hi, just got my 02 mini cooper S 2 weeks ago, its at around 35000km. A totally different experience than my previous car. Anyway, i heard a lot of noise from the car. not sure if its normal or not. Want to get some info before i bring it to a dealer to check it.

when i change shift, i heard some crank noise from the gear box or something. its kind of loud to me. also when i trying to let go of the clutch while shifting gear. its has noise from the clutch as well. is it normal?

there's rattle noise on the right size near the glove box area and rattle noise on the tachometer.

after a while of driving, i have my engine still on while the car is stationary, on neutral, there's a "dak dak dak" sound coming from under the car. is that normal?

oh 1 more thing, there "rrrrrrrr" noise when i step on the brake too.

please give some info if possible. thanks a lot

 

Without actually hearing it and trying to deciphering your explanation, I would guess that someone (previous owned) was riding or maybe abusing the clutch.

It sounds like your clutch “throw-out bearing” is worn (from placing one’s foot on the clutch pedal when the clutch is in the “out” position (engaged). This will result in a constant noise when the clutch pedal is released. This is not fatal, but more of an annoyance. Combined with this symptom, the “someone” may have not known how to properly use a clutch and most likely prematurely worn the clutch plate down, so that when you push the clutch pedal in to shift, it is not fully disengaging which results in the gears doing a bit of grinding. I would take it to a trusty mechanic and most likely replace the clutch & throw-out bearing.

The various rattles are something you will have to trouble shot to eliminate.

The “dak, dak, dak” could ether be coming from the engine compartment, or a hole in the muffler….more info needed.

As for the “rrrrrrrrrrrrr” when stepping on the brakes, either worn brake pads, or a warped brake rotor.

You need to have the car looked at by some one that you trust who also knows something about cars.

Good Luck.

 

wow, is it expensive to replace the throw out bearing and the clutch?

do i bring it to a trustly mechanic first then to the dealership? or go straight to the dealer ship?

please advice. thanks

 

If you know a mechanic that can do the work, take it there, let him/her listen and drive the car then give you a price quote.

Then take it to the Dealer and do the same. See what each one charges and decide how you want to proceed. This will give you an idea as to what everything will cost.

Most of the time …… a Dealer will charge you more as they will replace every nut and bolt (whether needed or not) as they have to cover their work under warranty and it is in “their” best interest to replace everything. This is understandable and normal practice. You should also benefit in that if the work is not satisfactory, you have some legal rights and can take your complaint to Mini USA.

An independent mechanic will usually charge less and is more apt to “work with you” hopefully only replacing parts that really are essential. He can advise you as to what is critical and what is not if you have limited funds. A reputable one will also stand behind his work.

A good Mechanic is like a good Doctor….if you find one that you like and can trust, stick with him.

I would guess (and this is only a guess) that a new clutch, throw out bearing, new set of brake pads, and reconditioned (turned) rotors, plus labor would run around $600 or more. But again……I am only speculating so before you get depressed……find out what is actually wrong with the car.

 

If you hear a clunk between 1st and 2nd many of us have had that from day one and has never caused anyone one problem and I drive hard on street and track.

The rattle, “dak dak dak” and “rrrrrrrr” I can’t help you with because my MCS doesn’t rattle, dak dak dak or rrrrrrrr, it just screams.

 

thanks for the quick respond
yea, it usually happen in the 1st and 2nd gear

also my car is still under warranty, mini will not do it for free?

please advice again
thanks

 

I should have asked………………..if it is still under warranty, just take it in and let the Dealer fix it!

 

That noise is normal and do not worry about it.

 

The "throw-out bearing" noise is not necessarily due to wear-and-tear. Present in brand new MINIs also (many NAM threads on this). Plenty of controversy if it is normal for the Getrag gearbox (it is a Getrag on the '02 MCS, isn't it?) or is a design/mechanical fault in need of repair.

 

where are u located?

im havin' mine replaced under warranty!!

