I wanted to share this post I made on HRMINI about my 2010 MCS Camden. I hope everyone out there will contact their MINI dealer wanting theirs fixed. PS an new one will not fix the problem. They already tried that with mine. Lelane HRMINI Post 9/19/2010 As many of you already know I have taken my Camden to Crown MINI twice now for my AC problem of making a horrible noise. I went to pick it up yesterday and was told that the BMW inspector (or whatever they call him) was there and spent some time on my MINI. Alan the MINI Service Manager said they tested 6 other MINI's and they all made the same noise. However mine seemed to be the loudest. The inspector admitted it was a known issue but they didn't have a fix for it and did not say if there would be any announcement at this time about the problem. He told me that I should receive something from MINI about my AC problem in 60-90 days. And that maybe it would be one of those issues that get fixed by the number of complaints. I did express how disappointed I was with the outcome and I was not going to settle for that's just how it is. I have no intention of having to turn my stereo up loud enough to drown out the noise. Please if you have a 2010 Mini listen to the AC, you can hear the noise escalate with an increase of throttle. Contact your MINI dealer and don't settle for that's normal. The more of us that contact them the better. Hopefully it will push them to come up with a solution quick.
If you are talking about a change in pitch, almost a whine that can be heard with the AC on, especially noticeable when accelerating, then I know what you are talking about. But I also had a 3 series wagon loaner car, and it did the exact same thing, so I figured that all current BMW's and MINIs exhibit this sound..though my R53 didn't. Richard
Easiest way to hear this is to let the engine idle in neutral, and listen (windows closed). Now turn on the AC, and compare. Rev the motor a bit, and you will hear a change in sound. That's what I'm talking about..not sure if the OP is talking about the same thing.
Here is a link from NAM. MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Noise when turning A/C on? It's exactly what mine does. I know 2 people with a 2010 that does not hear this sound too. So that makes it not normal and would require them to fix it. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQFsfH9xKY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQFsfH9xKY[/ame]
Not necessarily.......just because you hear a noise that someone else doesn't does not mean your car is defective. Every MINI is different than every other, due to option difference, tolerances, and so on..... What I heard in your clip was normal noise to me - you might find it objectionable, others might not even hear it. It doesn't mean they have to fix it, cause there might not be anything wrong to fix. Your warranty applies to defects in materials or workmanship, there may not be a defect to fix in your car's case. My A/C does make a similar whirring noise when on, I'm pretty sure it's compressor noise since it follows the engine RPM - it doesn't bother me, and my A/C system works exactly as it's intended..... OTOH, yours might be a compressor bearing that's noisier than most - I'm only guessing here - and maybe somewhere down the road it will fail and they'll repace the compressor. The new one might make the same or even more noise. If you want Lexus quiet, you're gonna hafta buy a Lexus.....
A owner on the other MINI site has now posted that there is a fix for this problem. His car is in the shop right now and MINI is installing some kind of weight to fix/reduce the vibration.
The person posted again and said that the fix worked, here is what MINI put on his receipt. Here' what they wrote up on my service paperwork: INSTALLED DAMPER PER BULLETIN 64 01 10
Just saw this. Mine makes an AWEFUL racket when the compressor first kicks on. After that it's fine. I just thought it was they way they made them. I've never had another A/C compressor make that sort of noise on being lit off...
Mine still works great! I had to give the bulletin number to my dealer but once I did they got it fixed and I'm happy with that. Now I have a horrible kind of knock when it's cold. I feel I just got a lemon and can't wait for the lease to be over. I love my "06 and don't think I will ever get rid of her. She has never had any issues like this at all.
I just got this applied to my mini and am so happy to have gotten rid of that irritating noise. Appreciate the post to help others become aware that there was a known remedy. Sure did make the process easier to be able to go in saying that I think I need this bulletin applied. Sorry to hear about your other problem with your mini.
I have the same issue on my '10 MCS, but I never really thought much about it. It's good to know there's a solution for it though
That is really odd 07-09 MINIs did not have this noise. Wonder if this is a band-aide fix to get a batch of bad compressors out to the end of warranty.
64 50 9 231 714 Vibration Damper..... $94.32 Apparently it's a weight that gets clamped to one of the refrigerant lines. Anyone snap a picture? It's listed in RealOEM but no picture. It's a common fix used on E89 through E92 3 series BMW's where it was originally developed as a fix for their AC noise issues. So we're getting big brother's hand me down fix. Hey as long as it works. Seems kind of strange that a part that's no more that a bolt-on weight would go for $100.00???