[Zeb358]

Just picked up my brand spanking new 2005 Mini Cooper CVT. I realise from reading the threads that jerky movements at low speeds seems to be a common problem with CVT Mini's. But do you think with all this talk about all these upgrades (v38.9 etc) available I must have the latest upgrade surely... no?? If so, why is it still jerky - but can seem to be controlled if I am particulallry careful with the throttle - anyone else experience this with a 2005 model? Also read somewhere that this is quite normal to CVT as it mimicks a manual more than a conventional auto - is this absolutely true?

Also, not impressed with the fact that the steering wheel is slightly off centre and needs to be turned slightly to the left in order to drive it in a straight line - so its going in for a check up at my local BMW service centre in North London. It seems to pull to the left too when I let go of the steering wheel, but I suspect this may be down to the car following the contours of the road... perhaps!

Cheers!

[JTC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zeb358

Just picked up my brand spanking new 2005 Mini Cooper CVT. I realise from reading the threads that jerky movements at low speeds seems to be a common problem with CVT Mini's. But do you think with all this talk about all these upgrades (v38.9 etc) available I must have the latest upgrade surely... no?? If so, why is it still jerky - but can seem to be controlled if I am particulallry careful with the throttle - anyone else experience this with a 2005 model? Also read somewhere that this is quite normal to CVT as it mimicks a manual more than a conventional auto - is this absolutely true?

Also, not impressed with the fact that the steering wheel is slightly off centre and needs to be turned slightly to the left in order to drive it in a straight line - so its going in for a check up at my local BMW service centre in North London. It seems to pull to the left too when I let go of the steering wheel, but I suspect this may be down to the car following the contours of the road... perhaps!

Cheers!

congrads on ur new cooper..

i got my 2005 model a few weeks ago....
i had jerkyness in the beginning...but after at least 500 km theres NO MORE!!!
if ur not use to the changing gears using sd mode...play around with the throttle...and ull get use to whre the torque comes in.....u can prevent the jerkiness that way....

as for pullin left....prob just road camber....in aus...my car pulls left...most of the time due to camber

[Zeb358]

Quote: Originally Posted by JTC

congrads on ur new cooper..

i got my 2005 model a few weeks ago....
i had jerkyness in the beginning...but after at least 500 km theres NO MORE!!!
if ur not use to the changing gears using sd mode...play around with the throttle...and ull get use to whre the torque comes in.....u can prevent the jerkiness that way....

as for pullin left....prob just road camber....in aus...my car pulls left...most of the time due to camber

Phew! Feel a lot better about what you've said. Thanks mate!

[Sejanus]

I'd have that steering and your alignment checked if I were you. That sounds like more than road camber by the way you described it.

[howardpm]

O5 CVT Convertible is way jerky at low speeds. The worst is when in stop and go traffic. I can't really press lightly on the accelerator, I either need to get it past like 10 miles per hr or just let the car move itself without me pressing the accelerator.

Howard

[plantain]

...at least, it went away on my '05 CVT. I picked mine up in November of 2004, and for the first 300 miles or so, I thought the acceleration was semi-jerky going up to about 12 mph. Over the first 300 miles, I noticed the jerkiness continued, but it was present only at lower and lower speeds. Today, it happens at maybe 8-10 mph. But here's the thing; you quickly learn that the trick is to let the it go into "crawl mode" for anything from 0-5 mph. That is, just take your foot off the brake, don't touch the accelerator, and the car will try it's best to apply just enough throttle to take you to 5 mph. I use "crawl mode" to back out of driveways, and go through parking lots smoothly.

For stop and go traffic, I think the system eventually learns to smooth things out for you. I no longer have this problem of easing up to 4-way stops. I'm not sure how much is the car learning, and the driver learning, but it does get better. Give it a few hundred miles and I think you'll be cool with the performance.

[Zeb358]

I think you guys are right, in fact I've been really gentle with the pedal and it seems to be less jerky that way, and I hope the CVT will settle down in time anyway - I'm only up to 274 miles yet!

[Minnie Mouse]

Just got mine reprogrammed (again!!) and its also now jerky too when first driving off etc. If I remember rightly for me at least it did go away evenutally. So now with my preprogramme I will have to wait and wait.......

By the way....what North London BMW service centre I wonder?? Hexagon???

[Zeb358]

Quote: Originally Posted by Minnie Mouse

Just got mine reprogrammed (again!!) and its also now jerky too when first driving off etc. If I remember rightly for me at least it did go away evenutally. So now with my preprogramme I will have to wait and wait.......

By the way....what North London BMW service centre I wonder?? Hexagon???

So, have you bought the 2005 model on which you've received the reprogramme? I'll be taking my MC to Scotthal BMW in Temple Fortune (Near Golder Green's tube stn - 5 min walk from BMW)

[Minnie Mouse]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zeb358

So, have you bought the 2005 model on which you've received the reprogramme? I'll be taking my MC to Scotthal BMW in Temple Fortune (Near Golder Green's tube stn - 5 min walk from BMW)

Mine is on a 53 plate, it's been the same from purchase and I have to say the Hexagon service department are shameful! One guy there is such a tiny guy with a big gigantic attitude
I now go to Scotthall in Temple Fortune, much nicer and friendlier and very eager to please although I had to wait nearly 2 weeks for the car to go in for the reprogramme

[kgouin]

I have a 2005 with 13,000 miles on it and it jerks at low speeds. I am used to it now and it I have kind of grown to like it.

