Dear Mini Owners,
I would really appreciate it if you would take a minute to give me
some feedback with regard to my 2004 Mini Cooper. Would you please take
a look at the 1-minute video of my car (listen for a clicking noise) and
then respond to the questions below? Thanks so much!

Link to watch 1-minute video (be sure your speakers are on):
http://www.mech.utah.edu/ergo/mini.mov

Please cut and paste the questions and send your responses to me at this
email address: r.key-o@juno.com

1. Do you own a Mini?
2. If yes, please indicate year and make (Cooper or Cooper S):
3. Has it ever made this same clicking noise? If so, when and how often?
4. Would you buy a car (Mini or otherwise) that made this clicking noise?
5. Would you consider this to be a normal sound for a car (Mini or
otherwise)?
6. Would it be acceptable to you if you brought a car with this noise
into the dealership on four separate occasions and after they were
unable to fix it you were told....it must be normal since we can't fix
it. Would that be acceptable to you?
7. Any other comments you'd like to make:

Thank you very much for your time!

 

Could you describe the situation a little more?

It sounds like you are putting the car into gear and then back out of gear.

Do you have any idea where the sound is coming from?
Is it the rear hatch latch solenoid?

Are you raising and lowering the parking brake?

 

I am at a loss after seeing the video...are you?


1) Depressing the brake pedal rapidly?

2) Engaging/disengaging the E-brake?


3) Depressing/releasing the clutch pedal?


4) Shiting from any forward gear into reverse?

 

Is it your indicator??

 

Can you hear it when in the car. Where is the sound coming from? Does it go away when the car is warmed up/moving.

I dont think you can return a car just because it makes odd noises. It is impossible to tell how loud it is from the movie though.

 

I think he should take it back to the dealer and let them figure out where the noise is coming from. Doesn't seem, at first sight, to be anything serious.

 

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your replies. I guess I should have been more specific but I didn't want to bias any answers. The mechanic was able to determine that the sound is coming from the leak-down-pump located in the passenger-side rear fender. The pump was replaced. The carbon canister was replaced. It still makes the noise. I was told that basically since they couldn't fix it, it must be "normal". It can definitely be heard from inside the car. It sounds like a muffled turn signal. The dealership is telling me that all Minis make the same noise, I'm just the only one who can hear it. I don't believe that, which is why I was hoping for some feedback from other Mini owners. Thanks!

 

I don't know about you, but it sounds like something to do with the
exhaust or the heatsheild. Why don't you put your car on ramps and
try to find where it's coming from while the car is on?

_________________
03MCS IB/Bk: 123, Aerokit, 17"R90, Milltek, Pilo Intake, H-Sport, 6CDMP3, etc.