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MINI Club Of WNY -> Garage -> Phantom grinding noise
Post Info TOPIC: Phantom grinding noise
Whistler


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Phantom grinding noise
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Hi all,

I purchased a used '03 JCW about a year and a half ago.  Have taken it over to Towne for some repairs while still on warantee (had the typical '03 power window problem which they fixed very well), but have had mixed results with other issues so am looking for a Rochester service station with Mini experience.

I asked Towne to look into a problem I have been having and had some issues with their diagnostic ability.  At low speeds I get a grinding sound that appears to be comming from the front wheels (sounds like bearings not brakes to me, but I'm no mechanic).  I left the car at Towne for a week while I was out of town and all they were able to tell me was that they would have to replace the tires (to the tune of close to $800) before they could even tell what might be wrong.  Now these are factory run-flats that, at the time, only had about 10,000 miles on them.  I was getting no problems (other than a slow leak) or any vibration at speed.  Also don't know why they couldn't have just put on a set from one of their demos to check if there were a bearing problem.

Bottom line is that I still hear the grinding noise periodically, though I haven't been driving the Mini much with all the salt on the roads (have an old Subaru that I use as a winter beater).  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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SPDinNY


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craigs autometrics is your best option. Second would be Ekstens

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TrixieinNY


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(Craig's and Eksten are both in Rochester)

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nicole

Bruto: 07 S PS/W, Alta 19mm Rear Sway, Einkei Wheels, Driving Lights (VIP Custom Parts bracket & Hella 500's), Alta Short Shifter, Stratmosphere coilovers, VIP Custom Parts CAI & Strut Bar

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Venno


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I had a kinda of rubbing noise once and found it was just the way the runflats wore in... Does it sound like a Mechanical Grinding? How many miles do you have?

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Venno

DS w/DS '06MCS-17%/Alta CAI/Detroit Bypass Valve/Alta Air Diverter/Schroth Rcng Hrnss/CF Uber Scoop/Alta 19mm Sway Bar/Irlnd Cmbr Plt/Team Dynamics ProRace 1 17" Anthracite Rims with Jerzee Plts and a Gray-Scale Czech roof flag
Whistler


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Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll look up Craig's when I get a chance and see if I can schedule something.

I just want to say that I have no problem with any actual servicing that Towne did on my Mini, it is just that they are a little far away for a "checkup" and I got frustrated with them not being able to give me a good explanation of why the car is making a mechanical grinding noise (I'm now up to around 21,000 miles - not too bad for a used '03 though). The folks at Towne are very professional, and I hope to someday get them to detail my Mini as well (unless there is a place closer to Rochester that folks have had success with). The previous owner had a friend who was learning the trade detail the car before it went up for sale and he butchered it a bit.

I'd love it if this would all go away for the price of a tire swap, but fear that it might be something more serious. I'd hate to be out on a long trip and have one of the axles break or something.

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Venno


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21000 miles! Nice!! Well with such a low mileage i doubt that it could really be anything mechanical (like bearings differential or anything) and the fact that you just hear it at lower speed does point to the the possibility that it could just be a sympathetic vibration from the tires which is showing itself as more of a grinding noise (I've had it).
I'm a bit out of the rochester area right now, but see if there's another MINI owner in Rochester who wouldn't mind letting you try on 2 of their tires (winter or summer*)..then see if the problem goes away..If it does then you know you need to get a new set of tires...and testing it like this will only cost you a few beers...maybe dinner and you'll make a new friend...


Btw Im a huge fan of  Click and Clack...They always amaze me with their automotive prowess and finding soultions to wiered problems...Try them aswell....they may be able to help




-- Edited by Venno at 02:39, 2009-02-26

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Venno

DS w/DS '06MCS-17%/Alta CAI/Detroit Bypass Valve/Alta Air Diverter/Schroth Rcng Hrnss/CF Uber Scoop/Alta 19mm Sway Bar/Irlnd Cmbr Plt/Team Dynamics ProRace 1 17" Anthracite Rims with Jerzee Plts and a Gray-Scale Czech roof flag
Mitch


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The $800 for replacing tires is probably to replace them with run-flats. Are run-flats important to you?

Check out the marketplace on NAM too you could pick up a second set of wheels with run-flats for that price or just some tires in some cases.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/marketplace/showproduct.php/product/2153/cat/all


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