For some time now there's been a rattle coming from the rear of my car, on the inside. I've removed the rear seats so unfortunately I hear everything pretty good. It's annoyed me for quite some time because I can modulate the noise with the throttle which gets to me. The other night my girl was driving and I was passenger. I heard it and jumped into the back of the car while she was driving along [don't try this at home]. After pushing on things and listening closely looking like a wild animal in a cage, I narrowed down it's location. It seemed to be coming from inside the hatch. When I pressed on it it didn't stop the noise but I'm certain that's where it's coming from. Is there anything in the hatch that could cause it to rattle? It's not a hard metal on metal rattle but sounds more like plastic. It's not terribly loud but it's loud enough to bother me on my two hour commutes.

Any experience, suggestions, ideas?

Thanks!

Best,
Gene

 

First step would be to adjust the rubber bumpers (I'm assuming they still have those on the '11) on either side of the hatch. Turn counterclockwise to extend them a bit and see if that helps.

 

My '08 Cooper had this same sound when new. I could actually hear something rattling inside the hatch when I opened or closed it. I mentioned it to my dealer when the car was in for service a few times - they looked at me like I was nuts, and of course could find nothing amiss.

I eventually took matters into my own hands. I removed one corner of the plastic interior panel on the inside of the hatch, and behold - - - a piece of plastic about 2 inches by four inches fell out. It looked like some kind of sound deadening Dynamat-type stuff, but harder. It had obviously come adrift at some point (or maybe left in there at the factory). Once removed - - all quiet.

One problem - the clip holding the plastic interior panel in place broke when I tried to snap the panel back in place. The dealer fixed it at my next service (covered by warranty @ the time), I never mentioned that I had actually broken it. I figured they owed me anyway since I had to remove the panel myself to fix the rattle that they couldn't hear!

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There's tubes for the washer fluid and a couple wiring harnesses back there. There's tutorials on removing the hatch panels on NAM if you want to eyeball what's behind the cover. Did you perchance delete the rear wiper?

 

Awesome. I bet it's something similar. It's coming from right inside that damn thing. I wasn't sure if it could be one of the license plate bulbs as they seem like they could jiggle but I don't think so. Looks like I've got a weekend project on me hands.

I seem to remember something about a warning triangle in the hatch, or is that just the R53?

Thank you very much!

-Gene

 

Maybe while I've got it open I can try and ziptie that stuff together. I've still got the rear wiper on there. Why do people delete it?

-Gene

 

A bit off-topic, but I absolutely hate the glovebox rattle. Not sure if you have that. It drives me insane!!!

 

Yep. That one is intermittent for me. My drivers side door lock indicator thingymagig rattled, now has electrical tape. My passenger seat lower mechanism rattles from time to time. My arm rest here and there. Glove box once in a blue moon. Hatch, almost always. Lol

 

MINI's (and other cars, too) in Europe have a kind of "roadside emergency kit" in the rear compartment that includes a warning triangle-thingy. I'm not sure exactly where it's located...

... because it's there. If the MINI didn't have a rear wiper, some people would go to great lengths to add one, and complain that MINI had "cheaped out" by not including it.

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I did it for smoothness but one can lie to oneself about weight reduction or ineffectual functionality (Guilty of both). My R50 has two side compartments in the rear, don't know if kits are still stored there. I believe you could get a first aid kit and/or roadside emergency/zombie survival gear (as a premium feature)?

 

Hmmm...I'll see if Outmotoring has a zombie survival kit. It's only a matter of time....

 

Do you have a belt-tensioner tool? Theoretically that should do fine for de-braining. Maybe a hacksaw, tourniquet and a bottle of bourbon will fit neatly in the compartment with zip-ties.
Sorry. Walking Dead season pass is seriously getting to my subconscious.

 

I don't have any of these things but I have two ferrets and a castle. You're all invited when **** hits the fan.

-Gene