I'm in enjoying my new MINI, but I may have a growing concern with it. Whenever I start my car in the morning to head to work I get a low-pitch, fast clicking noise while the car is stopped or in idle. It goes away when I give it gas, but then comes back when I stop. It goes completely away after about 5 minutes of driving. I have a 2008 Cooper. Anyone have any sugguestions, before I have to take it and leave it at the dealer for a few days?

 

Not sure what you are hearing, but there is a normal clicking sound that can be heard at idle. It is from the direct injection system. One can hear it when idling a warmed up engine. It may be louder when cold, I don't recall.

There have been some complaints about a rattle at startup in cold weather. There is a thread about it in the the Stock Problems/Issues forum.

 

My '08 Cooper is the same. After a cold start you can hear it clicking away like that at idle until it warms up. I'm not concerned about it but if you do decide to talk to your dealer about it I'd be interested in hearing the cause.

Regarding direct injection, my understanding is that the non-S Cooper does not use DI.

 

there's a whole thread about it somewhere on here. Mine does the same its an 08 S. I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

 

It's similar to the BMW VANOS clicking, I'm sure. I'd have a service advisor listen next time you are in to the shop to check, but I'd bet it's nothing.

 

OR, it's the dreaded cold start click/clang that countless '07+ MINIs are getting. There was even an article about it on MotoringFile. I'd get it into your dealer ASAP.