going to be collected tomorrow (wednesday)

 

I finally have a video to post.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlODeA7B0e0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

That is nothing like the rattling noise that I am experiencing with my car.

Based on the countless videos I have watched that sounds alot like the MCS Death Rattle or something else

 

Seems like everyone has lost interest with this thread now - including me

Final update on what has been 4 months of loan cars, phone calls and irritation:

The car came back from the dealer 4 days ago after another extended stay (2 weeks this time) and I was glad to give back the 2011 One base model that they loaned me.

This time they changed the water pump, pulley, friction wheel and belt.

Has it made any difference? nope.

They have basically acknowledged that my car makes more noise when cold than others (including the loaners plus other cars of similar age/mileage they have used during diagnosis) but feel that it is 'within acceptable levels/tolerances' and there is nothing actually wrong with it/nothing more they can do.

The loaners I have had during this episode have all made some noise when cold - therefore my previous comments about the PRINCE engine being an unrefined POS are clearly accurate.

The conclusion is that they/MINI will not allow me to reject the car and I am stuck and dis-satisfied.


I will never be buying another MINI and am now looking to trade my car ASAP for something without a french engine.

Unfortunately I cannot be bothered arguing with them any more - life is too short.

 

Your entire ordeal sucks royaly. Hope things turn out for you.
Of course, I have an S and had the death rattle and the one video
doesn't sound anything like mine did. Don't know what to say.

 

While I've been waiting for an update here I've noticed a few other threads pop up with similar complaints. They state the engine is louder than they remember and they are around 40k miles. So either this is a characteristic of the R56 non S or a problem that is slowly starting to become known.

Good luck on the trade in if you do that. The used car market is hot but the dealers are using low ball auction rates to value cars.

I've kind of gotten to the point where I just dont care anymore. So I may get an extended warranty or just go without.

 

Bloater- good luck to you in your struggle towards happy motoring. The Mini fates have been kinder to me, I've has four years of minimally hampered enjoyment.
I like Albiecrazy's position to do away with the cute, but demeaning Justa Cooper moniker, and start referring to our cars as Straight Coopers, or just Mini Cooper.
Question-does a thread exist for this yet? I'm looking... If no, I'll start one. I think that would be Minis in General.
That's next anyway. Best wishes to all.

 

Hi everyone,

Does it sound like that ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGiwF...layer_embedded

That's my '07 Cooper.

 

I wish you the same, Bloater - like Torch, I've had almost four years of motoring bliss but definitely understand your frustration.

Especially after some spirited motoring on the Jersey TPKE with a Camaro, a Mustang and WRX a few weeks back, there's still nothing 'Justa' about my Cooper!

 

Little up for this post, does anybody got news from Bloater ?

 

Does not sound that great to me, but you really need to record the sounds with the bonnet open to see where the sound is coming from... I.e. on the passenger side with chain.

Mine makes some funky noises but it is always on the driver's side away from the chain which seems to be normal fuel injection noises. I've been paying attention and a lot of new cars driving by me slowly have the same direct injection noises as my car (i.e. some 4-cyl Audi's).

 

Yep, the noise seems to come from the right side of the engine (where the chain is...). The chain tensioner was changed last week, but I'm not really sure it's better now...
The dealer said "they've heard a very minor noise", so they changed the tensioner. They also apparently check the timing of the chain (they've check DME, on the paper...), and it's apparently fine.
So, I don't know. This is a Cooper, there is less informations on it than on the Cooper S...

 

Did they measure the chain length? Oil level is ok?

 

I don't know if they measure the chain lenght, but the the noise almost disappear when the engine is warm (it makes the noise only when you accelerate, you loose the pedal, and you accelerate again when the RPM is not at idle - complicated to describe, you accelerate to 4000 rpm, loose the pedal, the rpm get back to 3500 rpm, and you accelerate again, and the noise appears at the moment where the rpm increase... really really weird...

Otherwise, the oil level is always to the top.

 

I love my Justa. Drive it aggressivley and the car loves it.

had an older miata and the driving experience is very similar. Esp the miata with no power assist.

Yes the S is nice, but NO regrets with a Justa.

There are sveral Minis Justas around where I live in Vancouver, and I can honestly say I hear themn changing gears pretty far up in the rev range.

Smiles all around.

As a side note, I hate the word" JUSTA" cause it does not do the car justice.

 

Your right, I really don't understand WHY people think the S is a better cooper.
It's not. Really. It's better in many respects.
It's weaker as well.
Different.

Is VW rabbit worst than a GTI?
No. I test drove both, both have strengths.

A Straight Cooper is an amazing handling car.
Fast when it has to be, tight, great handling.

I am an owner of 2 weeks and to think that you can
upgrade components to handle better absolutely flabergasts me.

Justa as pointed out is really stupid.

 

Just wanted to chime in and say I have the same knocking/rattling noise ( ) in my 2007 R56 straight mini with 58k miles. I changed the oil last night to royal purple 5w-30 in hopes that it would work some sort of miracle, but so far has not. It idles a lot smoother at stoplights but the engine sounds like its pushing really hard right before it changes gears. My friend opened the oil cap right after i started it up after changing the oil and it sounds like a hammer clanging against an anvil. The temperature around these parts is 15-30F in the morning, so I'm thinking its the cold weather start issue. Any other input would be most welcome!!

 

The sound in the last video sounds pretty normal to me. Definitely NOT the "death rattle". You can hear the valves working, which is normal for the MINI N-series engines, as they are just under the bolted-on plastic cover. The "death-rattle" sounds like a tractor. You will not be able to hear anything else from the engine as it is really LOUD.

PS: Just listen to I don't hear anything like that on your car... Which is supposed to be a good thing

 

Thanks for the response, alexs3d2! My car definitely doesn't sound as bad as the video you posted. I've read in the thread about changing your chain tensioner that the non-S minis are not prone to the death rattle...but am still slightly paranoid. It just doesn't sound 100% right to me.

 

Yeah my 08 is sounding VERY loud on cold mornings now...A lot like second video up. It was not this loud the past winters. I am now at 70k miles. Once the engine is warmed up, it sounds fine.

 

Holy cow, I've got a 2009 Mini Clubman with the 1.6L diesel engine (also made by Peugeot) and it's quiet compared to you petrol people. It's even quiet on startup when it's 10°C below zero.

Is the direct injection noise really that loud or is the mic just picking up the high frequency clicking of the injectors and exaggerating it?

 

My engine sounds like a diesel on the cold mornings!