Plantain,

Your description is similar to the sound I heard. I could hear it with the hood up...on the passenger side. Again, the sound is gone and it was in an instant. I have no good clue what it was. It did start right after my first free service....makes me think the mechanic left a socket or something that I couldn't find and it rattled or knocked against something until it got dislodged and either fell-out or is lodged better now!

 

I have seen many times where a rock gets lodged between the backing plate & brake caliper/rotor....makes a noise like you decribled. Also used to see the same thing in wheel hub caps.
I would say that your noise is gone never to return.....unless you drive on a gravel driveway.

 

Well, I hadn't driven the car in 2 days, so when I drove it last night for the first time, I was rather surprised to hear the sound had completely gone. However, after about 30 minutes, I started to hear it again, but now it's more "muffled" sounding. My theory is that it's something related to one of the belts not getting lubricated. It doesn't come and go suddenly - it tends to "ramp up" in volume over several minutes.

Well, I've only been in for my first oil change 7K miles ago, so I'm quite certain it's not something that my dealer did.

Actually, one of my first thoughts was that it kind of sounded like a pump rattling with less fluid in it - I thought maybe I was low on something, but I've checked all the reservoirs and they are at their normal spots.

 

Yep sounds like a vibration damper. As for putting the microfilter cover on. The 4 tabs just snap in, no screws required.

 

Not sure who this was for, but I did check out the passenger side motor mount and didn't see any liquid seeping like the other guy who posted pictures of this.

We're having a bit of cold rainy weather (yeah, still mild by the rest of the country's standards but unusual for this car) and I've noticed the sound has gone away on its own. I will be monitoring it closely to see if it comes back.

 

has someone ever found the solution to this? I have the exact same sound... its freaking anoying!

 

I definately have a similar sound, and it definately sounds like a vibrational sound. So, I would think something mount related would be the issue. I had my car in once to get it fixed and needless to say the "fix" didnt actually fix it. I think I am going to bring it in again at my service 1 and tell them its still there. I think the suggestion that Barnabas had about it being a vibration dampener is probabaly right. Now if we could only get a dealer to confirm it.

 

I cant beleive no one knows what this is...

I inspected the dampers and they look fine. I would hate to take the car in for a really simple problem.

 

Help me determine what’s wrong with my mini!! Just the other day I started it (cold) and it gave me 3 large knocks (like something was in there!! Is it a gnome?!) I was surprised by that. Then it happened again 3 days later while driving at slow speed. Front right, sounds like it’s in the glove box. Any ideas???
she has 100k miles on her

 

OP last post in 2008. You know a lot of folks change cars more frequently than I do my underwear.

I make unscheduled change though if I crap at the track due to unplanned spin at high speed near misses.

 

Um, thanks? This answer makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Please explain, if relevant, which I think it not.

Its important to me to get an idea of what’s wrong, took Mini to get check engine scan and got ZERO codes. Still have CHECK ENGINE light and knocking noise. This isn’t over.