First, thanks to everyone who posts on these forums. I've found answers to problems before I even knew I had them. Unfortunately, I have two problems that I'm wondering if anyone can help with. First, I have a July '03 Mini Cooper (Solid Gold BABY!) and pretty much ever since I picked it up from the dealer, there's a buzzing sound that occurs when I start it up. It's a low buzz, not deafening, but definitely audible, and it continues from start-up through driving. I've gotten used to it, so I'm not sure at what point it stops. It sounds like it's coming from behind the radio/climate controls somewhere. And it seems most noticeable when it's cold out. I haven't yet hit my first scheduled maintenance, and the nearest dealer is at least 45 minutes-1 hour away. I'm hoping someone else has had this problem(?) and can give me some insight into what that sound is. If it helps, I have all three packages, Cold, Sport, and Premium. And I'm a loser, I know, it's a CVT. (I prefer to think of it as a manual transmission with training wheels.)
That's one problem....
The second problem is with my roommate's '02 Cooper S. He recently noticed that after the rain, the area under the pedals is wet. Soaking wet. As in puddle. He has two cars so he doesn't always drive it, so that's why he's only recently noticed. It's been wet before, but at the time it was only once, and we assumed (hoped) it was just a fluke. But now it's been wet after a rain every time. We don't see any drip marks on the door, or drips anywhere for that matter. And it's only getting wet on the drivers' side. I hope no one's ever had this problem, but if anyone has, what was it and how helpful was your dealer in fixing it? The interior is starting to get a little stale smelling, I assume because of the contained moisture problem. And as a side note, his windows are always fogged up. You would swear there's someone living in it; sometimes it's the only car in the parking lot that's fogged up on the inside, parked. I guess it could be the moisture thing. Anyway, sorry for the long winded post, and thanks for any input.

 

The first problem sounds like the normal sound a MCS makes. It's the.... power steering I think. The MiniUSA site mentions something similar to what you are describing. I thought it was odd on my MCS as well, but apparently it is normal. Go into the Owner's Lounge and it is on their Top 10 Idiosyncrasies.

Dunno about the 2nd, except my wife's minivan had the same type of problem, but it was an air conditioning hose that had a problem.

 

Thanks for replying. It's not the power steering, I know what that sound is. That's more of a whine, this is actually more of a buzz. And my sound comes from the radio area, not so much outside the car. I actually kind of like the power steering sound. Weird, I know. But thanks for the input.

 

Don't know about the leak, but I have a sort of buzz also, mostly when it's colder outside. It sounds like it's coming from the radio/climate control/speedo area, but one day I noticed that it was buzzing to the bass in my music (H/K system). Listening more carefully, I discovered that it was coming from the lower door speaker on the passenger side. I pressed on the trim around the speaker and the buzzing stopped. Let go, buzzing again. I think when it's warmer, the expansion tightens up whatever is loose and it stops buzzing. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet, so I'm not sure what is actually buzzing. Does your buzzing depend on the music at all?

 

Unfortunately, my buzz starts up even without the music on. In fact, since I posted this, I've been paying more attention to it, and it starts buzzing with the key in the second position, with the power on but without actually starting the engine. It happens mostly when it's colder outside, but it even does it around 60 degrees (F), and that's not too cold. I guess since I didn't get a stream of responses, I may have a problem? The music thing was a good idea, but no go. Thanks anyway though.

 

I dont know if my buzz is the same as yours but I've got one. It too feels like its coming from the center console and it definitely sounds like plastic on plastic. I press and tap pretty much everything I can reach to no avail. Funny thing is that it is not always there and I think it is more noticable on rougher roads. Temp doesnt seem to have any effect.

One of the problems is that the acoustics of the cabin are pretty screwy and if I turn my head I can convince myself that the buzz is coming from anything.

Guess I'll just start removing bits of the interior until it goes away (then beat the crap out of the offending piece)

 

I've started hearing a high pitched buzz. I can't tell where it's coming from but, it's getting to me. Anyone else?

 

i found a leak too. on my passenger side rear quarter window. it happened during a monsoon type thunderstorm. i have noticed a couple drips on other ocasions. on my next trip to the dealer, i'm having them check it out. i am NOT pleased!

 

>>Unfortunately, my buzz starts up even without the music on. In fact, since I posted this, I've been paying more attention to it, and it starts buzzing with the key in the second position, with the power on but without actually starting the engine. It happens mostly when it's colder outside, but it even does it around 60 degrees (F), and that's not too cold. I guess since I didn't get a stream of responses, I may have a problem? The music thing was a good idea, but no go. Thanks anyway though.
>>
>>
>>So if the car is not running and you hear the buzz,,,,I'm trying to keep a straight face,,
so you hear a buzz,maybe your interior fan has a problem,or a vent has loose conections.If it happens with the car not running it is most likely not a vibration or rattle
issue. :smile:

 

My sound doesn't seem to be a rattle, more of...well, a buzz. Since it only does it occasionally, and like I said, mostly in the colder temperatures, it's going to be tough getting it to a dealer an hour away and getting them to hear it.

