When my 04 S accelerates or de-accelerates I hear a metal "ping" noise from the left front. I have H Sport Springs with a H Sport Rear Sway set on the middle setting. Could this be ball joints (happens when weight shifts) or drive shaft issues? This usually happens in first to second and then back down.

 

Had to replace upper strut mount and flatten upper strut tower due to bulging. However, I still drove 30 yards from the dealership and original noise returned. Two trips and now I will have to take in again.

 

You may get more responses with more of a description of the noise. It pings only once? can you do it when you jab the brakes at low speeds? do you here it when you enter driveways a little fast? The better the description, especially the actions the cause it, the better.

Without more info I would guess front control arm bushings or worn engine mounts/ engine movement causing contact.

 

When starting from a dead stop, when the weight shifts the ping is heard from the left front wheel area. Then when shifting into second again it is heard when there is a weight shift. Doesn't happen when going into third or higher gears. Then when to car slows and again the weight shifts it's heard again but usually between third to second and second down to first.

 

I have the same issue with the Click, click sound. And the exact same H-sport set-up, though with added camber plates and M7 STB.
Mine happens in forward and reverse.


Someone over at MINI2 mentioned the Motor mount thing. If this is the case, shouldn't the click happen while just revving the engine?

I get a chance to check it out this weekend and post what I find.

 

Check your motor mounts!!

I had the EXACT same thing happening (only on my right front) and my motor mount had failed and had actually started leaking hydraulic fluid which got on my belts too!

Try this... find a strip of road long enough... take your MINI to about 4500RPM in 2nd and then dance on the accel for a yo-yo kind of effect. If you hear a ping at letting off and pressing on... then my guess is it's a motor mount.

 

I have a similiar problem. Mine is more of a metal on metal thump instead of a ping. Low pitch sound instead of high pitch. It does seem to me that it may be a suspension problem but I'm not familiar enough with mechanics to know for sure. Here is the thread I started on it. link I plan to drop it off at the service door sunday and let them keep it until they get it fixed. It's an out of state dealer. The good tech will be in next week. If and when they do get it fixed I'll post here what they find.

 

Replaced left half shaft under warranty.

 

Was your noise a single ping, or did it continue to make noise until weight was shifted again?

Glad you got it fixed.

 

Single "ping" until next weight transfer both up shifting and down shifting.

 

So the noise wa from a CV joint?

 

Replaced 31-60-7-514-479 RMFD Output

 

Are you going to make me look that number up?

 

Yep, 'cause they told me it was a half shaft as stated above.

 

Silly me