My '10 R56 MC makes a noise on cold start that I haven't seen reference to - it sounds like a zip pull toy when I hit the start button as the engine comes up to idle. It's a dead ringer for the "vrrp!" noise you'd hear pulling the string out of a gyro or a flywheel dragster. Any ideas? I haven't noticed it in my wife's '10 R55 MCCS, but I don't start her car two or three times a day, either.

 

My '09 does it also when it's very cold out. As the engine warms the noise slowly goes away.

 

My 2010 MCS does this too. It's the starter motor being overrun by the engine when it fires up. There is a delay from when the computer senses the engine has fired up to disconnecting the power from the starter. I find that this is just normal.

 

I have this noise too but it's before the engine even starts, as if the starter is slipping. Anyone else have this?

 

I have it too! R57s 2010, it sounds very loud for a second or less while engine ignition... Is it supposed to be normal?

 

You should win a prize for describing the noise! I have listening to this for a year and a half and have been at a loss to describe it. The sound lasts for no more than a second and is not heard again until the car has cooled for a day. Subsequent starts made the same day do not demonstrate this noise, so I don't think it's the starter.

Someone has suggested that it's the vacuum pump, which may be plausible if the system is able to hold a vacuum for hours but not overnight. The next morning the pump kicks in to pull the systems required vacuum and that's when we hear the noise? I would love to hear from someone more knowledgeable.

Until then, I accept the suggestion that this noise is normal.

 

When I went to buy my Mini Cooper S, I drove 6 or 8 and all of them did that on cold startup. I drove each one at least twice so I could get a feel for problems and sounds.

 

Both of my Mazdas have made this noise in the super-cold, generally when it would get below 0F and parked outside (after work, specifically). TOTALLY normal.

I usually apologize to my car for making it start in such icky conditions

 

My 08 non-turbo makes that same noise, as have most or all of the dealer loaners.

 

The noise I'm experiencing is not to be confused with the "R56 cold engine rattle." The noise I'm referring to happens sometimes when I push the start button - instead of the car starting, there is a rather violent, loud zip noise. This will continue until I push the start button again. I then wait a couple of seconds and try again, and the car usually starts right up. This doesn't sound normal, and I've never heard any other car do this...


Happy Thanksgiving!

 

What you are describing souns a bit different than mine and what other posters are having... The quick "zip tie" noise its supposed to sound with engine ignition and the noise dissapers almost as soon as the engine fires up, at least in my case I only have to press the start button once to start the engine

 

Yea, exactly...when this noise happens to me, it doesn't actually start the engine. It just sounds like something is slipping. Then I stop it by pressing the start button. Then I try again and it starts. Weird.

 

Oh! Then you really have something wrong. Sounds like the starter Solenoid is bad.