I'm getting a quiet sort of whine when I hit certain speeds. First time, at 90mph the car made a noise, as soon as I went faster, it went away. Second time, it was around 80-81mph, but it doesn't happen every time. At first I thought it may be warning not to go too fast, but since it's not every time I'm not sure what could be happening. Does anyone else have this?

I've attached a recording of the sound (kind of low volume) as a .txt Just rename the file to .mp3 to listen.

 

Your recording isn't working--at least on my 'puter. Do you have a sunroof? I have a kind of speed warning at 90--a whine. I haven't gone faster to see if it quits.

Also, with my sunroof, if there is a direct side crosswind (I mean a full 90 degrees), I get a whine/hum from 70 up.

 

Above 90 I get a slight "whine" from the passenger seat if my wife is on board.

Above 100 the "whine turns into a "threat". . . . .

 

I get an annoying whine at high speed too, but I just tell her to sit there and be quiet unless she wants to drive. . . .

 

Nope.. no sunroof. I can't really tell where the sound is coming from. Doesn't sound like engine or even something that is rotating quickly. The file should be really quiet, so you may need to turn the sound up.

 

It's called a supercharger!

 

What spoiler do you have?
Not on a turbo

 

Stock spoiler (so, I guess that would be none?), and MC non-S so no turbo either.

 

Stock intake as well? (but a throttle body noise would match throttle position not speed)

I can't make the sound file work either so it hard to tell.

I'd check for noticeable gap on any trim pieces or anything that maybe loose. If you live near your dealer swing by and ask if they've had any similar issues reported. Since the car is under warranty let them take a look at locating it.


Just curious, what are the tires rated at and are the pressures right?

 

Everything is stock, as I've only had the car for a few weeks. Haven't checked the tire pressures yet, but they look fine.

 

Opps! Sorry!

 

Can you imagine taking an SA or mechanic on a test drive for a whine at 90?!

 

It's the ghost of the R53 supercharger.

 

It's been talked about before:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=noise

Aleast one person was able to get the dealer to fix it. Windsheild seal needs to be fixed or replaced.

I have the same noise over 90 mph, will have the dealer look at it during first service.

 

Actually, I think I have the same problem as the OP with Scooter. It is a wind induced whine/screech/noise when you get wind shear across the upper windshield chrome on the R56.

I noticed it off and on as I drove across Kansas on my little high speed run out to Missouri,

It is really apparent between 75 and 85 when you have a cross wind or a wind hitting the car from either side at about 11 or 2 o'clock. I hope you can picture this in your minds.

I do not have the sun-roof.

I will bring it up with my dealer service department next chance I get.

Nothing is loose and no gap that I can see in the windshield area. I suspect it is something the MINI designers and testers never had a chance to encounter.

I don't think they test the new MINI body design in a wind tunnel.

 

Is the noise connected to engine revs, or to ground/wind speed? There was a thread about windshield gaskets leaking that caused a similar noise. Can't find the thread right now, but if it's not coming from the powertrain, you need to get get your windshield checked out. A way to test it yourself would be to gently push against the inside of the windshield with your hand (or better yet, have a passenger do it) and see if the noise stops. If so, you've got your diagnosis. Good luck!

 

Oh wow--maybe my car's noise ISN'T in the sunroof, since you say it sounds off with a cross wind. Oh well, it's a pretty good speed limiter for me, since I like to stay under 90 (and so do the local gendarmes).

 

Ah! Thanks! This sounds like the case with me.

 

I have it too, but it comes always I´m above 120MPH

 

I had the dealer check mine out and they told me they couldn't duplicate the noise. Well it's because the dealer is not near a highway where one can test it at 85 or 90. So I've still got it. I have found that pressing hard on the plastic housing where the inside lights are located will kill the sound but as soon as I let it go the noise returns. Maybe eventually there will be a service bulletin so that all of us plagued with this bloody noise can get some relief.

 

I've heard wind noise in certain situations, but the recording sounds like a whistle to me. Kinda like trying to blow across a pop bottle and not getting 'xactly in the right place.

 

Where do you guys get the chance to get up to 120 mph? Im interested.