Popping noise near drivers head

[erniefernandez]

I hear a slight but annoying noise coming from the drivers side roof lining. It seems to be just above my left ear, somewhere above the seatbelt post . It's intermittent; sometimes I hear it the entire time I'm driving every few minutes, other times it goes away for several days. It sounds like when your ears pop from a change in altitude, but I know that's not it. It's a 2006 MCS JCW and it has made this noise since I've had the car. I can't isolate where it's coming from. I've tried having my kids ride in the back but they can't hear it and they think I've lost my mind. If I put pressure on the roof lining just above my head by pushing up with my left hand, it seems to go away. I love this car, except for this problem. I can ignore the other rattles, but this one is driving me nuts. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggested fixes?

[Paul]

My short lived 2nd gen MINI Cooper S had a rattle there for a while, but it mysteriously cured itself quite quickly. While it was there, mostly due to the location, it was irritating as hell!

Is your dealer near by, and it is frequent enough to replicate it on a "dop-in" call, so you can see if they can spot it, and book it in properly for work at a later date? (I hate having to be without the car twice for one fault, or for a long time while they "try and replicate the problem").

[erniefernandez]

When I took the car in for it's first service interval I asked the dealer to look at it but they said they couldn't replicate the sound. That's a good idea for a "drop in" call. I may try that the next time I'm in their area.