Checking to see if anyone else has this sound. My car is a 07 MCS auto no LSD. The sound start around 60-70 MPH. If I'm accelerating it starts to go away. If I get off the gas It seems to be more persistent when cruising between 65-70. I can hit the gas from 55 to say 67 get off the gas and can hear it. It happens on all road surfaces so I would not think its road noise. Wheel bearing? Transmission? Tell me what you think..thanks

 

I think it is your passenger, humming to try and suppress fear.

Actually, I don't have a clue. If you are sure it isn't wind noise, I suggest asking your dealer to check it out. I don't hear any such noise.

 

Have you considered the sunroof, if you have one? Mine does this at...ahem...a somewhat higher speed, or if there is a direct crosswind.

 

I can vent the sunroof and still hear it. It seems to be linked to coasting in that speed range, so thats why im thinking trans...

 

I also have a hum usually in similar driving conditions as you. Same specs except no sunroof. I noticed it early on when I got my car about a week or so after driving but the sound went away. It comes back every once in a while but it usually only lasts for a short time. Now it's back and has been humming for the last few days but again not consistently. Over the last few days it usually starts when I first start the car and may last for 2-10 minutes depending on if I'm doing city or highway driving. I have no idea what it could be but if it persists over the next few days I will be taking it to the dealership.

 

I have also noticed that it happens around 30-35 MPH. Now I'm concerned since this would mean its mechanical. I have a date with the dealer and will have them look into this. I doubt they will have any light to shed on this and will dismiss it as nothing. I just want it noted so when the trans goes or what ever it has been documented.




Update: Dealer dismissed it like I thought they would. They said "Its the nature of the beast" WTF?
Its a Mini not a F40...They dont know and unless the computer tells THEM they are clueless.

 

I remember having a loud humming sound on the the drive back across country in our new to us 03 MCS and being really alarmed - was it the wheel bearing or something that was horribly wrong? Turned out to be the tires, the runflats just were not happy. Another set of wheels and tires later and the sound went away. Funny thing is on the 05 we didn't have th runflats on very long and didn't notice hearing that sound, but the KDW tires we did get make a racket and even howl at times :P

Perhaps as a first step just check your tire pressure and see if that changes anything, good luck.

 

My Mini seems to do the same thing, based on the description here. Actually, there is a barely audible rumble most of the time which sounds almost like road noise (except that it isn't), but doesn't seem specifically tied to engine speed. Sometimes it increases to a hum or low whistle that almost sounds like wind noise, except that it isn't. I suspect that it might be related to either the exhaust and/or turbo, or possibly the air intake. I'm not particularly concerned about it, and it's not loud enough that the dealer would even consider that there might be something wrong, but it's definitely there.

 

Do you have the JCW spoiler on?

Those emit a hum starting at about 55+ MPH. Known issue.

 

i have had this exact same problem on a previous vehicle and it was a wheel bearing. It would start to make noise around 55-60 mph and then disappear about 65-70. I though I was going crazy. The dealership checked it out and it was a wheel bearing on the front left and they replaced it under the warranty. good luck