Two days ago, after a 900 mls trip on my vacations with my Cooper 2010 non-S (in 3 sections of 300 mls) and waiting for return to my city in 5 days, I began to hear a noise coming from the engine when the car is running on the road.
The noise was metallic and very similar to as if the front brake pad had stuck to the brake disc.
I stopped immediately and I could check that with the car stopped and on idle, the noise was not present. I opened the hood and moved the car in first gear and the noise reappeared. When moving it in reverse the noise is much (much) less audible.
I turned it off and called for help to take it on a truck to my city.
Before they take it, I tried some things:

a) if I start the engine and the car is stopped, the noise is not present.
b) If the car moves forward or backward with the engine off, the noise is always present.

On this second test It seems that the noise is coming from the engine or the gearbox but if I put my ear directly on the valve cover while moving the car without turning on, I can hear a loudy repetitive blow noise.
Engine oil is on the correct level with less than 1300 mls since the last change (oil filter included).
It's really strange, a noise coming from the engine with the engine off and the car moving but the noise is not there with the engine on and with the car stopped.

We are returning to home right now and I'm totally baffled with what the problem could be, if I lost part of my engine or if it's just some new issue to fix

 

Any comments regarding what could cause this issue?
The indy shop where I will take it is closed until next Monday and I don't know if I should try to fix this ...

 

Check the brake shields behind the rotors, they might be rubbing on something, they can get bumped and bent a little from things bouncing up from the road, does not take much.

 

Thank you for the advice.
I will check it

 

What about if i just unplug that solenoid... Assuming i can reach it