I've owned my Mini now for around 3 mos. There is a strange rattle or cackle that seems to be coming from the engine bay. The sound varies with speed and sounds bearing related. It's hard to describe the sound other than something rotating sounds loose. Any ideas?

Nobody has any info on what this noise may be?

Sounds strange, but unfortunately probably too vague of a description for anyone to give anything other than blind speculation. I'd play it safe and take it to your dealer, or at the least another mechanic in the area (if it's out of warranty) that is reputable and knowledgeable on MINIs.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Hope it's nothing serious.

I hope it's nothing serious too. Sounds like maybe wheel/hub bearings. I was wondering if it could also be the clutch. It's definitely to quiet to get a sound bite. I wish there were a shop around me familiar with Minis. Closest dealer is 150+ miles away.

Have you posted the question to the other popular Mini forums? If not, post it to Motoring Underground and Motoring Alliance as well. Also, if there's a regional forum in your area I'd definitely post there as well. They could probably even recommend a good mechanic in your area that can work on the Mini.

Listened closer and the sound is kinda like a steam locomotive chugging along the tracks. chugga chugga chugga chugga. It is quiet kinda but speeds up and slows down with the speed of the car.

Autoxser1975

I am not sure if this could be it.. But the waterpump in my 2011 clubman had to be replaced within 1000 miles.. I mostly noticed the sound at low RPMS (under 2K). THe master tech at the dealership was able to recognize this swiftly. Now that the pump has been replaced, the sound has gone away..

Thanks for the info but my Clubbie is a 09 JCW with near 62k miles on it. The sound is really like a bearing or something like that.