I posted this in the problems forum also but thought it might be worth putting it here also. Sorry if that's a faux pas.

I've only got 67 miles on my new mini -- already a piece of the 'chrome' trim on the front grill has fallen off totally on its own (while parked in the gated lot at work - no one touched it). A clip is broken so that part's being ordered.
The ipod cable doesn't fit snugly so the speakers go in and out -- new cable being ordered.

Those little problems I can deal with, but now there's a thumping sound that sounds like someone is locked in the trunk (if there was one) and trying to get help to get out. I noticed it while idling but my husband also noticed it when he'd gotten out of the car after turning it off.

Any thoughts on what that could be? Have a call in to the service dept.

 

From what I have been told it is the gas tank expanding and contrasting when it has a certain amount of fuel in it. This is what I was told from someone that owns a Mini but works at the BMW dealer.

 

I did find a few threads that talked about the same noise and that was one of the things mentioned that it could be. I'm going with the theory that it's something 'normal' and I don't need to freak out about it.

Thanks for your reply.

 

No problem...you become use to it and after awhile you won't even notice it anymore. At least we don't...

 

We're leasing so I'm not as worried as I would be if we bought it -- but I have a hard time not saying 'this wouldn't have happened with a Lexus.'
I know all cars have quirks but our previous 2 cars were Lexus ES350s and no quirks turned up at all in 7 years!

I love the mini and will just have to get used to the little differences (little being a key word - too funny trying to buy mulch and flowers this weekend).

 

On the other hand, I've never had any thumping noises with my 2010 Cooper S. The tank is vented through a vapor recovery system, and if I understand it correctly, the system allows for expansion and contraction by venting tank vapors through a charcoal filtration system. So the tank isn't "sealed" per se; it should allow vapors to escape and return, and (IMHO) you shouldn't get noises from the tank.

More knowledgeable folks can probably explain it better than I can, but offhand it sounds like your tank venting may be clogged or faulty.

Cheers,

Spridget

 

Hmmm... so maybe worth at least letting the service guys take a look/listen.

Thanks, Spridget.

 

Are you sure that it's NOT Mr. Chow from the Hangover...

 

+1

 

too funny...if it was a trunk not a hatch i'd seriously have thought a naked asian man could have been locked in there!

 

Thats your trunk monkey signaling that it is hungry.

 

I actually have 2 2010 MCS and both cars do it.

 

Been watching "Goodfellas" lately?

 

Hahaha...The Trunk Monkey Strikes Again!!

 

I heard the thumping noise recently after I stayed in my 2011 MCS and car was off. I figured it was gas sloshing around. but it did random and werid

 

Might be that the rear sway bar isn't properly torqued to the endlinks.

 

As a couple of others have said, it's the pressurizing of the gas tank. Mine does it as well and it's compeltely normal.

 

My '09 did it for a while, so I took it to the dealership to find out what was going on. They gave me the same explanation about the gas tank, but at the same time they loosened the straps holding the tank in place and lubed them with something...since then, no more problem!

 

Interesting last reply...I took my MCS 09 to dealer at 10K and they were dumb-founded. I have had this thumping since Day-1 and have been told by many it's normal.

 

They didn't find the Trunk Monkey?? Hmmm...it must have been hiding!!

 

My Justa has done the same thing sense new.... if it bugs you don't take the back seats out, I notice it more often now that I have a seat delete kit in.
I was also told that it was the gas tank, makes sense because I hear it a lot more after I park it on a hot day( like the 95-100 days we've been having in kc the past week or so)

I wish it were a trunk monkey though.... : )

 

Oh good! I wondered what that noise was.

Although I kinda wish it was a Trunk Monkey too.

 

what gets me is that everyone talks about bumps, thumps, squeaks, and stuff falling off and the reaction is "ho hum... the car is super cute so no biggie".

i can't think of any other cars that are made to such low standards. GM, for comparison, loses money on every car they sell but they make up for it on repairs due to their policy of "planned obsolescence" (i.e. the cars are designed to break). but as shoddy as GM build quality is, none of their vehicles shake, rattle and buzz like a mini.

i won't ramble on about my wife's experience with her MINI but i will leave it with this: if you want a bitchin 2-seater that drives like a go-cart but doesn't break your spine... get a Miata MX5 instead. they last forever.

 

Whatever dude.... I've driven the Miata and to be honest, I hated it.

FYI, I know this is an old thread, but...

As for the bumps you guys were/are hearing in your boot, I have to ask this.

Do you have the strings that lift the little deck up connected? If you don't, they will hang down and the ***** on the end will swing back and fourth banging on the sides making a thumping sound.

 

Nice first post. "Hi, MINI owners! Your cars suck! And GM is part of a CONSPIRACY!" Together with resurrecting a nine-month-dead thread.


Those work well if you want zero cargo space (oh, sorry--TWO cubic feet!) and you're under five foot ten. I don't fit in a Miata, and I like to do stuff like get groceries or take packed bags with me. So the Miata isn't an option.