[bodinski]

my 12/13 build mcs has always made a kind of clattery knocking sound at idle (barely audible with bonnet closed). it seems to be coming from the supercharger, but it might be a pulley or tensioner. it recently (@ about 850 mi.) developed the belt squeal as well. the squeal is quietest at idle, and builds with rpm. belt dressing makes little difference.

does anyone else's mcs clatter at idle? have you got the squeal too?

i'm calling the dealer tomorrow...

[Kinster]

Are you talking about a certain "chirping noise" coming from a belt or tensioner? I've had this seen to at least 5 times and will be going to get it serviced at again on Monday.

[bodinski]

yes. recently it has turned into more of a cricket-like chirp. today, i took a long screwdriver and pried on the tensioner w/ the car running. it gets quieter if i pry the assembly downward (lengthening the spring), and louder prying up. i suspect that the tensioner pulley's bearing is going bad, and that the clatter is something else...

[Chips]

Re the clatter sound, this could be the gearbox (see my thread on Noisy Getrag Gearbox (sorry don't know how to paste a link yet). When in the car with windows up and engine at idle, listen carefully to the difference in sound when you put your foot on the clutch to disconnect the gears from moving. Clatter goes away.

I thought this, together with the evident gear whine, was a problem, but another new MCS I drove had the same whine (I couldn't hear the clatter - too much traffic).

Re supercharger, my supercharger bearing failed at about 6000 km. Made an obvious rough sort of bearing noise that rose with engine speed. New supercharger was fitted and noise gone.

Chips.

[MiNiGuY]

Could just be pulley tensioner.
The only other time i've know of belt squeel on S is when the alternator is dodgy or the bearings in the charger are dry.

[bodinski]

dealer says the supercharger is the source of both sounds. they ordered a new one & told me it was ok to drive until they can swap it. wish me luck!

[Kinster]

I've currently got a Cooper, and they don't really know what it is. I've been in numerous times for different kind of fixes to the v-belt, tensioner, etc. They're going to replace the alternator belt next week.

[ezrally]

Got the rattle when cold (neutral and at idle)- other cars it would be the throw out bearing as its gone w the clutch depressed.
Also, its louder when cold (10F) and 4.5K miles.
Someone mentioned a long time ago his/her noise went away w a gearbox oil change (he wanted RedLine) and felt it was 1/2 qt low. Maybe I should check it...

[bodinski]

new supercharger installed monday. squeal is gone! the new blower still sounds clattery to me, but it's not as loud as before. now, however, some of the noise seems tied to the clutch, though it didn't before (or i just couldn't hear it above the din). anyways, at cold start, things are pretty quiet. after running a few minutes, things get a little clattery, but, the noise softens when depressing the clutch. but then, after fully warming up, the clutch stops affecting the noise! just low on tranny fluid, i hope?
also, it would seem i have the coolant leak now, as well. there are water spots around the bottle, as well as a strong smell from under the motor. my receipt shows they replaced the o-ring when they swapped the blower.
it goes back in the morning....

[Kinster]

Alternator replaced, the chirping noise has now gone (touch wood).

[bodinski]

i now have the new-style coolant bottle. the tech says the trans. fluid is fine and can't hear the noise mentioned above. it's not very loud, but there's an obvious (to me) difference when the clutch is depressed. sounds like the throwout bearing. guess i'll just wait and see if the sucker falls out...

[Chips]

Bodinski

I have the same noise from the transmission (see message above). Local dealer first agreed that there was a clatter from the gearbox when clutch is out and disappears when clutch is pushed in. Left it there all day a few days later dreading a gearbox change, and the consensus was from all their mechanics that the gearbox was fine. Went for a drive in a showroom car, and gearbox sounded the same although it was hard to hear the clatter above the traffic noise. On my car, I can hear it quite well when in a quiet street. I suspect that all Getrag gearboxes sound the same. Apparently with two output shafts, the flywheel on MCS was made in two pieces that provide some damping between the engine and gears. Could be that this does not eliminate gear clatter in this design but reduces it. Could be nothing to worry about.

My supercharger was also replace (failed bearing) and thankfully no coolant leak. With the screw driver test, my new supercharger also sounds a little clattery but the main noise had gone. The water pump is driven (using reduction gears) from the end of the supercharger so if they replace the supercharger, you can be sure the pump has been off (not to mention the radiator, air cond condensor and the whole front apron).

Chips

[bodinski]

got the squeal again @ 2800 miles. i'm getting tired of the service department...

[michap]

I've experienced the same squealing and bearing noise. My MCS is in for replacement of the belt tensioner assembly.

[bnc]

My Feb. build 2003 MCS has the same engine clatter as you are discussing. It has had it since the first day I brought it home from the dealer. My dealer is 90 miles away, so I am just waiting to see if there is any change in the noise. So far, with 1150 miles on the car, things remain the same. There is a 2002 MCS here in town, and his engine is quiet as a mouse.

[michap]

I wouldn't leave it too long before I had the dealer check it. It's the kind of problem that could leave you stranded at some time in the not too distant future.

[jambo]

I hear the whining noise from the power steering at very low speeds on my Mini but I've put it down to a lack of sound proofing. I've heard this on plenty of other cars when I am outside and they are trying to park so I wouldn't be bothered by it unless the noise is being caused by something else.

Jambo.

[bodinski]

well, i'm gettin a new tensioner pulley on thursday. they say that might be all. how very reassuring..

[bodinski]

new pulley installed (and belt) and all appears well again.