Several times now, I've experienced a noise with a strong vibrating quality to it, quite loud, which at first I was sure was caused by a tire rubbing on something. The direction of the sound while driving is difficult to determine positively, but from somewhere to the rear of the front seats seems most likely. After multiple stops to inspect for rub marks on the tires, wheel wells, etc., and finding nothing, it became apparent that it had something to do with the combination of road speed and cross wind, with a strong cross wind(~25mph &^) being a necessary component...road speed alone will not do it. Reading the various posts about wind noises, I've tried the tricks of turning the dash air on and off, opening windows, pushing on the windshield, all with no effect.

Finally, I was able to test the theory of crosswind (quartering to abeam brisk cross wind!) by going through underpasses while the noise was occurring, and yes, it would stop while ducking under a bridge @ a steady 65mph, only to return when re-emerging on the far side of the bridge. At this point I am not too concerned about it, but it is one on those things that "just isn't right". I have a suspicion that the culprit might be the heat shield above the muffler just forward of the rear bumper...it extends many inches rearward with no support, and "twanging" it with my finger reproduces what might be a similar sound.

Has anyone else experienced this or a similar phenomenon? Other than this one glitch, I'm at 4000 miles with no problems.

 

Got sunroof? sounds classic.

service department can adjust it.

 

No, no sunroof either. You swear a piece of cardboard got jammed in a wheel well or something...

 

I just started another thread. Around 80+ mph my wiper blade makes a high pitched squeel / whistle / vibration noise. Try pressing the driver's side blade down. They seem not to park back in the lowest position after usage.

 

I had a whistle noise occur at hwy speed and a very strong crosswind. Takes just the right circumstances. I figure it is just an aerodynamic effect. No sunroof.

 

I have that noise or something similar. I posted this before and I originally heard it at a spot on a transition Freeway onramp. I drive this nearly everyday and at first it would happen at the same area and there is a very strong cross wind from east to west as I am driving directly north and out of the transition curve. I't used to do it like clock work but its not happening as much and now I'm thinking I haven't heard it lately at all. It's a very high pitch sound and it feels like its underneath the car or the tires are rubbing. No sunroof and like B59oilburner, 5,500 miles and no real problems except for the ants that came back last night after a washing, heavy hydro and quick interior detail. Still can't figure this one out.

 

Ants !!! Must be an amazon thing... Yuck!

My noise is not high-pitched . . . more of a middle octave, but tire rubbing is a good descriptionn, and it does seem to be coming from underneath the car. Again, I'm not too concerned as I've convinced myself that it is an aeordydymic phenonomena, and is not a symptom of any damange occuring. It would, however, be nice to figure out the cause and to impliment a fix.

 

I am waiting on my 07 MCSa to arrive this week and am now driving a 2006 MCSa without sunroof. I noted sudden development of "wind noise" - high pitched vibration above my head, fairly loud - above 65 MPH with certain wind conditions (?cross wind) and noted a substantial decrease by pressing upwards against the area of the roof/windshield (near where the microphone is) in the center. It seemed to stop the problem for as long as pressure was placed and returned when released. At least in this instance, there must be a small defect at the windshield/roof connection but I really have no idea. It may be a different problem from others noted here.... Of course driving with one hand on the wheel and the other pressing up against the roof is not an ideal solution.

Steve
_______________________________
Expected this week! 07 MCSa LB/W ...

 

Just noted a similar thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=106567

One entry there noted a fix of a windshield/roof leak that sounds similar to what I have noted.
Steve

 

I've got it, although at a higher speed. The winds around here aren't very strong, though, so it's probably speed/wind inter-related. It's a great speed controller!

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next hurricane.

 

Issue solved!!! Well, it took almost a year and another long road trip before I experienced the issue again with enough regularity to find the source. The answer is: DUH! My American MINI Mates Parking Lot Locator antenna flag. Why didn't I think of that sooner??? Today, while flying across Kansas in 104* heat and a strong quartering crosswind while cruising @ 75 MPH, the noise/vibration sent up very consistently.

Was definitely NOT related to cabin pressure, air flow, etc, and was quite strong and loud. It finally occurred to me that the overhead reading light/switch pod assembly was vibrating, and that lead me to realize that the entire roof/headliner area was vibrating. Eureka! The light bulb turned on. The antenna flag! In 20/20 hindsight, there must be something about a cross or rear-quartering wind that sets up a resonant instability of the antenna flag which gets it to gyrating wildly enough to really vibrate and make all kinds of inside noise. Pop it off and VIOLA', all is quiet again.

Glad I figured it out. I love my antenna flag, but now I know if I get the noise to just pull over and pop it off my antenna. Hopefully some others out there will find this an answer to their noise.