Clicking noise, driver's side, getting worse..

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Hi all,
Have been trying to locate a low pitched clicking noise that seems to be coming from the drivers side wheel arch area.
Initially it was present when accelerating/decelerating at low speed (stop/start traffic scenario) and sounded almost like a light switch being turned on and off.

Dealership investigated and found play in the seat rails which they replaced but the problem persisted.

Over the weekend I've now heard the same clicking noise but in rapid succession when driving over very rough tarmac at a low speed.

Anyone have an idea of what this might be?
Doesn't sound like a shock absorber knocking, seems possibly more like a CV joint noise to me but can't be sure.

Doesn't happen when I drive it like I stole it, clicking noise only occurs at low speed.

Cheers, Geoff.

[*Vikki*]

hmm lots on here now asking this question, have a search my guess it sounds like lower steering spindle, or rack going?

[minicabrio]

Had the same problem on my Cooper - well it sounds like the same problem.

If you're sat in traffic, every accel/decel movement produces a click?

Barons diagnosed the fault as a driveshaft within about 30 seconds of me demonstrating the fault - car was booked in, driveshaft replaced under warranty and the click never returned.

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Had the same problem on my Cooper - well it sounds like the same problem.

If you're sat in traffic, every accel/decel movement produces a click?

Barons diagnosed the fault as a driveshaft within about 30 seconds of me demonstrating the fault - car was booked in, driveshaft replaced under warranty and the click never returned.

Hi,
Thanks for the heads up on this, I did a bit of searching of the forums after my post and found that several people have had the same symptoms and a drive shaft replacement has cured the problem.

Thought I was hearing things until driving over some rough tarmac 2day and hearing it a lot.

Will call workshop 2moro morning - thank goodness I found a good one I can walk to and took out that Mini extended warranty (as mine expired 1 week ago )....

- supercharger whine.......supercharger whine.......supercharger whine..

I wonder if they can revoke the extended warranty?
I do love this car, incredible design and a smile on my face every time I drive it but it's just silly how many "little" things constantly need attention..

Is it BMW engineering or where they're assembled I wonder..

Cheers, Geoff.

[baskers]

Sounds like a wheelbearing - so get them to check that too. That's what mine was.

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Update..
They went right through the driver's side suspension and finally.......yep it's a drive-shaft issue..

*loody Cooper S, it's only done 17k!!

Supercharger Whine...........Supercharger Whine............

[MINIMANIAUK]

and they replaced a seat rail first? sound like my plumber ; after a sharp intake of breath "you need a new boiler" ; One day I might actually need a boiler so far not!

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by drainaudio (original)

Update..
They went right through the driver's side suspension and finally.......yep it's a drive-shaft issue..

*loody Cooper S, it's only done 17k!!

Supercharger Whine...........Supercharger Whine............

Good news

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Ok, so now with the new drive shaft installed...............yep, that's not it either (apparently)

So now they are replacing an engine mount also and I have to wait another day..

Oh well, good thing I don't actually need a car to commute etc and I can walk to the workshop.

Looks like I'll be making good use of the extended warranty - *** it.......these cars are way too expensive to have so many silly problems all the time - they can keep fixing it until it's right..
It's done 17,000 pampered miles - barely out of the box..

I love driving the S, it's a brilliant car when it's all working, probably why Mini owners are so forgiving..
I wonder however if the Mini was just a bog standard small hatch how quickly they'd go out of business.

Before I bought my first Cooper in Dec 05 (almost new) I had an absolutely mint 1993 Mercedes 190E, it was 12 years old, purred like a kitten, not a rattle or squeek in sight and other than routine servicing required nothing - then I got into Mini's and between the Cooper and the S I've never visited a workshop so often

Cheers, Geoff.

[M111 CGC]

Are you sure there's not someting simple like a stone stuck in the tyre tread? When I first put F1s on my Cooper S I had a clicking sound which was some gravel stuck in the deep tread and clicking each time the wheel went around.

Chris

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote: Originally Posted by M111 CGC (original)

Are you sure there's not someting simple like a stone stuck in the tyre tread? When I first put F1s on my Cooper S I had a clicking sound which was some gravel stuck in the deep tread and clicking each time the wheel went around.

Chris

????????
A stone in the tyre tread would cause a click every single time the wheel rotated and would increase and decrease with the speed of the vehicle.

These are not the symptoms I'm experiencing but thanks for the suggestion

[adamnichol83]

I had the same problem, it was the flywheel!!! mini use dual mass, i chaged for a solid one and never heard it again

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote: Originally Posted by adamnichol83 (original)

I had the same problem, it was the flywheel!!! mini use dual mass, i chaged for a solid one and never heard it again

That's a different clicking all together - "gear chatter" is the term I believe.

Clicking on driver's side when accelerating is generally down to either a bad engine mount or driveshaft - I'm on my 2nd of each at 28k.

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by BRG/Blk Cooper S (original)

Hi,
Is it BMW engineering or where they're assembled I wonder..

On the Gen 1 Mini's I think it may be mostly the Rover engineering parts of the design but financed by BMW. Legend has it there was a last minute effort to upgrade the quality once it was known the Mini was to be launched as a BMW product rather than a Rover. However Rover did engineer in a lot of the 'character' and 'quirks' that most Mini owners love and forgive it for!

[Keano]

Check the wheel bearings as I had a clicking noise on mine which went after changing the hub