Hi Folks,

Records indicate that I am new and have never posted before so I'm posting to say hello and ask a question.

I have just bought a 2004 BRG MC with sport package. Only 22,000 KM (about 15,000 miles). Bought from a Toyota dealer but spoke to the original owner and he babied it for the 3 years he had it. The whole family is mad about the Mini. Thrilled! But of course I have a question.

I am hearing a sound like popcorn in the engine (not from behind in the exhaust) downshifting from 3rd to 2nd over 3000 throttle lifted, during acceleration in 2nd and 3rd, but not there with the clutch in and engine revving. It's not rhythmic and it's not metallic.

It's sounds like what I think the Mini burble (which I know about thanks to you folks) must sound like and it seems to happen when the burble is meant to happen. But the sound (confirmed by others including a tech at my local garage who doesn't know Minis so couldn't diagnose) is coming from the engine and not the exhaust when inside the vehicle.

So. My question. Is the burble distinctly from behind inside the cabin, or is it possible that what I am hearing is "normal" coming from in front?

It's not the bubblewrap dashboard thingy in case anyone's wondering that.

Comments? Opinions?

Thanks in advance.

 

You've given a perfect description of the "burble" that's present in the earlier cars. Do you have the stock exhaust or an aftermarket/JCW exhaust?

On both of our 2006 models, the burble distinctly sounds like it's coming from behind the car, but both of ours are convertibles. With a hardtop, cabin resonance can do some funny things, so it's possible that the burble in a hardtop might sound like it's coming from further forward in the car.

 

My car is an 04, but my burble sound comes from the back, I never heard a burble when I had the stock exhaust. But maybe that because the exhaust I have now just sounds so much better .

 

Thanks for the replies folks! My car is all stock right now. Nothing aftermarket (yet...).

So given that it *could* be burble - resonance playing games or whatever - can anyone suggest possible diagnostic ideas? Short of taking it in and driving a Mini tech about with me. What might I do to clarify this for myself?

 

Drive it with the windows open, or perhaps the rear hatch (briefly). You should be able to tell where the sound comes from...

 

But of course. I'll open the boot (briefly ) and give it a listen. Thanks OldRick, an elegant solution.

 

When my obx went on,I could hear the pops resonating from the front.After settling in,just from the tips.
Put a header on it and really enjoy the symphony

 

I appreciate knowing that. Are there others out there who hear the resonance (burble pops) from in front inside the cabin?

I don't know how different they are but it might be worth adding that I'm in Canada.

 

With the rpm falling, mine does it with the stock exhaust. I have a drop in filter, but it did it with the stock one. However, you say it happens during acceleration? That worries me. That sounds like a problem. I don't think any kind of popping during acceleration is good. Please confirm whether this is actually happening during acceleration. I generally get it while decelerating in 1st or 2nd in the lower rpms under 4k, or while revving the engine I get it as the rpm is falling below 4k. During accel sounds like a misfire, pinging, or something...

 

I hear it during acceleration as well as deceleration (downshift, throttle off).

My wife and I alternated standing on the road and driving by each other at 60 km\hr, dropping the car into 2nd to bring the revs to 3500. Inside the cabin of course the popping can be heard. Outside it just sounded smooth.

Standing outside with the car stopped and the engine revving I can hear a burble as the revs drop. Interestingly, this is not apparent inside the cabin.

I'm going to take it in. I just need to be clear in my head what it is that I'm going to say if the tech says "that's normal". I want to be able to say "okay but should it do this, and this, and this?"

Thoughts?

 

Your "burble" noise is probably the exhaust. This sound is quit common (and normal) in Minis when off the throttle. If you think it is coming from the engine compartment, you might want to check the torque on you spark plugs. Unrelated, but important: if you don't know if the serpentine engine drive belt was changed in the past three years, you might consider having that replaced while you are in there.

 

Thanks for that. More and more I'm feeling that this is the classic burble (MAN this must get tiring for you folks, calming us newbies again and again!). I've read about others with a similar story (have owned the Mini for about a week and recently my wife and I noticed this sound...) on various sites around the web.

Hope to get involved on a more positive note from here on in. Thanks!

