[alexandra57]

I have recently privately purchased a Dec '01 Mini Cooper with 35K on the clock. The car drives fine until I accelerate through 70mph when it developes a vibration which I feel through the steering. As soon as I get to 75mph +/-, the vibration disappears and I am able to continue to accerate to higher speeds with no problems at all. It doesn't matter what gear I'm in, the vibration comes each time, right on cue! I have taken my mini to BMW who have had a look and stated that the wheels aren't buckled but stated that it pulled quite badly to the left, and told me to book in for a KDS alignment at a different BMW garage. I booked it in and they took the car but then called me to say that KDS wasn't neccessary unless it had been in an accident which it hasn't. With no KDS done, they too had a look and told me that I had a slightly uneven worn tyre on the front near side which they switched to the back. They gave me the Mini back and were happy that they had solved the problem. On driving home - Lo and behold - the vibration was still there! I have today had my wheels balanced and aligned and the pull to the left has gone, but the vibration is still there but slightly less vigarous. I have also driven without the AC on and its still the same, sadly. PLEASE PLEASE can someone shed some light...........

[Root Ginger]

It's there to let you know when you're about to break the speed limit.

[SiBradbury]

99% of the time if the vibration occurs at a certain speed and you can speed up past the vibration, it's wheel balancing.

Swap your front wheels for your back ones and see if the vibration goes. If there's a slight balance problem on rear wheels it's much less noticable and sometimes disappears completely.

It's not uncommon for the wheel to be seated incorrectly on the balancing machine and the wheel to not balance properly. It happens occasionally.

[tenderidol]

Most likely it is a balancing issue, since it shows up at a certain speed... Sometimes it takes few tries to get it right. In case it may help you, I cut this out from another forum, where the original poster was suffering from vibration around 65 mph: "If you still have a vibration take your car to a shop with a Hunter 9000 machine. Have a road force balance done. Not just a balance. The only way I can get a smooth ride is with a road force balance. Well worth the money."

If your MINI has aftermarket wheels, then you'd need hubcentric rings to be able to balance them right.

Good luck!

[alexandra57]

the front wheels have already been swapped with the back and the vibration continues!