Hi everyone, I´ve been driving my car for five days now and everything is working fine, but I´m a little concerned about the smells.

I know it´s normal for new cars to smell a little like "something is burning" but the cooper smells quite a bit after I drive it. The smell seems to come from the brakes, like when you drive a car with the parking brake (hand brake in other countries) engaged and don´t notice it until it starts smelling.

The car has 130 Kms (about 80 miles) and I´ve been driving (and braking) carefully (as much as possible in Mexico City where you have to use the brakes all the time).

Should I be concerned? I was also wondering the correct use of the tire pressure button since the car started smelling quite strong after I used it.

Thanks everybody

 

At 80 miles on it you are still burning off production paint and coatings and the like. Wait till you have the 1200 miles on it and start your sniffer up again. How are your listeners?

 

Thanks wwwebb, I know these burning odors are normal, but they got so strong I actually got a little concerned, though I checked the brakes and nothing was smoking.

As far as sounds, everything seems to be fine. The car has a little buzz coming from the power steering, which sounds pretty normal for me, though it´s the first car I´ve heard with such buzz.

Other noises: what I hate the most, a rattle coming from the hatch, but I´m waiting a couple of weeks to see what else comes out before taking it to the dealer to get the little nick nacks fixed

 

After playing bloodhound and sniffing around the car, I was able to pinpoint the origin of the smell. It is coming from from the rear left tire.

What´s weird is that yesterday, after leaving the car parked all day, when I turned the car on it started smelling (even before actually moving and stepping on the brakes). I don´t know if it is something related to the tire pressure control system.

 

My best guess would be that if it was coming from the rear wheel area BEFORE you even moved, then it is most likely a smell coming off of the exhaust system. This should burn off over time and you should be fine.

Enjoy the sweet new ride and watch out for all those little green bugs!

 

The steering noise is normal as well. Most noticeable at ATM's :smile: If you wish to get technical, I'm not the one, but you can search as you'll find plenty on it! Best of luck!

 

>>After playing bloodhound and sniffing around the car, I was able to pinpoint the origin of the smell. It is coming from from the rear left tire.
>>
>>What´s weird is that yesterday, after leaving the car parked all day, when I turned the car on it started smelling (even before actually moving and stepping on the brakes). I don´t know if it is something related to the tire pressure control system.
>>
>>

Hey meheecominime! Congrats on the new car.

I have my doubts as to the smell coming from the left tire being exhaust. If it's an S, maybe - but the Cooper runs the exhaust down the other side, so if it were the muffler, it should be on the passenger side that the smell is coming from.

It probably doesn't have anything to do with the tire system either - that's all electronic using the ABS sensors.

Even if it's an S, I'm not sure it is exhaust related. Check under the car and see if anything is touching the exhaust, wheel, etc. I also might give your dealer a call, just to ask if there may be a problem.

Does the car pull at all to one side? That may indicate an adjustment is needed on the parking brake.

It's always difficult to diagnose a car over the internet, so again, I would suggest getting it checked out.

The power steering noise is because that little bad boy pump is electric - totally normal.

The rear hatch rattle can usually be fixed by rubbing some good lube on the hatch side of the latch - axle grease or some such viscosity.

Hope that helps a little - and sorry if I trailed off there a bit, I was thinking out loud. Give me an e-mail or call if you have any other questions.

Randy
randy@mini-motorsport.com
720-841-1002

 

Thanks a lot Randy,

The car doesn´t pull to the side, I will check underneath to see if anything might be rubbing against the muffler. Now that I think about it, it could be the spare tire cover rubbing against the muffler.

I asked my dealer about it and he said it was normal, that the smell should be coming mainly from the exhaust and muffler. The brakes also make those weird smells and its supposedly normal. He told me to wait a couple more weeks or after I reach 500 Kms, if it still smells then I will take it.


I´ll put some grease on hatch latches. hope that eliminates the rattle, it is very subtle but I can´t stand rattles, I already have quite a collection on my other car