 

i am from vancouver canada

made an appointment to have them check out the car tomorrow

hope they will change the stuff that went wrong for free

 

just tell them, that noise was not there when u bought the car!!!! do u have a lot of miles on ur's. warranty covers it here in de states (VA) till 30k i've been told it would not be covered but took it to the dealer i bought the car from and they will cover it...they said its not normal but might come back....i dont care if it comes back as long as i did all that was possible.
*******good luck********

 

not really a lot of miles
only 34000km
i think the warranty are 4 year/80000km
so i think i am still under warranty
will tell them all the stuff that seems to went wrong.
hope they will change a new parts for me for free
haha
thanks for the advice,

 

Hey sndwave, what is the reason for the 'cachunk' from 1st to 2nd (and not in other gear changes)? Thanks!

 

no problem!! keep us posted on ur adventure..................

 

got the car to the service to today
first thing, GREAT SERVICE!!!!!!
they have someone with a list and go test drive with me to see what's wrong with the car and where's the noise coming from.

they said the 1st , 2nd gear thing is normal all mini from 2002 to 2004 does that.
They replaced and installed additional truck buffers to prevent rattles from trunk.

they installed felt tape on leading edge of sunroof to prevent rattle from sunroof.

they going to change a new tach for me cuz its rattle, ordered parts.

going to change the flywheel thing cuz its rattle from engine at idle. ordered parts

when parts came in, will go change the stuff and they said it will stay overnight, so i will get a loaner back.

but yea, excellent service!!!!!

thanks again for the advice guys!
oh btw, if u know any problem or noise i should be take care of. please let me know so i can tell them next time when i go in.
thanks

 

Please let us know if this makes any difference...and if possible, post the exact part that was replaced. Thanks. :smile:

 

sure thing.
btw, what is a flywheel? does it cost a lot of money?

 

HowStuffWorks

 

wow, great site!!!

 

hi, its me again, got some question to ask......

now its close to winter time. its hard to get the engine to start in the first time, but 2nd time is ok.
i heard its common on all the cooper
but i will tell the dealer and see what they can do.

another problem
when it start in the cold. and i start to drive it. there's a shaking???or don't know how to describe it. the feeling is like i have a flat tire. but after a while of driving.(like a few kms) the problem is gone. anyone has this problem?

btw, still waiting those parts to come in, should be here next week. i found out that they have a cooper S convertiable as one of their curtency car!!!!!! hopefully i will get that when i have my tach and flywheel fix.

thanks

 

could the shaking be hard idle?? and not really shaking from a suspension or tyres.... i've had mine 2 winters now and old man winter is really hard on these cars it does seem to make more noises till it gets warmed up.....make sure ur waiting a good while after water temp. reaches hot level cuz ur oil takes longer to warm up! an oil temp guage is a good 1st mod.....

 

oh, so does it mean its normal?
just need to wait the car to warm up before i drive away?
cuz i waited already, its doesnt feel it when the car is in idle. but it happens when i drive it.

 

well u really dont have to sit and wait for it to warm up u want to drive it at low speeds till water temp. gets up to half way on temp. guage then wait mayb another 10 20 minutes till oil gets warm enough(oil heats up slower than ur water/coolant does) to work properly then diagnose ur problem, but it sounds like u have somethin' funny going on, take it in to the dealer and let it sit over nite and explain to them ur issue......i remember my ride beign rough in the winter at first start till it got warm enough to feel smoother/ dont take my word for it bring it to de dealer

as for that hard start 'Syndrome' theres software upgrades for that (since ur mini is a O2' build) tell them u know about the software upgrades if they dont comply, but to this date it has not worked on my ride. as soon as it gets cooler it comes back so far i have version 41 on mine and it still exhibiting some what those types of symptoms not as much but still there, a bit not as bad as it use to b

 

well, the parts came in, i will have my flywheel and my tach replace tomorrow, will let u guys know what happen.

btw, does the 2002 mini S have those window closing function using the button on the key? like when u came out from the mini and find out that your windows hasn't close yet, u press and hold onto the button from the key and the window will close? i think the newer models has this function not sure if the 2002 one has it or not, cuz i tried, nothing happen.