1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Weird chink noise in the front

  1. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #10 jeffster06, Aug 27, 2011
    Well I found the source of the noise I've been hearing. It was actually a completely unlikely suspect... It's my front bumper. While doing my oil change I decided lets hit the wheels and see if I can replicate the sound and I did. It wasn't till I moved to the driver side that I noticed the sound coming from the bumper. If I push on the bumper and hit the wheel I wasn't able to get any sound. Guess I'll be looking that over when I play with my lower grill again must have a loose bolt or something in there.
     
  2. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #12 jeffster06, Aug 27, 2011
    I'm just happy that it wasn't anything more serious I already have enough NVH from my engine mounts whats a little bumper noise lol
     
  3. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #2 Crashton, Aug 25, 2011
    Look at the strut tops. Could be they are coming apart. Easy to see from the inside of the bonnet.
     
  4. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #3 jeffster06, Aug 25, 2011
    Those are good too... I recently had a failed attempt at installing some M7 coilovers (tires were scrubbing) the strut tops looked perfect. The noise was there before I played with the struts so reassembly shouldn't be an issue here either. I had a similar noise on one of my 240's before it ended up being the sway bar end links but the ones on the MINI look fine.

    oh and I thought of another way to describe the noise its almost like a loose bolt with a washer on it sound. I have been chasing this for some time now. Finally decided to see if anyone else has had similar noises.
     
  5. grodenglaive

    grodenglaive New Member

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    #4 grodenglaive, Aug 26, 2011
    drop any tools in there? I've lost various screws, nuts, washers, driver bits into the engine bay that never hit the ground. :rolleyes5:
     
  6. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #5 BThayer23, Aug 26, 2011
    I had a loose swaybar endlink that sounded like that.
     
  7. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #6 ScottinBend, Aug 26, 2011
    :Thumbsup:
     
  8. am0eba

    am0eba New Member

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    #7 am0eba, Aug 26, 2011
    I had a similar, hard -to -identify metallic sound from the front end, and after replacing control arm bushings, sway bar mount bushings, etc... it finally went away after getting one of the half-axles replaced... (!!!) at least it was under warranty.

    A less terrifying, but more likely culprit is a failed main engine mount... Look for black goo on the frame near the mount... This was a huge problem with later years of 1st Gen MINIs...

    _Dave_
     
  9. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #8 jeffster06, Aug 26, 2011
    Engine mounts are definitely good I changed them last week my upper spewed it's guts. The axels appeared to be in good shape earlier this year when I changed my clutch... I should have mentioned I've had the car borderline completely disassembled this past year. The noise was there in the beginning and still persists now. But the only time I really hear it is pulling into the drive way, there's a 2 inch or so lip where the concrete meets the asphalt and depending how fast I pull in determines if it makes a sound or not.

    I'll be doing my oil change this weekend I might try to check the sway bar endlinks again. I'll also take a closer look at the axels. Keep the ideas coming though.
     
  10. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

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    #9 quikmni, Aug 26, 2011
    Another item to check, since you had the struts off. Make sure the top shock nut actually tightened all the way down. I had a nut bind up a little bit on a thread so it torqued correctly but was not all the way down. This allowed the spring to move a little on bumps. Mine was loose enough that I could grab the spring and push/pull the spring to duplicate the noise.
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #11 Crashton, Aug 27, 2011
    Glad you have narrowed it down. Finding odd sounds can be maddening. :mad2:
     
  12. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #13 Crashton, Aug 27, 2011
    Yes at least it is an inexpensive squeaker. :Thumbsup:
     
  13. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #14 jeffster06, Aug 27, 2011
    or maybe a cha chinger after all it sounds like change smacking together... It's my MINI's way of letting me know its raping my wallet if I like it or not lol.