[mini-enthused]

My wife bought a 2005 mini cooper cvt and it also jerked at low speeds. We found it totally unacceptable and the dealership replaced the transmission and now everything is fine.

[Sejanus]

Quote: Originally Posted by mini-enthused

My wife bought a 2005 mini cooper cvt and it also jerked at low speeds. We found it totally unacceptable and the dealership replaced the transmission and now everything is fine.

Congrats, I think you're the first people I've heard of who have gotten that problem completely fixed as opposed to reduced.

[Zeb358]

I think that's the first time I heard anyone get the transmission replaced becasue it was jerky. Most have had to settle with a reprogramme or it some cases the jerkiness has reduced. I'm now up to nearly 400 miles on the clock and I have to admit the jerkiness has reduced but is still there if you suddenly take the foot off the throttle and reapply at relatively low speeds. I think it may still be worth mentioning this to Scotthal Temple Fortune. I'm still a week away before I can take it in!

On a slightly separate note, I noticed that the chrome plastic trim around the driver side headlight has a blemish that won't come out! I'm hoping this can be replaced on the warranty, as I'm sure its a factory fault part. If that wasn't bad enough then I noticed the alloy on the drivers side is a little scuffed and looks like the dealer that valeted the car may have used an abrasive of some kind to clean the wheel! Hard to prove that though and wondering if under the warranty I can argue for it to be put right. I've only had the car 3 weeks and not even cleaned it!

[Flak-Happy]

I have 2003 MC w/CVT and have learn to work with that quirky characteristic.

The MC onboard computers and CVT are remarkable pieces of technology. The system is designed to learn your perferred driving style. The harder you push it with all modes available D, SD, or simualted 6-sp Manual modes, the faster the system learns and adjusts to you.

See if this suggestion helps:
When your CVT begins to jerk or bounce at low speeds try switching from "D" mode to "SD". 90% of the time this trick elimates the jerk motion.

Also the MC really seems to be "geared" (no pun intended) for manual mode. That includes the CVT types. I've been using Manual mode so much now (in city and highway), my Mini perfers it better than "D" mode.

Of course, just don't push it too hard during your initial break in period.

[Zeb358]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flak-Happy

I have 2003 MC w/CVT and have learn to work with that quirky characteristic.

The MC onboard computers and CVT are remarkable pieces of technology. The system is designed to learn your perferred driving style. The harder you push it with all modes available D, SD, or simualted 6-sp Manual modes, the faster the system learns and adjusts to you.

See if this suggestion helps:
When your CVT begins to jerk or bounce at low speeds try switching from "D" mode to "SD". 90% of the time this trick elimates the jerk motion.

Also the MC really seems to be "geared" (no pun intended) for manual mode. That includes the CVT types. I've been using Manual mode so much now (in city and highway), my Mini perfers it better than "D" mode.

Of course, just don't push it too hard during your initial break in period.

Excellent piece of advice Flak-Happy! I think I may not bother making this issue a big deal at the service centre then...and just try, as you have suggested, to play about with the tranny to see if I can overcome the jerky behaviour of the CVT. Thanks!

[Flak-Happy]

No problem Zeb358.
Glad to be of some help. Also remember, when the CVT begins to bounce, just ease off on the gas for second to two. Sometimes letting Sir Issaic Newton (the basic laws of physics and gravity) do some of the work for you can help. This is true when going downhill at low speeds, (such as in a muti-deck parking garage).

Personally, I think the CVT just wants to get out of that "first" gear. Not really sure if this is the proper term considering the tranny is actually a constant muti gear. However, when in "D" mode at low speed you'll notice the feels like it wants to shift to higher gear.

In a way, the CVT kind of mimics the characteristics of true manual. Manual mode nearly elimates the quirky boune jerk. So when your up to it give the steptronic (simulated manual) mode a try. You can almost control what gear you want, depending on your current speed of course. Even when you begin to slow down from a higher speed the CVT will automatically downshift for you, if you should forget to. However, you still have to upshift.

[yadda]

I have a 05 MC CVT with 1300 miles on it. Jerkiness at low speed (between 5 - 15 mph) has been a problem from day one, but it did seem to get a little better over time - perhaps that's because I've learned a few tricks to reduce the effect:
Trick #1: Step on that gas! It only jerks if you coast in the problematic speed range. Step firmly on the gas to accelerate until you are over 15 mph and you won't have any problem with jerking. It's more fun that way too
Trick #2: keep a steady foot. Chances are you won't be able to always drive above 15 if you are stuck in New york City traffic as much as I do Try to find the sweet throttle position to get the car to your desired speed, then hold your foot steady on the gas pedal. Avoid minor adjustments to the throttle (at low speeds) like you would do on an automatic - that kind of throttle movement is what seems to confuse the CVT computer and at least partially contribute to the the jerkiness.
Trick #3: Warm up before you go. It seems to jerk more when the engine's cold.

[Cooper76]

The jerkiness will more than not disappear when one has learned the ins-and-outs of driving and handling the CVT. If you drive it like a standard auto, as you will at first, you will gets all sorts of jerks and spats. It'll slowly stop as you (unnoticeably) get better at acting and reacting to the CVT.

BTW, in reverse, hold your foot on the brake, shift into reverse, let off the brake, but do not immediately hit the gas! Let the car sit and you will notice that it doesn't really move backwards for a few seconds. (if you hit the gas now, it will lurch or jerk backwards). Once a few seconds pass, you will notice or suddenly feel the car get into gear. Now you can hit the gas, move backwards, and see that there is no jerk.

[JTC]

this jerkiness makes it feel like im driving an manual...and not clutchin in properly