As I was getting out of my MCS this evening, I was playing with the lights, admiring how the interior lights fade in/out when you turn them on/off.

I noticed that when I turn on the headlights, there is a soft grumbling noise from under the bonnet. Sounds like an electric moter, and lasts for about 5 seconds. I have the xenon lamps, so I thought it might be the auto levelers, but I hear the noise even when turning on the parking lights.

Has anyone else expereienced this? Is it normal?

Maybe I just need to fill up my blinker fluid tank

 

I have the non-Xenon lights and also hear this. It's normal. I think it is the auto-leveling mechanism warming up, shutting down, and so on. Not positive though. I turned the car to the on position (didn't turn engine over) and off again several times in a row and heard it each time. But, if a little green man with a wrench pops out from underneath your hood, that might be bad.

 

On my VW, sometimes I hear things like the throttle body moving, etc after the car is shut down.

Might have something to do with the adaptive engine management system?

Kind of like a dog spinning 3 times before laying down after you tell it to go to bed. It's just gonna do its little shut down dance by itself. . .

_________________
~Yucca Patrol~

2003 MCS, BRG/W on the truck to my dealer!

"Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement."

 

YuccaPatrol: I have heard both (you'll have your MINI soon ) and it's not the same thing. You're right about the source on the VW. However, the MINI the sound has been correctly identified above as coming from the headlight assy.

 

I guess I am wondering if the sound is just a characteristic sound of the autoleveling headlights or if it is an indication of something wrong?

 

Of course the auto leveling headlights were my first suspicion, but why would I hear the noise when I turn just the parking lights on? Clearly, the leveling motors don't activate until after you turn on the low-beams, because you see lights level a few seconds after they're turned on.

Well, at least it sounds like this is a normal sound, since others are hearing. I am still curious about the exact source of the noise. It merits further investigation on my part.