My 2nd problem in a week!!! When i start my mcs i can hear this ticking noise coming form the engine, then when i put the clutch down the noise goes away but when i put the clutch back up the noise comes back. I though it might be something to do with my promini intake but i put the orignal intake back and the noise is still there. I am sure its coming from the engine.It only really makes the noise when the car is cold.
Has anybody else had this problem or is it normal, i dont think its normal.
I believe it may be the valves tapping in the cold engine before the oil is able to lubricate them. It seems odd that it goes away when you push the clutch in.
I think that the tapping that you hear has to do with the thrust bearing that resides on the clutch shaft inside the gearbox housing. If the car is still under warranty take it back to them. Usually the fix will be to lubricate this bearing with grease. Has the car got many miles on it? The reason i ask is that these thrust bearings usually start making noises as the car becomes more worn.
Also, as a note, if you have the car idling with all electric off and clutch disengaged (foot off clutch) the noise is present. Now if you keep your foot off the clutch and turn the lights on or rear demist etc the revs should drop and this noise will become more prominent. If this happens, its most probably this thrust bearing.
Another way to check if it is the thrust bearing is to have the car idle again, foot off clutch, and slowly increase the revs of the engine with the accelerator, usually a few hundred revs above the idle point will remove the noise. If this happens, again, look into checking the thrust bearing.
It is in the garage at the moment so hopefully i'll know the cause later. The car has only 4500 miles and is 7 months old. Hopefully the dealer will be able to sort out the problem, if not i'll do your tests and tell the dealer what is wrong.
I'll let you know the outcome.
thanks
My dealer told me that the problem is with the clutch release bearings. They say its common with the mcs and mc. They said that they would get onto BMW Ireland to see if they know any fix for this problem and they'll get back back to me.
Clutch release bearings sounds right. Can you find out what they do to fix this problem, maybe its a simple fix so if others experience this they can repair it them seleves.
Well they said that its not a problem but a characteristic of the car.
But as i said they have got onto BMW Ireland to see if there is a fix for this 'characteristic' and they said it could be a while before BMW get back to them.But as soon as they get back to me i'll let you know.
I have read some other threads and some people have got there gearboxes replaced but i have not heard of the outcome.
Just doesn't sound good enough when some one tells you its a 'characteristic' of the car. Sounds like such a common excuse made by people who don't know whats wrong...i.e: "yeah that blue smoke coming from your exhaust, umm thats meant to be like that, its a characteristic of the car"
Load of crap i think. And when they say, we'll let you know when they give us an answer on the possible problem, you know that they are just brushing you off, which means you'll have to always chase them for an answer. Keep at them all the time though, the more you hastle the more likely they'll fix your car sooner.
If they cannot fix it, i would demand a new gearbox, why the hell would you buy a car that sounds 20 years old mechanically for the price of this car? YOU WOULDN'T!
As you can probably tell, i'm sick of dealers making excuses such as: "its like that from the facotry" or "its meant to sound like that"
I got told the same by my dealer....even tho they are generally really good Glad to read that it's not just me with the problem. I'll get them to look into next time my car's in. If anyone gets a good answer before then keep me posted please
i have a fault simular to this, tapping when i first start engine then tapping noise on acc. and gearbox and clutch feels a bit sloopy. also have a stumble on start off . what u thinks is wrong guys, dealer says gearbox, taken a week so far to get info from head quart for them to give me an answer for what they are going to do to fix it. what should i do ?
yeah thought i was going mad when i noticed this on my 03 cooper! it drives me barmy but well i thought they would think i was mad if i went back to the dealer! also have the funny rustling noise from the seatbelt dispensers over my shoulder, but this is occasional! for such a good car there are a lot of funny noises! mebbe shoulda bought a skoda!
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....even tho they are generally really good 
Glad to read that it's not just me with the problem. I'll get them to look into next time my car's in. If anyone gets a good answer before then keep me posted please 