 

hay, we were all "newbies" at one time. Some of us learn by our mistakes, and some from the mistakes of others. The great thing is that we have a venue like N.A.M. to share our experiences. The Mini is a wonderful car, and most who own them bond quickly. Keep it serviced and it will reward you with lots of fun. Enjoy.

 

When I first bought my '05 MCS, I was at the bank and fumbling around in the glovebox when I accidentally hit the accelerator pedal while in neutral. When I heard the popping sound, I thought something was wrong with the car. So after some research on NAM, I realized that I was hearing the famous burble. I really love that sound!

 

Do you perceive any loss of power when accelerating and getting the popping sound?

My burble only occurs when i release the gas pedal and rpm is decreasing...but NEVER when the car is accelerating or downshifting....

I would heed Montana_Miniac's suggestion....

A question to those who are more experienced than I...could it be a problem with water not flowing right somewhere or water in the engine?

 

Alright folks we have a conclusion/solution.

The car was bought used from a Toyota dealership. They replaced the coolant (and oil) and it seems likely that some air got into the system.

The collant overflow tank was empty when I bought it suggesting that they may not have put in enough. Or at least that it may have been able to pull in air instead of coolant.

Anyway, the sound was not burble (as it was not from the rear and as it did not occur ONLY throttle-off) but rather is bubbling in the coolant system due to the presence of air. Apparently (as per Mini dealer comments) it is a PITA to totally bleed all air out of the system.

This also makes sense of the fact that when the car is driven on the highway for a period of time the sound is less obvious.

So there ya goo!

 

We parked in our driveway this afternoon, wife and I taking turns with the gas pedal while the other stood behind the car to get a good listen to the burble. Great fun.

 

just n-joy man, these cars are very well built and unless there's blue smoke cuming out the tailpipes or theres warning sensors on, you probably all good. another thing you could do is put an OBDII reader in and see if you knock sensors are tripped, if they are get it checked, and quick. i used to hear that and still can when my cars cold, but then again i just installed my borla so its pretty much normal.

 

I wouldn't exactly call this true. I'm not sure how different it is on a Cooper but the MCS has a bleed valve on the upper radiator hose. It's as easy as opening the bonnet and using a big screwdriver to open the valve. I don't have my Bentley manual with me so I can't check on the exact procedures for the Cooper. Make sure you bleed the system after the thermostat is open and with the heater on so the heater core is bled as well. Open it until solid fluid comes out, drive a round a little, and repeat. It's fully bled when you don't get any more air.

 

FOLLOW-UP

I was still unhappy about the sound and so when I took the car in for its final before end of warranty inspection I asked them to do a coolant flush. This made no difference.

So the dealership contacted Mini Canada and they sent out a brand new transmission. No argument or anything. Just done and done.

It is now installed and the sound is gone. And now that it's gone it is REALLY obvious just how present it was and how much it screamed "I have a problem"

Murph

 

YIKES! I would have never suspected a tranny problem. Glad you got your problem resolved.

 

I know. The lesson for me was that, once again, even if you are not the expert (and I am not), if you are left unconvinced by the expert's argument, you stand your ground and keep going back. if I'd just accepted that it was air in the coolant system at some point off warranty the tranny would have gone. $$$$$$$

What I thought was most interesting was that Mini Canada did not argue or ask questions or anything. The call went in about the sound and the tranny was shipped straight away. Good for others with the Midlands to know.

Murph

 

Wow, the tranny, huh?

What specifically about the tranny was the issue here? Did they tell you?

Either way, I'm glad you got it fixed under warranty, and that you can now fully enjoy the intended burble!

 

They didn't tell me. The tech wasn't available when I picked up the car. But I'm calling them next week to follow up so I'll ask him then and post his reply.

 

I was going to tell you its the tranny after I read your initial post but I guess they figured it out. I was shocked to hear MINI would tell you it was low coolant but then again MINI would say anything to get out of warranty work on POS trannys that should have been recalled. I hope your new tranny came with some sort of warranty of its own since it is new. Watch for the pop or any hesitation in the the next 10K miles. There are many posts on MINI replacing them more than once on the same car.

Burble is from intake/exhaust since these car run very rich. You could try SeaFoam treatment which makes it smoother.