The title says it all. Since we bought the mini back in dec '02, the car has made a rattle when it is in neutral without the clutch engaged. We will take it in for its 2 year service in a month (8200 miles) and would like to get NAM's opinion on what it is, so i have something to say to them. It sounds like a knocking that hits about 2, 3 times a second and is c[font=Times New Roman][size=3]onsistent[/size][/font], although i dont remember reving it and hearing a change in the speed. As soon as i press the clutch pedal down half way, the noise just stops, and i can hear only the engine ticking over. Any thoughts would greatly appreciated

Cheers,
Jonathan

 

I had this problem myself:

first time in for service, they told me it was the throwout bearing (which is what it sounds like). Unfortunately, they cannot just replace the bearing, they had to go with an entirely new trans. OK, no problem, they set me up with a loaner and did the work, took 3 days.

Problem, noise was still there, no big deal, I don't wanna be a jerk, they tried something, it didn't work. So, I brought the S back in for service. They acknowledged that the noise was present still. When I came back to pick the car up, they said that this noise is present in a S models, that it is normal. They sat in the service manager's car, and it was there.

Basically, they told me not to worry about it, I got it in writing, so when the throwout bearing does go, I'll know I brought it in originally to have that fixed.

 

What gives? Any of you guys had a similar problem? Took it in for the 25,000 mile inspection. Told them about it. I said that I suspected possibly a throw-out bearing maybe. They said they looked at it (Flow in WinstonSalem NC – I like them for the most part). Couldn't find anything wrong. They said the car checked out great, they checked the "bell-housing" (I'm assuming that's the area that contains the clutch and couldn't find anything that's showing signs of rubbing or wear. They checked the exhaust sheilds too and replaced a couple of things on recall like the boot latch and they reprogrammed the engine (ecu I guess). I have to say that the car is quieter and faster. No more stumble. No more YoYo.

But when I come to a stop and I have the windows down and it sounds like a dammed Masey Furgeson unless I put the clutch in. Other than that, at 26.500, the car is great...

Anybody else having this problem?

 

Same here. I was told by the service advisor that the sound is normal when not in gear and the clutch pedal is not engaged. I guess it's good that my MCS is green but maybe I should have went with a yellow roof instead of black. Then it would look and sound like a John Deere.

 

I believe the TO bearing makes noise when you depress the clutch pedal and not the other way around. Do you put the clutch in and then let it out and the sound goes away? That's how ours is.

 

It is rumoured that the rattley sound with the clutch released is just a characteristic of the getrag design. I have found that mine is quieter on off-camber inclines than on level pavement. Also, it I let the clutch out very slowly, the rattling is very soft. If I just dump the pedal, it's much more prominent.

 

No clutch issues with my 03 MC.Coming up on 35k miles.And the
Midlands 5 speed is still smooth and fun

 

Yeah, that sounds about right. But you know what guys? My last car was an Escort GT. It had a sweet Mazda 16v engine and 5 sp gear box and I went a 140,000 miles on just one clutch with no rattles. Lot's of rattles on that thing else where though https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eply.php#Never had a problem with a rattle like this. Now I know I am comparing apples to oranges here, I realize that, but I think the car should not sound like a damn tractor when you pull up to the light–Getrag or no Getrag–yeah, know it's a very sophisticated design and I should be tickled pinker than a pig in a corn bin but I swear it almost sometimes makes me want to plow a field rather than think about autocrossing when I hear it when I'm idling at the light. You reckon Getrag makes transmissions for tractors too?

But you know that feeling always go away when I'm pulling away, shifting at about 6 grand especially when I'm in a tunnel or going over an over pass...the sound is sweet– I think they got the exhaust note right on.

Here's an excerpt detailing our much lauded gearbox:

"To avoid unpleasant rattle from the
gearbox, a dual-mass flywheel is located
between it and the engine. This is a springmass
system and operates in the super-critical
range, thus isolating torsional crankshaft
vibration from the gearbox." (From a pdf on The Mini Cooper S Powertrain by Thomas Bruener, Claus-Otto Griebel, Uwe Hoyer, Andreas Mueller and
Rahim Pour which was posted kindly by some other member that I fail to remember...)

So who knows maybe this super duper flywheel thingie isn't duelie enough to compensate in some cases– who knows. Reminds me of a "harmonic balancer on a 78 Celica I used to have but I'm running out of steam and beer to tell you all about that one...

 

Yeah, Mean boy I think that's about right with mine too.

SB, I'm so glad they don't make the roofs yellow...I've got a BRG too–black with checkerboard roof so I guess it would be hard to be mistaken for a John Deere. I'll half to let my dad know, he's got two of them and the hat to go along with them.

thanks all for the chat, I feel better now

-Jake

 

I have that too... and I've tired walking out of the car to listen and I dont really notice it. Try this. depress the clutch half way and let it out again. that seems to get rid of it untill the next time you depress it all the way and release it again.

