Hello, my mini has 160,000 miles, never had any issues ever!
Now all of a sudden, when you go to start the car it makes a hammering sound while its cranking, once the engine starts its smooth, not making the "diesel" noise of the loose timing chain.(i thought this was the issue)
When its in neutral or park you can rev the engine and its smooth as silk.
When you put it in gear and go to back up or go forward it begins making a popping sound kinda like a ujoint would make.When you begin to drive away it gets loud like the exhaust has a leak at the manifold. It reminds me of when i was young and we would turn our air filter covers upside down on the 360 4 barrel chevy pickup to make it moan when you accelerated. This mini makes that sound as you accelerate away. Heres a clue to someone who knows these cars.
When you stop, put it in reverse and begin to nack up its back to being quiet no pooing or roaring for about 5 seconds then even in reverse the same issues.

The hollow sounding banging while the starter is engages
Popping when you turn the wheel and drive away
Roaring/loud exhaust leak sound when driving
When sitting still in neutral or park rev the engine as high as you want smooth as silk.

Any ideas?

we are going to do this our selves even if we replce the motor or trans, so take it to the dealer isnt an option.....i have a good buddy whos been a mechanic his whole life that will help.

His thoughts: cracked flywheel or flex plate, he asked me if the car has an inspection plate where this can be inspected?

thanks a lot if you can help from your experience

 

Thank you all for the help....................

 

Your post has gotten quite a few views, but so far no one has an answer for you. People on NAM would never leave a MINI owner in need hanging if they could help.

I have never heard of the problem you are describing. It sounds serious to me. Personally, I'd have it towed someplace to have an expert diagnose it.

Good luck

 

Can you record the sound on video? That might help get more responses? Sorry for the lack of help.

 

Manual or Auto?

 

If your car is an automatic, you may have a cracked flex plate. This is where the torque convertor bolt up to the engine.

 

And if its a manual the dual mass flywheel might be ready to explode.

 

automatic!

 

Then look into the possibility of a cracked flexplate. They get overlooked, but when they crack, they sound like bottom end engine noise.

 

Remember in neutral or park no matter how high you rev the engine its smooth as silk!
Put it in gear and let the vibration/rattle begin.....would the flex plate act like this?

thanks

 

is it only when moving? You say it's only there when IN gear, but does the car need to be moving, or does it make the noises when sitting there, foot on brake, in gear?

 

Only when in gear and moving.
When driving if you stop and out it in reverse it goes back to being perfect for about 5-8 seconds while backing up then even in reverse you have the roar/vibration/rattle.
Smooth as silk in park or neutral at any rpm.

 

I would get it looked at asap

 

could be a bad tq converter or something else in the transmission.

 

read many codes tonight, the ones that seemed pertinent

2845 DME Vanos Exhaust Actuator Movement
2C9C DME DME Master Relay

Does this give anoyone any info as to the roar sound im getting?

 

Dear Kentuckynet,
I have actually the same symptoms on my '09 R56S, which has only 34'000 miles.
Have you solved your problem already? What was it finally?

I will bring my Mini to check tomorrow, I worry a lot... I hate this kind of issue!

I hope it's only the flex-plate, this should not be too expensive to repair.
The automatic gear-box seems working fine and not miss any gear (auto or manual mode).

Would be nice if you update this topic so we know what happened.
Thanks!

 

Any update on your issue?

 

took to someone else to put there eyes on it, they immedialty noticed the engine was leaning. Transaxle mount nut had one to two threads left holding it on!
That was the whole problem!!! Tighten nut all crazy noises went away.

 

Just seeing this for the first time and reading the symptoms my guess would have been a faulty CV joint. Depending on how long this has been going on for the joint life may be diminished. Good Luck!