I'm getting ready to take my car in for some work and I've just started hearing a slight tapping/knocking when the car is at rest in neutral. It disappears when I engage the clutch or when I'm in gear (I assume - at the least, I can't hear it when I'm in gear - but it could still be there I guess).

It definitely disappears when I push the clutch in though, then it's just nice, clear idling.

Any thoughts on what this could be? Want to know what to tell the SA.

Thanks,
Biscuit

 

How many miles? It is probably the clutch throw-out bearing if you have over 50K on your MINI.

 

only 14K miles...still possible?

 

How many miles? It is probably the clutch throw-out bearing if you have over 50K on your MINI

If it was the throw out it would make noise when the peddal is pressed. If you do a search the dual mass fly wheel makes a noise like you write about.

 

Ours did that, plus we had the infamous "OOORT" when engaging the clutch, too - both began at 3,000 miles and fixed at 12,000 miles.
New clutch and flywheel fixed both.

 

I have the OOORT as well. Interesting that they are related. I hope they don't give me any issues with the fix...first place I went to did. Did your guys give you any issue with getting it fixed under the maintenance/warranty?

Thanks.

 

I did the search and you are correct

 

looks like both the tapping and the OOORT are from a bum flywheel i guess. service, here i come. joy.

 

got the new flywheel installed at Universal Mini. props to those guys they did a good job. the OOORT is now gone, which is great. the tapping seems diminished, but it sounds like it's still there. not sure why...could it be the clutch itself, as opposed to the flywheel? can anyone attest to the 'normal' sound of an idling mini? do you hear a tapping just behind the radiator or is it a really smooth sound? you can test it by engaging and disengaging the clutch...if it fades when it's engaged, then i guess mine is normal. if yours doesnt have the sound at all, then i guess not...

any help?

 

I have what sounds like a similar issue. When I come to a stop in neutral I will hear a chattering of the clutch (or something in that area). Sometimes loud, sometimes none at all. If I engage the clutch it goes away. If I let out the clutch sometimes it won't come back, sometimes it is still there. I have my 2nd service coming up in about a month and I will let my SA know.

 

The replacement part is the same as the OEM. In other words, it will fail over time. There have been several people who have had the noise return eventually.

 

Thanks Cube. Sounds just like my issue.

After your service, will you let me know what they say is causing it, what they change/replace and how it works?

Since I had the flywheel replaced and the chatter is still there, I dont think it's fixed. But I dont want to take it right back in without some new information since my SA said "That's probably the best it's gonna sound" when I let him take a listen. I don't buy it, but he did say to bring it back in if it keeps up/gets worse...Thanks again.

 

Hey Skip,

But mine was replaced two days ago...

And, they said it was a heavier flywheel (updated). Not sure if that makes a difference...

 

The tapping noise is the engine pulses passing through the gears. nothing is "broken" just not hiding the normal noise as much as you think it should. With the clutch dengaged, peddle out, lightly push the shifter to the begining of the gate (synchros) and the noise will stop too) this is how you can tell that it is not the throw out bearing as everyone says. listen to a car with lightened, solid flywheel and you'll understand better.

 

thanks 002. should it still be there despite the fix? i got the new 'updated' flywheel installed last week...

i guess i get that nothing's broken, but it's a bit frustrating to have such a loud knocking on a car with <14,000 miles on it. and when the knocking wasnt there when it was purchased, just 1,500 miles ago...

but, it's good to know nothings going to blow out or anything...

 

I have a buddy who is a Mini tech at the local dealership. When I spoke to him about two weeks ago, he was telling me they are having the same problems with the R56 minis. When I had my 03, he was the one who informed me that they were having the same problems with the replacement unit (this was in 06).

The DMF is manufactured by LuK and other brands who have incorporated this part into their trannys are reporting the same chattering issue.

Anyway, he also claims that the part is not faulty - in other words - there is nothing physical or mechanically wrong with the flywheel. The problem is that they don't do a very good job in dampening the torsional vibrations which results in the chattering noise.

Anyway, after I read your post I called him up and asked him if there were any changes with the replacement DMFs and he said that they appear to be the same and also have the same part number.

 

This is true. Everyone scream TOB when the clutch makes a noise.

Even though Mini has been replacing these flywheels due to the chattering noise, that does not mean that the part is faulty or that it needs to be replaced. It only means that the dual mass unit is not doing it's duty in dampening out the pulses you referenced.

A bad TOB will make noise when the clutch disengaged (pedal in).

 

That's a problem with the dual mass flywheel.

 

Hey Skip - well, it sounds like there's not a real fix for it then. And my new dual mass flywheel is definitely no better than the last...kind of a bummer as the noise is annoying, but I guess it's part of owning a mini at this point...