 

I had the rattle also and took the car into the dealer. They replaced the clutch assembly and so far I have not noticed the noise anymore. The clutch pedal effort is much lower now and the engagement is so much smoother. Before it was extremely difficult to release the clutch smoothly, now the car is much more pleasant to drive.

 

i had the same problem, took it to the dealership and got a new clutch

chris

 

The clutch is great–very smooth, plenty of travel. No problem launching no slip. The dealer took a look at it and said the clutch is fine. I'm apt to think it has something to do with the design of the transmission having an extra output shaft, because when I put the clutch in and then take it out the noise either goes away or completely subsides so could it be the flywheel losing/gaining inertia? Really guessing here. Anybody got an opinion on how this works...

 

ok so other people have this problem as well. Its rather annoying and sounds like there is something wrong with the car, eventhough some dealers are saying its "normal" for the S. So I guess i will just take it in to the dealer in Morristown NJ and see what they say...


Cheers,
Jonathan

 

When it comes time for my first service I will ask about the noise as well. It's not consistent though...but then again neither was the steering noise I heard before and the dealer changed out the rack and pinion to solve the problem.

 

Mine does it, especially when cold. Depressing the clutch, then release very slowly often makes 90% of the noise go away. Sometimes it may take a few cycles.

The noise (in mine) sounds more like a noisy gearbox input shaft bearing, which leads me to think... If the clutch plate is slightly misaligned, it might place a little side load on the input shaft bearing, causing the noise. When gently operating the clutch, perhaps it allows things to align properly, hence the noise goes away?

Just a thought. Seems harmless to me.

 

Took my car in about a month ago with the same problem (as well as the harmonic balancer ticking). They called to tell me they were replacing the entire transmission on my MCS at less than 17,000 miles!

When I picked the car up 4 days later, the sound was still there - perhaps even louder than before. I took the service advisor out with me and he agreed that he could still hear it. So they entered a "PUMA" into the BMW North America system and I've been waiting for a resolution since.

To add insult to injury, I noticed on the paperwork that they installed a "RMFD Transmission." When I complained about having an old, remanufactured transmission installed, they assured me the casing is the only thing that is used. They said all the grearing and internal parts are brand new, but they re-use the casing as it is very expensive to produce. Any one else smell BS? For all I know they replaced my 17K mile transmission with a 65K mile transmission.

As for the harmonic balancer ticking, apparently I am the only person capable of hearing it, cause every time the dealership tells me they "cannot replicate" the sound.

And don't get me started on the dash rattle . . . .

I love my MCS, but I really hate some of the sounds it makes. It's hard to enjoy the entire sports car experience when you have to filter out all of the buzzing, ticking and clicking going on around you. I am beginning to think the best solution is an ALTA intake and a Magnaflow exhaust to drown out all the other noises!

 

My CAI combined with the supercharger whine masks a lot of noises. I really can only hear it in the garage because the sound bounces off of the walls.

 

It sounds like it may be a good idea to check the pilot bearing. The throw-out bearing will be more likely to make noise with pressure on the clutch pedal whereas the pilot bearing is more likely to make noise with your foot off the clutch.


Let us know what you find out.


Rawhyde

 

This seems to be a constant issue with the Cooper S. I wish that a dealer/MINIusa would come out with some "official" information on how to fix it. Hmm... I guess we just have to wait.

NTHUSIAST is right about all those noises. As time goes on I hear them more and more.

Sept 03 build (2004 MCS) with 25k miles

 

i have a 04 mcs, had the same noise checked during 10,000 mile service. was told this is normal transmission input shaft noise for this model, nothing to worry about some days it's quiet some days it's not ??? i guess time will tell if it's a major problem.

happy motoring, jeff

 

I got my car back this week...new gearbox, flywheel, clutch, etc. and no more rattle, smoother shifts, and smoother clutch takeup. Totally quiet in neutral too so far.

Hopefully it stays that way and continues to get better as it's broken in. :smile:

 

HEY!!! John Deere's are quiet and powerful-sounding. I have a Deere, and that's my riced out ride until I get my mini-- 1 and 1/2 years from now

-Paul

 

I did have my clutch assembly replaced and have noticed that the noise is there just as loud as ever. I will have them look at again next time I go back, hope this time it doesn't take them 15 days to complete!

 

From what I've read the noise seems to be caused by the flywheel (MINIs use a dual mass design) and/or the transmission itself. My service advisor specifically mentioned that there was a lot of play in the flywheel when I picked up my car.