Loud roaring noise while driving?

Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 MINI COOPER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 145,000 MILES
Loud roaring noise while driving which feels like a wheel bearing, lifted all wheels and all are smooth, then placed the car in gear and let the front wheel move and the axle is making a horrible noise on driver side. I see some wear on outer boot but the noise and unbalanced movement is from inner boat so I removed to replace it. Didnt expect this much fluid to come out so am gone drain and fill, mind as well. Need the fluid type, capacity and whether this is just a fill till it starts to spill or another way to fill? And where are the fill/drain plugs plz
Sunday, August 24th, 2025 AT 5:41 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi:

If you look below, I attached the fluid specifications, capacities, and how to determine when it is full. And yes, engine off, fill it until it runs out. Allow it to drain until the top of the fluid is at the bottom of the filler.

Take a look and let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below
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Sunday, August 24th, 2025 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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I removed all calipers and brake pads, all look ok minus a bit of minor rust, all rotate by hand, caliper pins are all ok, I replaced both axles and thought maybe I over tightened the axle so I loosened them a bit, tires look ok, no bumps on any of them. Weird, still making this humming noise which sounds like a wheel bearing, never had a mini that had a transmission bearing issue before. It's really driving me crazy, other than that the car drives great. The wobble that you see in the video also has to do with it am sure, there is no way it doesn't. I am running out of ideas
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Saturday, September 27th, 2025 AT 1:16 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that is a tire or bearing noise, to me it sounds like a carrier bearing inside the transaxle. What does the tires looks like can you please upload an image? I need to see the tire tread. Also, I would turn the car slightly at speed to see if the noise changes if so this will be a bearing hub failure. But like I say it seems like a carrier bearing is out. Thank you for the donation :) it helps.
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Monday, September 29th, 2025 AT 9:22 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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This is the driver side
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Monday, September 29th, 2025 AT 2:34 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Passenger. Also when I replaced the axle on this side I banged up on the center part a bit thats why it looks damaged. I swapped the passenger wheel with one in the rear cause it doesnt look right when spinning. The reflector is broken on the bumper on that side as well as tabs on bumper so I think someone has bumped into something on that side. The tire in pictures is the one that was on front and I switched it to the back
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Monday, September 29th, 2025 AT 3:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It looks like the tires are pretty beat up, I needed an still image of the tire tread, though when the tires or moving they don't look round at all, especially the one on the drivers side. I don't hear the noise though which would be normal without the weight of the car on it. When you hear the noise can you tell if it is coming from the right or left side of the car?
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 AT 9:08 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Hard to pinpoint if from right or left while driving? U really think tires are beat up? I thought they look good. Let me send you few more
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Last picture is for the rear one which was on front passenger side but I placed it on rear to see if wheel is bent. First few are for driver
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the images, they help, there is nothing wrong with the thread, but I have seem objects inside the tire make noise so roll the tires and listen for stuff inside of them. If everything seems okay I would go back to the bearing hub or carrier bearing inside the transaxle.
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 AT 9:23 AM

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