Sooo...How rattly is your R53?

[Justin Cyder]

My '55 is a bit of a shocker really. In the last week, I've suspected that I need to do a rear end suspension rebuild only to discover that the clunking is from the rear seat back catch. Fixed that with a bit of electrical tape.

Then a rattle from the headlining literally above my left ear piped up. Fixed that by inserting a bit of insulation in between the roof & the headlining. Have you seen it? It's literally cardboard held in by the roof trim.

Then the seatbelts started squeaking. Silicone spray for that. Now the dash is going behind the instrument binnacle. The heater panel & knee braces have recently been sorted - screws worked loose.

All in all, it's a bit of a rattler. To be honest, it has more rattles than Mothercare! Just mine or any of you fine chaps experience this? Still love it though. Best Go Kart I've ever owned.

[Bungleaio]

My 03 cooper s was rattle free when I sold it last week. It was on just under 94k miles at that point.

Is your car standard or have panels and dash been taken apart to change things?

[turbolucie]

No rattles here!

[Justin Cyder]

It's hard to know what's been done before I had it, but it was a pretty standard car. I've done the supercharger pulley & that's about it. I'm seriously considering taking the dash apart to sort out the worst of it. Maybe mine's the exception that proves the rule?

[turbolucie]

Could just be luck of the draw as with any car. My boyfriend bought a mk5 Golf recently and it had a squeaky dash. It was sold within a few weeks as he couldn't fix it and it was so annoying. I empathise!!

[JD]

Am I the only one whose glovebox opens itself over bumps?

[Automental]

JD said:

Am I the only one whose glovebox opens itself over bumps?

We had that. Common problem I believe and cured with a new catch.

[mike9009]

JD said:

Am I the only one whose glovebox opens itself over bumps?

My mate had the same issue. I think MINI eventually replaced the whole glovebox under warranty!!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mine used to do it. Fixed using rubber pads (supposed to be for furniture on wooden floors) under the catch.

[mneame]

No rattles here. Glove box only pops open when there's too much junk in there. Once I've taken some of it out it's fine.

[scotty_d]

Our 53 S is not to bad get a horrid squeek from the passenger seat belt when cold when warm in the cabin it goes away. lol

[Challo]

My 2002 R53 is quite bad. The front seats squeak with any type of movement, but the dashboard is the main issue. The plastics are very hard and seem to make a noise/rattle on every bump in the road. I was thinking of taking it apart and trying to limit the rattles but worried i will just make them worse.

[si_xsi]

scotty_d said:

Our 53 S is not to bad get a horrid squeek from the passenger seat belt when cold when warm in the cabin it goes away. lol

mine did this too. just turned the radio up or press the loud pedal

[Defcon5]

If you can hear the rattling above the whining you are doing it wrong!

-17% pulley
GRS intercooler
Dave F intake

= aural pleasure