Hi Mini fans, I'm wondering if you can help me out. My Mini is making a strange grinding noise. It sounds like metal on metal from a rotating part. It happens in gear or in neutral and when stopped or moving. It does not vary with engine or road speed. It was happening everyday. I'd often hear it when at a stop light or when parking. I hear it when in the drivers seat. I got out a couple of times and opened the hood and didn't hear it. I took my car in and the shop did not know what it was. I took it in again for another matter and they said they noticed that a couple of exhaust manifold brackets were broken and vibrating on each other. I had them fix these. Since then I have only heard the a sound about 3 times in a month, but it isn't completely gone. I've attached a recording that can be played with Real Player. You can hear the engine and then you'll here this grinding. Thanks for the help.

 

here's a link to the recording

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13956698/Memo.m4a