I just started hearing a noise this morning when putting the transmission into reverse to back out of my driveway. It sounds kind of like the first time you put on the brakes when they are corroded. I drove it to work with no issues at all...everything seemed fine. At work I tried putting it in the different modes: P, R, N, D. The only mode that contained the noise was R. Also, it doesn't do it while in motion. Only when in R and stationary. I don't know what to think. I am gonna try to drop it off at the dealer tomorrow after work.

 

Definitely sounds like something to have the dealer look at. Keep us posted about what happens.

 

The title of this thread caught my eye right away! I took delivery of a 2006 MCSa on Saturday and am experiencing an annoying low-pitch rattle/vibration ONLY when the car is in reverse. It sounds like something underneath the passenger side forward footwell/firewall area is rattling against something else. It's driving me crazy. The rattle is kind of cyclical (that's the best way to describe the noise), like it goes loud to soft loud to soft but it's a continuous rattle caused by a specific vibration only when the car is in reverse only. It's not a tinny or metalic sound, it's a vibration...I can compare the sound to a car with a very rough idle that makes the window glass in the doors shake...it's that kind of sound.

I don't think at this point it is mechanical defect--the car does move in reverse--but I wish I could pinpoint the source of the rattle (which two parts are hitting/vibrating together) and fix it. What does the underside of the MINI look like--what could it be?

Less than 100 miles and I've got a small list of issues. Didn't expect this on a 2006 model year MINI...

Good luck on having your Reverse issue remedied by the dealer, Weezer! Let us know what they find. I'm going to bring mine in to the dealer in a couple weeks when I pick up the plates.


-boognish

 

My car has several vibrations and rattles and i'm not sure if I have a similar issues.

 

Mine does the same as you are describing. The dealer initially suspects a bad motor mount, however since I have an Alta pulley they are saying they may make me pay for it. They haven't done diagnostics yet cause I haven't given them permission to go ahead and do non-warranty work. I will know more tomorrow.

 

I have the vibration you all are talking about when in reverse too. I also get a nice vibration when idling for a long time in "DRIVE". I think I finally figured out mine though - I think it is coming from the exhaust.

 

How did you arrive at the conclusion that it is coming from the exhaust?

 

A bad motor mount makes more sense (than an issue with the exhaust). I personally would suspect a failed motor mount. The dealer would appear to be taking the position that the pulley install caused the motor mount to fail because the usual process for installing the pulley is to raise the motor up on its mounts - which can stress the motor mount and lead to premature failure of the mount. I suspect that I have the condition as well - on a box-stock 2005 MCSa. I am going to be taking my car in to the dealer next week for a looksee.

 

Until you reminded me of the usual method for installing a pulley I was going to call bs on the dealer for the pulley claim

 

That is actually one of the reasons I have been reluctant to have a pulley installed. The motor mounts on the '05s and '06s fail enough without any additional 'help'. It would be interesting to know how many engine mounts fail AFTER a pulley install compared to failures with no pulley install.

 

I put my MINI in Drive, waited at a stand still for a few minutes (with AC on) with my foot on the brake. When the vibration started, I pulled the e-brake (the noise goes away if I put it in park), went to the back of the car, and traced the noise to the exhaust which was vibrating like crazy.

I went back to the inside, and turned off the AC, and the noise went away.


Keep in mind I have gone to dealership 3 times with this problem, and each time I have left with it unresolved . I told them to check the motor mounts, and they said everything was fine.


When I am reverse, I get a very similar noise, but I have yet to trace it to the exhaust. Maybe I will take a look today.

 

It seems when the A/C compressor kicks in at those low revs it creates a vibration through the car. One mechanic told me that due to the small displacement of these engines that when you hit the brake and engine power is pulled a vibration is sent through the car.

 

I think it *may* be an exhaust vibration issue...maybe coupled with a loose motor or tranny mount?

Anyway, what I did was put the car in reverse so I can hear the odd rumbling noise. Then I'd step on the brake and also give it just a little gas at the same time. As soon as the revs go up, the sound stopped. I'd hold the gas so the revs were constant at like 1200-1500, rather then the ~800 engine speed it seems to be when in Reverse. When I stopped giving gas and the engine speed (in Reverse) went back to ~800, the noise returns.

Also, my car now does the rumble noise in Park at idle. Same thing: when I give it some gas, the noise subsides. So, my conclusion is that maybe this is just some sort of exhaust resonance that only happens at a specific engine speed that occurs in Reverse and in Park.

But I'm gonna take the car in next week just to be sure.

rock on,

-boognish

 

They were taking the position that it could be an improperly installed motor mount from the pulley installation. I've had the pulley on the car for about 13,000 miles though and the car has about 25,000 miles on it. I would think that a failed motor mount would also be noticeable in drive and while driving though.

 

If it were completely failed, I would agree with your premise. However, if there was a partial failure, depending on where the failure occurred, it could manifest in reverse or forward direction. I am going to have the dealer look at my car tomorrow or sometime next week; so, stay tuned.

 

Well I got it back and the vibration and noise are gone. It turned out to be the Fumoto oil drain valve I had installed was rubbing against the power steering fan. I put the engine in park on a hill without the e-brake on and I think this caused the motor to shift and then the rubbing started. The valve was on for quite a while before the vibration issue started. I had previously had troubles with the oil drain plug being over-torqued, which they were aware of, so I installed the valve. They fixed it by notching the power steering fan in the area it was rubbing and the vibration is gone. They fixed it at no charge and I must say Robert at MINI Center San Antonio is a great guy.

 

Just noticed this thread and immeadiately recognized that I have the same problem. Everything described above applies to my car. However, mine is completely stock, so nothing aftermarket could be a cause (it hasn't been touched by anyone - even the dealer - since I took delivery). I now have 2,400 miles on it and would like to get this fixed if possible.

Have any of you been able to resolve this issue?

Thanks,

MJP