It's been just over 2 weeks to drive my 2008 MCS 6-spd. Now I have 900 miles just daily driving... and so far so good until I noticed knocking or pinging noise from engine yesterday.

It's been warmer days almost hit 90F degree during afternoon, so I turned AC on while I was driving. I heard few times knocking or pinging noise yesterday and today when I start with 1st gear and 4th gear with slightly more gas.

Does anyone hear knocking or pinging noise to turn on the AC while driving? I am just starting to worry.

 

What octane gas are you running? could it low octane?

 

Thanks. 91 octane gas and it was 35 or 38 mph for 4th gear when I heard pinging noise from engine.

 

I have had the same recurring problem since January, no fix yet.

 

That's one case I would try higher octane fuel . Let us know if that makes any difference. greg

 

OK, I may try to use higher octane gas but I am not sure though... do I have to use higher than 91 octane gas or not? And I usually go ALCO gas station here at Orange County. That said, the knocking or pinging noise is not every time.... so I do not know what to say for now.

 

Greg, 91 is the highest octane available here in CA. I took mine into the dealer for it, the claimed it was a bad tank of gas but unless EVERY tank I've had in the last 3 months has been bad, I don't think that's the case.

The dealer also said they could more properly diagnose it if they kept the car for a week, but unfortunately I can't go that long without a car!

 

lttletimmy, How old your MINI? and how many miles on your MINI? and manual or auto trans?

 

manual mcs, picked it up last august. Right now I have around 8k miles but the problem started around 5500 miles

 

Then I'd certainly try other brands to rule out gas as being the primary cause. Greg

 

I've tried several different brands, 2 top tier 1 not (chevron, shell and 76) and different stations of the same brand, still with no luck.

 

With the warranty and the fact that it's not extremely common, I woudn't worry about it much. If it gets progressively worse, I'd have the dealer check it out. Maybe it's a timing issue or ecu problem? Greg

 

I heard knocking noise (not loud, it's slightly) today again, it was 1st gear. But weird thing is if I heard that noise from 1st gear then 4th gear also has knocking noise. Again this happen is not every time, so I could not pay attention for it, but this time I did not turn the AC on when I heard that noise.

 

one other noteworthy thing is that it always happens to me between 2500 and 3500 rpm, usually in a higher gear at WOT (like trying to pass someone on the highway in 6th gear)

 

Thanks and I will check the rpm next time when this happens occurred again.

 

If it keeps doing it take it in audible knocking is not normal. Slight knocking is corrected by the ECU. Sounds like yours is a little excess. At least you can bring it up to your dealer. This way your covered if the motor pops. Also keep the gas receipts so you can prove its good gas your putting in.