MCS Engine noise when cold

[CC07ERS]

Iam leaving mine with them as the noise is now bothering me big time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2000 post

[Den W]

GULP my car made the diesel noise this morning, will monitor it then it'll be off to the dealers, maybe we should all get together and do a group complaint to MINI and get some sort of recall going.....just a thought

[scotland67]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

I wonder if it is something to do with starting and stopping the engine without letting it warm up. I know that this can be bad for the catalytic converter and maybe the management system gets confused.

My MCS is 2 weeks old (450 miles)... at weekend on Saturday, cold started car to briefly move into garage as was going away in our other car for overnight stay. Then, on Sunday took car out garage for a spin... experienced the "diesel" noise on startup/low revs/first few miles. That's the only time I've experienced this, so yes there is maybe something in the "start/stop without letting warm"?

[m1m0]

Hmm.. I thought that too until we left the car out of the garage one night after a long-ish drive. Next morning we had the dreaded noise, just as bad as ever... so unfortunately it doesn't seem to be to do with starting/stopping without letting the engine warm (in our case at least).

[m1m0]

Oh and forgot to mention, the technicians at the dealership were apparently able to reproduce the noise last time the car went in for some work to be done. They agreed that it's loud and nasty, but are convinced its normal... make of that what you will.

[Purple Dave]

I am convinced it's a temperature thing.

This weekend (warmer weather), I have tried the car from cold and experienced much less noise from the engine.

On Sunday, I didn't go out in the car till the afternoon and it was very warm outside. The car hardly made any noise and after a couple of minutes, it was gone completely.

Coincidence??? I don't think so. Not that it makes me any happier, because it may mean there is no fix.

[CBCooper]

It's defintately a strange one. My car can make the noise first start in the morning, i can drive it for 5 mins, leave it for a few hours, the noise is there from start up. I can drive for hours then come home, leave it for hours, start up, the noise is there. But some days its perfectly fine!? But, it still makes this abnormal noise from day to day every week, I've had the chain tensioner piston replaced and this does NOT fix the problem. My car is back in for the last chance to sort this and a few other problems out.

m1mo, you say the technicians heard the noise from your car and they said it was 'normal'. Did you actually ask them to explain what it was? I'd be inclined to think they dont honestly know and any sane person knows a NORMAL engine is not designed to make any noise other than the standard mechanical clatter we all expect from an engine. If this noise is an inherent design feature how come there is only a handful of us with this noise/problem?
Those videos posted dont honestly convey how bad it is! To actually stand next to your pride and joy and listen to that racket is shocking and frustrating as we STILL have no answer to resolve this. I want to get to the bottom of this for my own sake and for everyone else who has this problem.
Will keep you posted

[m1m0]

The guy tried to explain it - essentially he said it was just a feature of the new engines, all part of the way they work to keep emissions down, etc, etc.

Trouble is we were in a hurry to collect the car on the way to work, having dropped it off to have 12 other issues resolved. As such we didn't have much time to go into it, and I was busy checking that the carpet gap was fixed, the boot alignment was fixed, the boot alarm was fixed, etc.

We did manage to get another R56 Cooper S loaner for an afternoon, though, to see if this produced the noise. It didn't - but then ours sometimes will go for days without making it. Interestingly, it did make the 'growl' when slowing down for speedbumps in 2nd and then pulling away, though.

I guess the bottom line is that we're still no further ahead diagnosing this problem - if indeed it is a problem. But the number of people experiencing it seems to be on the increase. I notice that Paul and Olly have mentioned similar noises elsewhere - see:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...ml#post2975699

...and the post immediately beneath it.

[CC07ERS]

Dont you think the engine has a ticky noise , for a new engine iam not expecting that.

[chipcooper]

My engine has gone a lot quieter now the weather has warmed up. I am taking it back to my dealer tomorrow.I have been very patient but I am starting to get a little bit peed off now The car is lumpy on tick over.I still have the faulty gear box that not only makes a strange noise when gearing down from 3rd to 2nd but also makes a loud rattling noise when ticking over then goes when you put you clutch pedal down! I also have a rushing water sound coming from behind the dash when first started up and over the weekend a strange noise has appeared on the steering.And the final straw was when a friend of mine asked me if it was a diesel Not a happy bunny.I Work in the motor trade and drive many a different car- a lot with high milage!!! but i haven't heard anything as hideous as this!!! I have owned 6 minis one being a 51reg that got bought back for having so many faults but i would say this one has to be the worst one

[stratius]

I just took My R56 into the dealer this morning to check the Diesel noise out and the first thing the technician said was its the "characteristic" sound of the engine!! I ve left the car to have a better look at it and should have an answer within the day. Honestly if they dont give me a good explanation of what the noise I am writing an official complaint to BMW.
Maybe this forum should start this initiative, since so many people seem to be having the same problem, and demand an official reply from BMW. If I wanted a car that sounds like that I would be driving a truck.
Ill keep you guys posted on the findings of the dealer. Do you think this sound has any effect on the performance of the engine?

[Wipeout]

I've got exact the same problem with my Mini (among other problems) and I am now discussing rejection.

They seem to think it is a perfectly acceptable characteristic. I have argued with them, that most reasonable people would consider if a fault with the engine and unnacceptable.

According to the dealer, there technical expert thinks it is due to insufficient oil on the tappets at start up. Which I have then argued is a fault.

Mine happens on cold frosty mornings only.

[stratius]

Just got a call from the dealer and the dont see a problem with it..
They insist that the noise that the engine makes is the sound of the high pressure fuel pump on the injection system. Can this be possible? In other words they provided no remedy what so ever for the sound and practically they expect me to put up with it.
I honesty think we should definately start an official complaint to BMW.

[CBCooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wipeout (original)

there technical expert thinks it is due to insufficient oil on the tappets at start up.
.

They have basically admitted something is wrong. Ask them to give you a complete report on there findings and the exact details as to why there is insufficient supply to the tappets. Also ask them to give it to you in writing that this 'perfectly acceptable characteristic' is no cause for concern and will have no affect on the longevity of your engine.
Rant mode off

CB

[Martin F]

I am not sure what the complaint would be.

So far this noise seems to be just that, a noise. It may not be expected and does not sound good, but is there any evidence that it is a symptom of a more serious problem? If not then I am not sure how far we would get in saying that we do not like the noise our cars sometimes make on cold mornings. Or am I missing something?