this is my first mini, my first german car. before this i owned a rav4 (97)... and it sounded the same all year round.

ever since this cold weather hit the NYC area..my MCS R56 hasnt sounded the same

it started with a Ticking noise.... it comes and goes... goes away wen you give it gas but returns shortly after it comes back to idle

now theres what sounds like a supercharge whine that increases in pitch under acceleration...

also another ticking/rattling that speeds up wit acceleration..

if anyone can help identify reasons for these noises id greatly appreciate it...

 

my '11 MCS does the same. My former Jeep Grand Cherokee always sounded different when it was cold too, but not as noticable. I'm not too worried about it.

 

Check your oil level.

 

The ticking is your direct fuel injectors, they always make sounds especially in the cold, just ask other turbo drivers like golf Gti's

 

Odd - I note my '12 MCS seems to like the cold - minus 5C or less and she fires up perfectly - no odd noises or anything! The bad temperature range is from 5C to -2C where it hesitates a couple times, then drives normally from then on... I suspect moisture in the intake might be causing the issue, which gets cleared relatively rapidly (a couple hesitations) then all's good.

+1 EcoHeliGuy - that is very likely the injectors. Listen outside the car at idle - it sounds bad to my ear - I was used to the Japanese purr - '92 civic then an '01 Integra before the MINI (now those cars made some fun noises in the cold!!)

The whine could be your snow tires (you have a set - RIGHT?) I note mine make noise under accelration that quiets signifiganly the moment I let off the throttle, and the whine they produce under accel. does get louder as it gets colder or wetter.

The last 'tick/rattle' that increases with acceleration I dunno... Does it go away when you let off the throttle, does it go up and down with engine RPM, or speed?

Good luck, and happy winter motoring!
Eric

 

My R56 does not like dyslexia

 

I think the R65 is the RocketMan...



Back on topic, I will say that most cars sound differently in very cold weather. When it get's down to single digits, all that plastic contracts and becomes very noisy. My cars are much quieter in 100º heat when the plastic has swelled and is more pliable.

 

just took my baby for a drive today and its pretty cold and i live in the north jersey ny area... no sounds or anything but when it was real cold in the past on my 08 it use to make sounds before fully warming up..

 

my MC accelerates and runs smoother in cold, but idles differently when warming up for sure. Dealer said it was normal(left it with them overnight one time) so i'm not worried.

 

The ticking could be your lifters/tappets. Did you check your oil level? Lifter noise generally appears until the car is warmed up. If your ticking noise doesn't go away after the car is warmed up, it could be fuel injectors or high pressure fuel pump related.

If I read correctly, you've got a 2010 MCS, so it's turbocharged, not supercharged. It's "normal" for the turbo to whine under high load, but it depends on what you mean by "whining". To check if it's the turbo, open up the hood and have someone listen to the turbo as you push the rpms up. It's normal to hear it whining a little as the turbine spins up. However, whining could also be coming from the transmission which could also be the source of the tick/rattle. Like another poster said, it could also be coming from the tires.

Can you describe the latter problem in a little more detail? Do you hear the tick/rattle at idle in neutral? Only under acceleration?