hi all,

i have owned my 05 facelift mcs since march 2011. it now has 30,000 miles on the clock.

recently a few things have cropped up and not sure if they are major, minor or common.

1st thing - when i pull away there is a creaky / rubbing noise, not sure where it is coming from, sounds like the front. already had the engine mounts replaced to fix a previous knock. this is particularly evident soon after starting up or on hill starts. worried this could be a clutch problem or brakes maybe ?

2nd thing - when sat in traffic is it normal for the engine heat to go up to 100 - 110 (normally sits on 90 when running along freely) the fans kick in but this dosn't cool the engine but does keep the temp static at about 100-110. again is this usual on the mcs or should i be concerned, all water levels etc seem fine.

3rd thing - more recently after about a 30 mins to 1 hour (about the longest journey i do) when i then sit in neutral the idle speed seems to drop and sounds like it is going to stall (think the cpu prevents it stalling) i give it a little tap on the juice and it seems ok again. someone said it might be the idle valve. again - is this serious / expensive to correct ?

last thing - for some reason the passenger door wont open from the inside and although i dont have manay passengers (as the wife dosn't like the "bumpy ride") is still quite frustrating and embarresing when i do have one that they have to open the window and open from the outside. the handle seems fine - any ideas ?

all this seems such a shame as i had a cooper for 3.5 years before the cooper s and the only thing i had to replace was 2 tyres.

i love the speed and look of my s, just dont want it to become a money pit !! any cost saving ideas to fix these little things before going to the garage would be very much appriciated.

cheers

Rob.

Hi Rob

the creeky nosie could still be a engine mount or loose/worn bolt i would also consider the front suspention wish bone rubbers mounts or it may be a rubber mount on one of the front struts causing it you could try spraying soapy water or a silicon spray on one thing at a time see if you can narrow it down

my mcs runs about 90 deg and know lots of others that do

i think you lumpy idle is down to heat soak mine does the same when its hot
i think its down to the air passing through the intercooler getting to hot and causing the inlet charge to be to hot messing up the fueling causing a lumpy idle i noticed this more when i had my alta CAI fitted soon as i got the car moving or blipped the throtal it was fine so i dont think is a problem i dont tend to notice it now i have a bigger intercooler and differnt air intake system
your door problem sound like the link cable so have a look at this link the guy has a good write up
http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenance-mini-care/161799-mini-inside-door-release-cable.html
hope this helps :-)

thanks Marque, all really really useful and reasuring !! i have contacted the garage i got the car from because the creak was there when i test drove it and was supposed to be sorted before pick up.

before you had the upgraded coling system did you dind when sat in traffic the cans would kick in ? thankfully the warning light has never came on.

the cable change sounds complicated , however i have a friendly local garage who's labour rates are pretty good so might get a quote from them to save me mashing my door up !!

again thanks for the advice, i would be interested to know if everyone else's mcs runs really hot when in stationary traffic ?

hi rob
glad i could be of help cable is not that bad to do i think gettting the door panel of is the hardest if you do it take loads of picture as you take it apart and use them for reference as you re assemble
my fans still kick in when it gets hot in traffic i keep my scan gauge diag tool connected so i can keep an eye on temp as the gauge in the car is there to look pritty
another thing as the winter is coming as well you will also get a thing called dragons breath :-) not you but the car:-)
you will get steam from the bonnet scoop when your in traffic and its been raining where the water is avaperating on the engine and intercooler its nothing to worry about first time you see it it might freak you out a little but its ok
anyway enjoy you mcs every time i drive mine it always puts a grin on my face take care

Over Heating maybe the Expansion tank they have a habit of Cracking get a pressure test done on the system.