Its been awhile since I have posted here but I really need some info from you hardcore mini owners. My wife has a 05 Mini, bought new from South Bay Mini in the start of 2005.
She really does not drive it much, since she walks to work and I try not to drive it too often for fear of wadding it up or losing my license. Its difficult to drive a mini slow, and I often enjoy finding the limits of tire grip on our fun SoCal roads, if you know what I mean! Anywyay about 6 months ago our mini started making a strange "mechanical" noise which seems like its either the drive shaft, clutch or similar. When you first start the car(it s a manual by the way) and you pull out of driveway in 1st gear, a loud clanking noise is made and you can feel the noise through the clutch pedal. Its coming from low in engine, near the ground, and must be clutch or drive train related. When the car warms up, the noise no longer happens, and it seemingly only happens coming out of first gear. Here is the worst part; took it in to South Bay Mini, told them what was happening and they basically said; yes we agree its making a stange noise and there is something wrong with it, but neither MiniUsa or our dealership knows what it is or how to fix it. They said its a somewhat common issue with Mini and they are currently figuring out what to do about it! They put all this in writing on the service paperwork. WTF. I could not get anyone to tell me what is causing the noise, and MiniUSa gives me the same story every time I call or email them. Does anyone know what this is, or do you have the same problem. Since I do not drive my wifes car much I thought perhaps I would be cool and let Mini resolve the problem, but it looks like I have to get int their face about it once again. Our Mini has 10,500 miles, its like new, and it sucks our cool new mini sounds like a junk yard car. I hope you jedi masters of Mini can help me out. Thanks
I have heard that the brakes calibrate when you first move the car and the clunk noise might be from that. That is considered a normal noise. Also, if you have DSC, it may also make a low noise slow turns, this can be corrected by getting the gearbox oil changed.
Thanks for moving my post, my bad. About noise coming from brakes, I really do not think that could be it. I have been around alot of new autos and know this noise is not normal. Does anyone else have this same clanking noise from a cold start? Thanks.
the ABS does do a self check or something when the car hits around 10-12mph for the first time after being switched on, its a clunking noise and should only happen once after switching the engine on i do believe
whether thats it or not i dunno, it was just for your info
Thanks for the relpy but I am sure that is not it. Imagine you start your Mini in your driveway, put it into 1st gear, let out the clutch, and as you pull away from a standing position, you hear and feel a large "clucnk" noise from the bottom of engine, seemingly from transmission, clutch or drive shaft. Once the car warms up, it no longer happens. But if you park it and then come back to drive it again, you will hear the "clunk" from a parked position. So I think the ABS it is not, but good to know. What really ****es me off is the lack of info and response from both my Mini dealer and Mini USA.
No, it isn't. We have a large audience and there is no need for people to be offended by someones language. Because of this we remove certain words just to keep it clean. You will find that most forums do this if they are well moderated.
Oh, and with the asterisks there, we get the point.
I just meant that is pretty wild you actually have that programmed into this forum. Whats really funny is the word that got deleted is really such a common one, means your drunk in the UK!
But more to the point, am I the only MINI owner with the said mechanical issue? That is a bummer, I thought for sure I would be enlighted by someone.
Does it only do it once each time you start it? Or does it continue until the car warms up. If it is only once per start, I think it really may be the ABS check. The ABS check you can feel as well as hear and I remember it was a bit disconcerting until I got used to it.
renault, If it is the ABS check, wouldnt the MINI have made those noises from day 1? We drove the car for about a year before we hear any starnge noises. And its sounds so "wrong", the mechanical noise, I have a hard time believing its supposed to work that way. Would you consider the ABS check noise to be "clunking" in sound, and pretty loud? Thanks
The noise is definitely loud and it is a clunk/thump that you can feel...
I just wonder if you maybe didn't notice it at first...my car made weird creaks, smelled bad, right off the bat, that I probably didn't even notice the ABS thing until a few months later. When I noticed that noise I went on here did a search a determined the noise was the ABS. When I have un-initiated passengers, they always comment...what the heck was that? (It sounds serious). Even with my radio on loud, I might not hear it but I can definitely feel the check.
Could you possibly take it to the dealer and have them go with you on a test drive and have them point out the the ABS check...that way, you could rule it out.
So the ABS thing is a very lound "clunck" noise that makes you think your Mini is broken? Really? Did your Mini do this sound from Day 1? Our Mini only started making the sound about 6 months ago, before that it was silent. The thing is I took it to the dealer, told them it makes a loud noise at start, and they told me yes they agree but they do not what it is? Is the ABS noise you speak a common fact with Mini dealers, cause mine did not offer that cause up as an explaination? Do you know what the ABS is doing to cause this? My last car had ABS but was silent. Thanks for all the info.
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