I hope we can start a thread where we all describe our rattles, and fixes/progress with the rattles. Currently I have two unsolved rattles.

1) Comes from the center of the dash. Seems to be coming from the defroster vent or the other vent above the speedometer. It only happens in very specific circumstances.. more when it's dark and cold. In the morning I can't get it to reproduce although it does at times. I couldn't reproduce it for the dealer so big surprise it probably will never be fixed. That means I'm going to have to try to fix it myself or reproduce it reliably so they can fix it. If anyone has this rattle or has solved it post here! I've checked the covers to the speedo screws by the way, I removed those and the sound kept happening. I have not had time to tighten the torx head screws below the covers because I don't have the right sized torx driver if anyone knows the size let me know!

2) Buzzing from the steering column. I was able to reproduce this for the dealer, however I think they're barking up the wrong tree. The sound seems to come from deep within the steering column, and if I press on the plastic cover it goes away. It seems to resonate with specific road surfaces, and also it seems more prominent when cold. The dealer diagnosed it as a rattling cruise control switch??? which is weird because I'm 100% sure the noise is not coming from the steering wheel. I guess it could be a part deeper in the column, but since I don't have a shop manual I have no idea if that's the case.

I'm returning to the dealer next week to try and solve these issues. I'll let you all know what the fixes are so people with the same issues can get resolution!

Hopefully a MOD can make a sticky

 

I have one that I believe I have narrowed down to the passenger seat, since it doesn't rattle when there is a passenger in the car, and it seems to only return the day after someone has been sitting there (i.e. the rattle won't be there for a while after the passenger has left).

 

Mine may be related to a passenger too. But the sound originates from the center of the dash.... Is that your experience?

 

I have also noticed a similar rattle coming from my passenger seat.

 

It doesn't sound like it's coming from the dash, but it was (and still is) really difficult to determine where it is coming from while I am driving... it could be the secret compartment, the glove box, the passenger door (this seemed/sounded the most likely), the passenger seat, the fuse door/cover... I just couldn't figure it out, and I was only able to reproduce the sound when driving over bumps in the car... my attmpts to shake or rattle things to make the noise were unproductive. Sometimes it would seem better or worse, for no apparent reason. I figured the best option was to have someone else in the car, on the passenger side, try to determine the source while I drive, but it would never make the sound while someone was there. Now I suspect that the reason it doesn't make the noise when someone is there is because the sound is coming from the seat itself.

 

I had one in the plastic unit on the roof right behind the toggles. It comes and goes, but I just have to push on it to get it to go away. It took me a while to find it - it really sounded like it was coming from the center of the car by the defroster vent.
My hatch rattles sometimes - louder (of course) with the seats down. I haven't tried to find/fix that yet - there's a good chance it's just some random piece of crap I've left in the boot.

 

The first issue is a problem/design deficiency with the defroster ducts. When is cold 45 deg or below it happens. It seems to expand/contract making the noise. I have been to the dealer and they flat out wont fix it. They say its part of owning the car LOL. They also tried to blame it on window tini. I'm going to try my luck at a 2nd dealer and see what happens. If still no luck I'm going to pull them out and insulate (some kind of dynamat)

2nd problem im not sure I have alot of rattles from the Pass door and rear set panels. I haven't had a chance to lookin to it. The dealer said that can't wast time fixing them, so I know im going to be then.

Also. the front and rear sunroofs are nosie as hell.. The dealer has adjusted this thing so many times its not funny anymore. I drive with it vented 1/4in and that works for now.

 

Great advice!!! I hope this is my issue. I'll take a look.

 

I have the same issue. 45 degrees seems to be a magic number. Seems like MINI's materials engineer didn't get very good grades in college.

Also please let us know the dealer you gut the brush off from so people here don't waste time giving them business.

 

The dealer I when to was Princeton Mini in NJ. This was the dealer I brought the car from. They have only been able to fix a few problems I have had. One is the sagging hood scoop and the other is the creeping sun shade.

 

i have a rattle coming from the front of the car somewhere near the passenger headlight. tried to isolate it, checked front arches etc, even tightened down my front license plate. seems to be worse when the car isn't fully warm. but, it only happens sometimes. the times it does happen is only on take off and stopping. thought maybe it had to do with the front brakes as it is almost time to replace them and they will get done next weekend.

also i will note this has just started happening here in Los Angeles as the temperature has dropped into the 40's-60's. so maybe it IS a cold weather thing. but, i find that and the "water soaked engine" thing (whether thats a myth or not even though the owners manual states not to drive through 12" or higher of water = common sense) really strange-these cars are english built and they have plenty of cold, wet weather. i would imagine since the MINI and mini have been in england forever, it must be ONE noisy country with all the rattles on the road .

 

Having lived in the UK I can state that the roads there are smoother and better maintained on the whole.

 

Update.. the dash rattle may be two pieces of plastic that rattle together in the defroster vent below the windshield. I took the car in again today, and was able to reproduce the issue in front of the tech. The tech then stuck her hand in the vent causing it by hand. Hopefully they can fix it. If so I'll post again with the news.

