Hello -

I have a 2002 MC (5 spd) with 45K miles on it. I had the dealer install the JCW sound kit on it a couple months ago and had new wheels/tires put on around the same time. Other than that...no mods at all.

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed a disturbing sound that is a bit hard to describe. It is a tapping sound that would be best decribed as a sewing machine running fast.

What I know:
- It isn't engine noise because if I'm not in gear and rev the engine, there is no noise.
- The sound begins shortly after I take off...sometimes it takes a half a block or so...sometimes it starts before that...sometimes after. The sound will increase in tapping frequency relative to speed and doesn't seem to matter what gear I am in.
- The sound only seems to appear if there is any type of load on the car (any kind of mild/heavy accelaration or decelaration)
- If I have it in gear and am able to get it exactly between accelaration/decelaration there is no noise (as long as I'm not going up a hill or down a hill).
- The noise will stop if I push the clutch in

I have tried to search the threads and have spent a lot of time reading about MCS's with the problem, but don't think they apply to my MC. I have read CV joints as a possible problem, but I'm worried it is the transmission.

I would appreciate any insight anyone might have on the noise I'm hearing and hope maybe someone else will find this thread of benefit to them if I'm able to get the problem resolved.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read the long post!

LIVESTRONG

 

hate to say it but it does sound like the transmission. my 02 MC did the same thing around the same time. fortunately BMW gave me a pass and replaced the whole thing under warranty.

 

Not at all what I wanted to hear! Any idea how much it would have been to replace it without the warranty? Is there anything I can do to get them to cover it? Thanks for the post!

I still don't think it is the transmission for sure, so I'm hoping that someone will be able to jump in here and offer other suggestions.

 

Does anyone know if this noise could possibly be the CV joints? I turned the radio off and listened very closely with the windows up and could hear the noise faintly when the car was taken out of gear and coasting down the road.

 

I'd say it's not very likely to be CV joints- if you're hearing it while going straight, it would get much worse during turns as you continued to turn the wheel to extremes. Also, unless they (or one of them) were in horrific condition, it's not likely that you'd hear any symptoms without any load on the driveline while going straight.

EDIT: If you do have some sort of engine/transmission issue- going to a mechanic sooner is definately better. If it turned out to be a valve that wasn't getting good lubrication or something, each of those little ticks could make for additional wear (and a more costly repair down the road...)

 

Thanks for the insight, Nick...I have the car set up for an appointment on Tuesday to have it checked out. I just was trying to do my research to make sure I didn't get taken advantage of at the dealer. I was hoping someone would have been able to chime in and say that it wasn't the transmission

 

Yeah- diagnosing by noise is a tough place to be. There's a lot of stuff in there that's supposed to tick, and you've got to be pretty familiar with the engine to know what sound is normal (or at least typical) and what's not. Just about anything that moves in there can make a ticking noise A Mini dealership can be your best bet in that regard.

You can use a listening tube (I've used PVC pipe before) to try and isolate the noise while the engine is running, high pitched noises like ticking can be pretty directional, so that's another thing you can try. It probably goes without saying, but if you do, be extra careful- there's lots of places that can get someone seriously hurt that way.

 

Just as an FYI, I came accross a ticking post over on the MINI2 forums, and there was links to some others also, they all seem to cover different ticks

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ing-noise.html
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ing-noise.html
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ing-noise.html
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ing-noise.html

 

LiveStrong - When I first got my classic Mini there were a slew of odd noises - all the other autocrossers told me the best thing to do was to go buy a radio and turn it up loud -to cover the noises. Many noises on any car are really nothing - what you describe sounds like a possible wheel bearing or even a wheel cap on those new wheels. I had a Plymouth Neon once (real commuter car) that after the first tire replacement the hubcaps would groan everytime they went around (had to do in a parking lot w/Wife driving to figure that one out) ---- Like Nick has said - hard to diagnose noises without being there- I'd get checked - if they find nothing - "Don't worry , be happy " and turn that stereo up louder.

 

Thanks, Nick and Mike!

After reading those threads on MINI2, I really don't think it is the transmission. But by the posts people put up, I'm not very confident that the dealer will be able to successfully diagnose the problem...let's hope I'm wrong!

 

Haha! I had an old New Yorker that received the radio fix. Also had a Ford Probe that finally decided it was done a couple weeks ago, due to some engine trouble, and it took 247,000 miles with a strange irregular rattle when the clutch was released. It never caused any problems that I found out about and lasted longer than the rest of the car... So, you never can tell.

 

They'll be able to diagnose it. When are you taking it in?

 

It goes in on Tuesday...I'm just worried they'll go straight to the transmission, which I really don't think it is. I guess I should have more faith in BMW/MINI!

 

I thought I'd post an update with the dealers findings. After testing it out, the determined that it was a bad transmission...not good! But then went on to say that MINI will pay for the replacement...YAY! They are also setting me up with a rental car until the repairs are complete.

What a relief...MINI may have just made a customer for life after that service! I can't tell you how excited I am...I wish I hadn't worried about it so much to begin with, maybe I should have had more faith in MINI "doing the right thing."

I will give another update when everything is done and my MINI is back home. Until then...

LIVESTRONG

 

yay MINI!

 

Wow.. i think its the first time i hea something like this.. mini taking care of it, out of the warranty.. i wish they would treat the same way the mushrooming, window motors, ps pump, etc. etc.... yeah i know, i just said i wish.