away within a minute or two of warming up...

I still wonder what it is though...

Thanks!

I noticed mine does it too when unlocking. It's very audible from outside by the driver's door. Could it be the fuel system getting ready for start-up (charging the lines)? Sounds cool though!

I also noticed that there is inside noise associated with the air vent/damper opening/closing after about a minute or so...

I know what it is.
Its a whirring noise

Ahhhh, right on.

Well, that's definitely ruled out then.

I always assumed the noise in my Clubbie was the NAV DVD spinning

after some investigating today, I noticed there are 2 noises.

1. Coming from the CD area
2. Coming from the rear-right side of the car, maybe under the car

I don't think everyone's talking about the same thing here. The OP was asking about a sound as soon as you open the door. It lasts for about 2 seconds then turns off. In my '06 MCS it happens regardless of which door is opened and with no key even close to the ignition.

I think you guys are onto something with the CD player though...

Anybody hear a SQUEAL from the engine with the first start of the day? It's a very brief noise that sounds like you pulled a pigs tail. I noticed it after my first oil change.

And, if you've heard this noise, I'd like to know when you last pulled a pig's tail. But seriously . . .

Could be a belt slipping slightly at start-up...perhaps a small drip of oil on it during the change?

I have the same thing, maybe, except that it sounds more like a cat got caught in the engine. It's about a half-second scream-squeal and it happens occasionally on the first start up of the day.