The passenger side of the engine compartment makes a ratcheting/grinding/burbling noise on cold start up and continues until after a warm operating temperature shut down. On the hot shutdown it continues after the engine has stopped, giving the impression that it might be the electric radiator fan that is failing, since that is the only thing thought to be spinning after engine shutdown. The only other possibility that comes to mind is it could be the supercharger, if in fact, it has residual rotation/spin down when shutting the engine off. Could it actually be the supercharger? If it is the fan, why the noises on cold start up? Does the fan come on when the car is started with a cold engine? Anyone else had this happen. My unmodified 2005 Mini Cooper S only has 13,000 miles on it and has been without a single problem till now. Could the power steering fan run after shutdown?

 

I had a power steering fan replaced last week...they are in a vulnerable spot under the car. Similar symptoms except stopped when the car was off.

 

dealer replaced the power steering fan under warrantee and it apparently corrected the problem and eliminated the noise. Am Happy now.

 

After my power steering fan failed, I reviewed other Mini Cooper websites and observed that this seems to be mentioned quite often. Is this a recall candidate? How many out there have had this problem with similar warning symptoms?

 

There is an issue with earlier models (prior to 2005) electrical circuit not having the capacity and burning out the fan. But since yours is a 2005, I doubt you have the electrical problem. Most likely, something got into the fan and caused it to burn out. You could buy a duct that is installed on MCSa's that routes cool air from the front of the car back to the fan as a protection against foreign object induction as well as a way to cool the fan. I think the cost of the duct is ~$30.