I have a 2009 R55 S 6-speed that I bought used earlier this year. Has 69k miles on her and I can't seem to hear any gurgle and pops from the engine, even in Sport mode.

I'm still learning and exploring the car, but figured I'd ask around to see if there's something I'm missing, or doing wrong. This is my first Mini so I don't know what to expect in terms of engine noise and performance.

Any input would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

No burble or pops until 2011+

If your Clubman has a 5 speed manual gear box, it is not an 'S'. The 'S' model manual gear box is a 6 speed Getrag. Only the 'S' configuration has pop and burble capabilities. In the 1st Gen 'S' models is was just there. On the 2nd Gen it was a switch on/switch off feature. What they've done with it on the 3rd Gen, I have no clue.

Really? my 2009 has plenty of both.

Clearly I can't count. I have a 6-Speed.

When do you hear them? Is it at certain RPM's? Acceleration, deceleration?

EDIT: Ahhh.. You have a JCW, not exactly the same thing as an S.

...somewhere in all that should be a good knee slapping punch line...

Soo... since I'm not hearing gurgles and pops could it be due to carbon build-up, or some other issue with the engine?

I'm not getting any engine codes, or alerts, but I do notice some carbon coming out of the tail pipe.

A can of BG-44K in the tank and a good old fashioned Italian tune up might be all it needs.

Thank you for the fast reply!

I had the car inspected by the dealership after purchasing it. I know I should have done it before, but wasn't thinking. Anyway, I had a couple of seals replaced and had to replace the timing chain 30-days later, but otherwise was told everything was in good order. I've put about 5k on her since April with two long-distance trips and she's been running great.

When I asked about the carbon build up, they seem to have a wait-and-see approach. In other words wait for the engine codes. That's why I'm wondering if that's not the issue. The car has 69k miles on it.

Do you like the BG-44K over Seafoam treatment?

in 2009 the burble is only on the JCW models.

I've never used seafoam. A can of 44K goes in about every 6 months but of course thats being burned in a W11 engine. The '09 with the N14 engine has different characteristics and there are threads listing lots of seafoam discussion of which I am not familiar. You might get more info about seafoam just letting the search engine find what it can. Sorry I can't tell you more than that...but don't dismiss the value of blowing the 'cobs' out of it once in a while.

It's been almost a year since I posted this and I've had more time to get accustomed to my Clubman and learn what she does and doesn't do. Since this model doesn't provide the gurgle and pop of later R55's, I'm curious how I could go about "adding" it. :-)

Is it the exhaust that provides the gurgle and pop, or is the exhaust just one factor?

More like the tune. You could get an aftermarket tune which has it already baked in.

Thanks for the fast reply Ovrclck! I didn't realize re-programming the ECU would do the trick. That is something on my list anyway, so thank you for the heads up!

Manic Stage 2 can add back the pops and burble which is what I'm going for soon. Talk to MarioKart on this forum he can set you up but you will need some bolt-ons for stage 2. Stage 1 doesn't require them but I don't think it has the pop and burble.

Stage 1 does have extra pop and burble.

My JCW CM with a Stage 2 tune had some burbles. Burbles can be added to any N14-N18 motor, except the 2007 N14 motor mQubed Motorsport, Manic Tuning Dealer

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I'm not looking to go crazy -- at least not just yet -- but I would like to improve what I already have to start. Knowing that I can get some cool noise as part of the process is very encouraging!

I'm a giant goof in that I never realized the Sport button added the gurgles and pops to the exhaust on my '13 Clubman until about last night. Funny that it's only something that happens on the '11 or newer models - I would have expected that BMW try to bake their "DNA" into the 2nd Gens as much as possible from day 1 as I'm utterly convinced that the R55/56 is their answer to VW's ever-popular (and good) Golf.

That said, it is very quiet unless you have the windows down, not like my hilariously obnoxious Ducati with the Termignoni pipes that screams "LOOK AT MEEE" every time I decelerate. If you do get a tune, keep in mind that a resonator delete might help to make the gurgling and popping more obvious as compared to stock, where it might be a bit quiet and something you can really only hear at low speeds (think pulling into a parking lot with the windows down). Have fun!

Autotragic -- Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately the Sport button doesn't enable that feature in the 2009 edition. It's definitely more fun to drive in Sport mode, no question, but no pop pop fireworks at any speed.

Both of us with gen 1 S models, my motoring buddy often quotes that immortal line from 'Scent of a Woman': "Don't she purr though."
It's just there, no need to push buttons or flip switches.

I have a 10 fjcw clubman with a resonator delete and I get all kinds of gurgles and backfires. When it's in sport mode it definitely intensifies. I realize I have a jcw but I've driven other jcw without the resonator delete and it didn't gurgle unless I was in sports mode.

Might be a cheaper way to get what you're looking for. But, deleting the resonator does make your exhaust but I think it sounds good. 😎

Having a JCW pre 2011, does make a difference, from a normal S. You have the pops and gurgles programmed from the factory

mQubed Motorsport, Manic Tuning Dealer

Yeah sorry, I understand that but my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders when I wrote that out.

That said: If you really want to hear the "fireworks" I'd suggest an aftermarket exhaust solution of sorts, even maybe a resonator delete. You can hear the pops from mine but with the run-flats and the other "Mini Noises" it's only really perceptible at low speeds. I'd hate for you to get a tune for the express purpose of hearing the fun sounds but find that it's too quiet with the stock exhaust.

...plus with the mods you can step up to a stage 2 and who doesn't like more torque?