[jpwolfe31]

Looking for some guidance here.

In Sport Mode, with a a 6 spd, when decelerating in 2nd or 3rd by letting the gas off, there is a metal flapping noise (3 or 4 times) coming from the rear underside of the car. It only happens in Sport Mode but is consistent. It sounds like something is loose or not connected.

Do others have this as well?

 

[C2XFF]

Are you sure it's not the exhaust 'popping' on the overrun???

 

[siriuszero]

That was my first thought too.

If it is only doing it in SPORT mode and only when you let the gas off real quick, it is most likely the good ol' "pops and burbles" which are just part of SPORT mode - a kind of fun feedback that's engineered into the Cooper S.

 

[jpwolfe31]

I have a Z4 turbo that makes the pops you describe. This is more metallic sounding (like small clanks or rattling metal). My first thought was perhaps an exhaust flap not operating correctly. However, not sure what this car has in that regard.

 

[Jonathan]

Looking for some guidance here.

In Sport Mode, with a a 6 spd, when decelerating in 2nd or 3rd by letting the gas off, there is a metal flapping noise (3 or 4 times) coming from the rear underside of the car. It only happens in Sport Mode but is consistent. It sounds like something is loose or not connected.

Do others have this as well?

Are you sure it's coming from the underside of the car and not the engine bay?

If it's coming from the engine bay it could be your air intake. If not seated correctly, when you let go of the accelerator something like the air filter could be moving when the suction is released... or something along those lines... It's a bit of a stab in the dark but the clue is that you can replicate it when you release the throttle

 

[jpwolfe31]

Good idea. I will see if I can isolate it further in the driveway.

 

[siriuszero]

Not using cheap, regular, non-premium gas are you?

 

[jpwolfe31]

Using premium. I tried to reproduce the sound in the driveway with no success.

I was listening to car talk today and someone with a fuel injected Alpha had "metallic jingle" sounds coming from his car when he let off the gas in 3rd. Click and clack said it was just backfire, and depending on the car and exhaust, sometimes backfire sounds metallic.

I have to assume this is what we have, and that it is normal. Still interested in hearing if other cars make the same noise though.

 

[Jonathan]

Show your mini service guys, get them to sit in the car with you when you reproduce it and they will confirm whether it's normal or not.