 

Her? Cool. I figure women would be better at this. Smaller hands are helpful as well. I've gotten too much attitude already from male service advisors.

 

That one could be the third brake light. Mine rattled against the window slightly at random times. The dealer was able to fix it without much trouble but putting felt between the light frame and the window. They seemed to already know about the issue when I mentioned it.

 

That would be an easy DIY fix. When I installed my third brake light pulser, I removed that piece. Just snaps out.

 

Here's a repost of a dash rattle fix.


I've been having this dash rattle in front of the speedo over bumpy roads. As tipped by Unixgal, I checked these screws since I had removed them in the past while installing my Kuda mount. They were on tight, but I noticed that the snap-out covers wiggled quite a bit so I left them off. No more rattle. Maybe I loosened these snap-out covers when I removed them before? Anyway, looks fine without them, so I'm not going to bother putting them back and figuring out how to secure them better.

Sad thing is I had a dream about doing this the night before.

Also, I fixed my rattling radar detector, the Escort 9500i, that was clipped to the headliner just to the left of the rear-view mirror. I lined the outside of the visor clip with the fuzzy-side of velcro tape to dampen its contact against the roof and windshield. I then put the hook-side of velcro on the top of my radar detector in front of the buttons. Now when it is clipped, it doesn't slide or bounce around.

Now, I am going to tackle my sunroof trim rattles with some foam tape.

 

Someone in jolly ole england left a washer or something above my headliner.
Whenever I pull a tight curve it rattles to the other side. I kinda like it.

 

I get a strange rattle a second or two AFTER I hit a bump in the road that sounds like it's coming from in front of my feet.

 

I tried that fix. I actually removed the covers and drove around without them. In my case I still had the rattle. We'll find out today I think if they've fixed the issue.

 

Ok so first off I need to give some major praise for Mountain View mini. Even though in the past I had some mediocre customer service, I have to say they've done a great job. Peter treated me right, took my concerns to heart, and has given some of the best customer service I've had.

Rattle report:

The first service order was not written with a great amount of detail. So I misunderstood the parts they ordered. Apparently they knew the issue. Here is a quote from the service order: "Rattling criuse control switch and loose cable"

The remedy is as follows: "Rattling criuse control switch and loose cable heard rattling. Coming from the cruise control switch, replaced both switch. Heard rattling noise from the steering column wiring harness clip not secured, Removed sterering column covers to properly secure wiring harness clip"

So I *think* this has fixed the issue. This was the buzzing sound that was coming from the steering column. The conditions that caused it was when it was very cold, and a rough road surface. I have not encountered those conditions for a long period of time yet so I'm not entirely sure it's eliminated, but I have been over some surfaces that could have caused the sound in the past. I'm pretty confident it has been fixed. I'll report back if I hear the issue again. So if anyone has an annoying buzzing/resonating sound from the column it could be this.

The dash rattle I had was the severe and most annoying one. It was difficult to reproduce but they finally heard it thanks to the help of the awesome shop forewoman (I wish I remembered her name she is great)

Here is the remedy: "Rattling dash tertaining lugs, verified dash rattle, per SB M51 08 07, removed whole dash cover to inspect. Found two retaining lugs ok, but shows signs of contact with slot that it slides into. Applied felt around the retaining lugs slot and re-checked. Now rattling noise is gone."

Awesome! So far that rattle is gone. It by far was the worst one. I'll continue to listen to see if it's gone for good. It's amazing how cheap a car can feel with really awful rattles. I'm glad they made good on the warranty and spent time fixing it.

Additionally they detailed my car all the swirls are gone as far as I can tell, but it was raining when I picked the car up.

Overall I'm very happy with my experience, and I can recommend them. I hope my experience can help others.

Now it's time to consider the JCW kit.

 

Awesome! It's such a great feeling when our mini's blemishes are fixed.

Thanks for the details about the fix. I'm going to keep my ears open now for any hint of those rattles.

 

The trim around my sunroof and both door panels rattle worse than in any car I ever had, including the self-destructing 1972 Vega. The fix? According to my dealer, they don't hear anything unusual.....

 

After I installed new front speakers with better bass, the door rattles were unbearable. I fixed them by using thin foam insulation tape around the lower areas of the door trim where it contacted the insides. There is otherwise relatively loose plastic trim hitting the firm plastic skeleton inside. A little foresight by Mini would have prevented this rattle easily.

I have the sunroof trim on my to do list, but it has been quiet lately. Once again, there are so many plastic/metal contact points that are begging to rattle.

 

Exactly and it really pisses me off that the dealers, who can easily fix the rattles, act like that is how the car should be. MINI is either the most inept or uncaring car company I have dealt with since the 70's. I have had this bucket of bolts almost a year and just yesterday I got a card in the mail from Mini saying "We heard you will soon have a new Mini." Jackasses.