Interior fan? It makes the noise without any kind of climate control on, sitting still with no wind. And when I do turn on the air, it works fine. I don't know. I guess I'll add it to my list of first repair visit problems. (Does anyone know if they can repair a dead defroster line on the back window, or do they replace the whole piece?)

...Damn buzz. I guess reading the numerous other problems people have I should feel lucky. I do still love the car.

 

On the leak issue, does your roommate have the sun roof? If so the drain from the roof goes through the "A" pillar and there might be a loose hose there.

 

I had an exhaust leak in my Alfa that used to give me a serious buzz if I kept the windows rolled up.

 

It looks like my roommate is going to take his Cooper S in for the leak. It's getting bad. We had a thunderstorm last night and this morning, as expected, the floor is wet under the pedals, and now there's even furry mold growing on the floormats. Strangely, the mold is growing on the MINI symbol on the floormats. Hmmm...I'll keep updating with details in case anyone else has this leak problem. That is, if Mini of the Main Line in Philly would ever return phone calls. Hopefully, Mini will take care of this problem. I would think they should at least offer to clean the inside. After all, the leak isn't his fault. We'll see.

 

...The S is in the shop where they say they're going to take out the interior and let it all dry out for a few days. He also said they have some anti-bacterial cleaning fluid for the mold problem. Grendel might be right-the service guy said it's probably a sunroof drain problem. In the meantime, he got a loaner, which happened to be a gold Cooper. We were driving it around the other day and we switched on the auto climate control. The buzz that I hear in MY car started up, and when we turned it off, the buzz stopped. So I guess my noise is climate control related. But I rarely use my auto climate control, so why would it make that noise without having it on? Hmm.

 

I realize there's a whole dealer rating section, but MINI of the Main Line service is no good. We got a call after a week with the S in the shop for the leak saying it was ready to be picked up. We made sure to ask that we'd be able to pick it up tonight, and we were told yes, until 8 pm. So we drove from Atlantic City to Philadelphia, ready to ditch the loaner and be reunited with his baby, and we open the door to the car and the whole plastic piece that covers the area under the steering wheel is missing...the clutch pedal cover is missing...and the metal/plastic plate thing that says MINI Cooper S on the threshold of the door has gouge marks, almost like someone took something pointy to it. Of course, the service department was closed because it was after 5, but the lady who works the desk was helpful in looking at it and getting together paperwork so we could keep the loaner a bit longer. Needless to say, we weren't thrilled to have driven an hour each way for nothing. And the lady who helped us had to talk to her manager about making sure we could keep the loaner, (well, they apparently weren't done with the S yet, so what were we supposed to do, walk home?) and the manager didn't even talk to us- she talked through the lady who was helping us. This is ridiculous. You have to be blind or just incredibly stupid not to see the exposed metal pieces under the steering wheel. And the service guy Peter had said on the phone that the upholstery had been taken out and cleaned, but even that looked questionable. All in all, not a good night for Mini of the Main Line. They already had a few strikes against them in my book. I had originally placed my order with them for my Cooper last summer, but they sat on my order through their name change without even bothering to tell me that my order hadn't gone out. And now their service department is questionable. Please, take pictures and record everything when you get service done. It sucks, but it's the only way. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow.

 

>> there's a buzzing sound that occurs when I start it up. It's a low buzz, not deafening, but definitely audible, and it continues from start-up through driving. sounds like it's coming from behind the radio/climate controls somewhere.

I heard a similar sound (buzz not typical PS whine) in our MCS and tracked it to the power steering fan under the engine. I've learned to ignore it.

>>The second problem is with my roommate's '02 Cooper S. He recently noticed that after the rain, the area under the pedals is wet. Soaking wet. As in puddle

Almost certainly a leaky windshield or clogged sunroof drains. His windows are getting foggy due to the moisture. Need to get that car to the dealer if it's still under warranty.

 

Well, after all the drama, the leak turned out to be, as others suggested, the sun roof drain. They fixed the drain problem, but in the process dinged up the threshold of the drivers' side, and scratched the ring around the shifter. They replaced the ring, and put a whole new threshold on the drivers' side, so I guess it's cool now. I don't know, though, aren't they supposed to fix things, and not make more problems? Oh well. The Cooper's better now, and motoring once again.