I have 16k miles on my Roadster S since Dec. 2012 and Mini has had to replace my water pump twice because of vacuum leaks.

The most obvious sign/symptom is when shutting your car off you'll hear this pitiful "eeeeek!" sounding squeak.

Now I'm getting something reminiscent of a Chewbacca sound when accelerating from a stop in first gear and I'm likely going to have to give my car up again for them to figure out what it is.

I effing love this car, but seriously: why is all this happening? I average 29-30MPG so that should be proof that I'm not driving this thing too hard lol

 

What does the water pump have to do with vacuum leak?

I'm too new to MINI to know but on my other turbo car there is a vacuum assist pump meant to help brakes in situations where natural vacuum isn't sufficient, rolling down a driveway in reverse for example. It always whistles when I first start the car then stops after a minute or two.

Pumps are often failing components regardless of the make. Sometime they get lucky with a specific model. Sometime they don't...

 

At 5,000, I first heard the small "eeek" when I turned my 2013 S off while next to a wall (at a drive thru). Water pump was replaced under warranty. Currently at 10k miles and has not happened again though I do keep an ear tuned when next to a wall!

 

For me i didn't have to listen too closely. I could hear it with windows and top up whenever i turned it off in the garage.

As far as I'm concerned, they'll replace it every time it starts doing it until the fix "sticks".

 

I started hearing mine around 3K as well and it was replaced under warranty. at 10K now and havent heard it since, hopefully it doesnt come back