anyone else frustrated with the small vibrations and rattles that develop on the interior? i am questioning the quality that is put into this car. any feedback?

 

Stiff suspension and hard ride = squeaks and rattles.
Besides BMW built it.

 

To be honest - we really haven't had this problem. Been motoring over a year now - 29K miles - only issue we had very early on was the hatch rattle and that was fixed pronto.... :smile: :smile: But it's a small car - and like 2minis said - stiff suspension & hard ride - so it's almost to be expected.... :smile: :smile:

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

there are other cars out there with the same characteristics that do not rattle this way.

 

Took my MCS in for four rattles, dealer got 'em all out. I'm drivin' like I want some more!!!

 

A lot of my rattles were junk in the glove box and side door panels....and the sun roof issue, but that was an easy fix.

 

>>anyone else frustrated with the small vibrations and rattles that develop on the interior? i am questioning the quality that is put into this car. any feedback?


Get a Lexus.

 

I had a few initial rattles that were easily fixed. Once those were out of the way, I found the quality of the car to be quite good. You will notice, however, that some owners had far more difficult rattles to track and repair....and this I understand can be quite maddening! If you feel another car is similar enough to suit your needs it might be worth investigating....but I'm definitely not parting with my MINI!

 

2002 Cooper CVT, 12.2K miles ZERO Rattles or problems.

MINI IS AN EXCELLENT BUILT QUALITY AUTOMOBILE!

 

>>anyone else frustrated with the small vibrations and rattles that develop on the interior? i am questioning the quality that is put into this car. any feedback?

Rattles? What rattles? Oh yeah, I sometimes hear a soft "rattle" from the removable boot cover behind the rear seat, but given the hard ride, that goes along with the great handling, I'm *amazed* that I don't have any significant rattles. I think the quality is top notch.

 

Good Grief, go to the dealer and get it fixed / turn up the music / maybe a different car would suit you better. When I look at the details I see build quality.

 

03 MCS - 9 months over 10,000 miles no rattles. Drive on the 2nd worst roads in the US!

 

>>Get a Lexus.

Yeah! I was in a Lexus a few weeks ago, and I couldn't believe how freaking quiet it was! I couldn't even hear the engine at all...it was really weird not having that feedback that I'm used to in my MCS and JEEP.

 

Rattles? Throw on an exhaust and CAI, open the windows and wind up the engine to 5000 RPM's...

Rear hatch rattle is extremely annoying, but easily fixed. Just tell the dealer.

 

There is a ton of plastic, a thousand different pieces of it, in the interior ... mine are pretty solid but things like temperature affect it - on a cool morning, something might rub the wrong way 'til it heats up, or goes over the right bump ...

But it's all a matter of perspective: compared to old Mini's (and other BMC cars i drove for 30 years) the fit-and-finish is great! this is particularly true when you look at what you get for the price - no other car on the market gives you all this at close to the price we paid ...
... go live with anything else for a week and you'll find it has it's share of problems too. The way to solve the problems is to throw more money at them: add lots of options or upgrade (ie. Lexus)

The Mini started as an econo-box ... and the new mini is still an econobox, albeit a fun, sporty one ... but don't expect it to be or act like a car costing twice as much.

btw ... my mini's been trouble-free for 23k grin-filled miles ...

 

Squeaks and rattles typically drive me nuts.Even my bmw's had squeaks and rattles, my mini has 17k on it, and occasionally the drivers window rattles a little.But it's a $20k car, not a $40k car.For it's price range it's very well built.I'm very happy with my car. If you really want to hear some rattles I would happy to take you for a ride in my 1979 landcruiser with a soft top.Typically when I get to highway speed there is so much wind noise I can't hear the springs squeaking and the front turn signals rattling, among other things.But I love that vehicle too, for different reasons.

 

My March ‘03 build MCS in 6,000 miles has had multiple chassis, speaker and other interior rattles and dashboard buzzes at high engine rpm. The top windshield molding came loose while at high speed and scared the heck out of me; thought someone was pounding on the roof while speeding along, this required a roadside repair. My biggest problem is my servicing Mini dealer is a 250 mile round trip (only 70 dealers nationwide make service a problem for some). Defective radio display, sub par paint quality on my Chili Red rear bumper, marginal A/C in hot weather, lack of any power at low rpm while exiting my steep driveway requiring I either take a “run” at it or slip the clutch until I get to the top. I haven’t had windshield problems, the stumble or hard starting (I have used Chevron gasoline since day one) or coolant bottle leak, but I have been disappointed in the overall quality of the MCS. The MCS is a lot of bang for the buck and it is a fun car to drive, but the overall fit and finish of my MCS has been less then stellar. I have a ‘04 BMW M3 coupe with SMG scheduled for production on September 12 and will be saying goodbye to the MCS when I take delivery of the M3. I have had very good luck with BMW’s in the past plus the BMW dealer is much closer if I do need repairs and they offer service loaners.

_________________
2003 Chili Red/White MCS, sport pack w/white wheels, cold weather pack, black leather w/anthracite dash, DVD-based Navigation w/OBC, HK sound, MFSW, PDC, rain sensing wipers & auto dim mirror.

 

Squeaks and rattles? Sure.
My fix? A loud exhaust and a very loud and clear aftermarket custom audio upgrade.
These two mods will definitely make you forget all of your other friendly noises.
Quality- well for a $20K car it is about right or better than most cars for me.
I've really got no problems and I live about 25 miles one way from the dealer.(I've gotten MINI service loaners if needed)
My $19K Dodge Caravan was alot worse on quality.

_________________
ALOHA

 

>> ... go live with anything else for a week and you'll find it has it's share of problems too.

A week? Try being married to me for 24 years, this Tuesday...

>>btw ... my mini's been trouble-free for 23k grin-filled miles ...

Just hit 19k yesterday. Another post said it well. I have NO rattles, but if I did, the Magnaflow would fix 'em, and if that didn't work, opening the windows and sunroof, and if that doesn't work, Truckin', or Cosmic Chalrie wouold drown them out.

Ugh, married to me for 24 years. ..

 

What IS in your glovebox? I find that when I have an irritating rattle its sumpin in there......

 

>>What IS in your glovebox? I find that when I have an irritating rattle its sumpin in there......


That's right, so far most of the interior noise in my MINI is coming from the glovebox.

Like Minihune said, just drown out the noise with an aftermarket stereo system and or a loud exhaust like Magnaflow. :smile:

 

I bought a brand new 2001 Dodge diesel 4x4 pickup which I paid $30,000 for and had nothing but troubles with it. The engine was so loud you couldn't have a conversation with a passenger, the seat was 11 way adjustable and none of the positions were confortable. The ride was horrible (very rough even for a truck) and I had problems with the diesel engine which was supposed to be its best selling point. No vehicle is perfect but my MCS is the first car I've owned (the 25th so far) that I love this much. I was supposed to share it with my wife but after the first week I told her she could only drive it on the weekends when I wasn't using it. I have 17,600 miles on it so far and have not had all of the problems so many people complain about. The worst thing thats happened so far is the 2 tickets in the first month I drove it. For all of the people that have so many negative things to say about the Mini, maybe you should trade it in on a Honda. I hear that they are great cars that will last forever. I doubt it will be as much fun to drive. To top my Mini I bet I would have to spend in excess of $35,000 to $40,000 easy. M4, 350Z, A4 turbo, Boxer, TT ect!!!!!
Happy Mini owner.
Dan