So my car has been trouble free (aside from some rattles) since I got it in May, but today I noticed upon start that there was a very weird, growling like noise coming from the front passenger side. My brother thinks it sounds like a small exhaust leak, but I have no idea since I've never heard one.

It doesn't seem to be doing it now, but I felt it at high speeds on the highway. I thought the tire on the passenger side could've been a little loose, but no, everything is fine.

Has anyone dealt w/ this? If it is an exhaust leak, could this leave me stranded? I can't get it to the dealer to get looked at till next Sat. b/c of work.

Thanks in advance

Oh, car has about 4500 miles on it if it matters. I actually remember reading a thread about someone having a similar prob. and just cleaning out a part and it was fine. Prob. is I can't find the thread or remember the part

 

Probably alternator / cooling pump friction drive belt noise or something like that in the belt drive. I doubt if it is an exhaust leak.

 

Thanks! It actually has not had any more noise and I had just had the tires rotated so it got me wondering whether the noise was just road noise from the uneven wear of the tires. I made an appt for Sat regardless and will take it if I hear it again

 

Could have had just a small stone stuck in the tread of a tire.... I'd still have the dealer take a look and at least get it noted in the record...

 

Hi at7815,
Just the same happened to my 2,500 miles old R56-S after the dealer repaired an oil leak on my manual tranny. Sounds like an exhaust leak, like tire road noise, like ...... Took it back to the dealer and was told that everything was well re-mounted when they took off the transmission, and that they checked a couple of new ones and they had the same noise.
I posted a thread on this very same forum about a week ago, check it out and let me know if your noise have some kind of resemblance to mine.
mini07

 

Just saw your thread. I haven't heard the noise again in my car, but yeah, it sounded like what you're describing. Here's the thing...if you're going very slow, the car is a little noisy but mine has been like that since I got it. I figured if it's running fine it should be ok.

I haven't heard it again so it's got me wondering what it could've been, but since it happened right after the tire rotation I'm hoping it was just the uneven wear on the tires.

Do you hear the noise all the time??

 

I will PM you.

 

Actually I specially hear the noise when I accelerate and upshift, it is like some air, either pressurized or vacuum, is flowing , like a turbo wastegate letting the extra boost go by or a hole on the air filter enclosure. Maybe a lose hose.

But as I mentioned, the dealer says that they tried a couple of new ones and they did the same noise.

Please reply with your commentaries on the similarity, if any, of my car noise and yours.

Tks, mini07

 

That does sound like the turbo, I have the same thing.It's normal. I think it sounds great.

 

Ok...it makes sense that it's the turbo but I think it's sounding louder than normal...like it's actually losing air but I don't feel any difference in acceleration. It might be so minor that's undetectable though...I don't know. As long as it doesn't leave me stranded I'm good as I love my MINI but if it leaves me stranded the degree of love would probably change some...specially at 4,700 miles.