[minimission]

Hi guys & girls finally found a great website dedicated to the mini!! woohoo.

I have a slight problem though with my 2004 mini cooper. It has the 1.6 litre crysler neon engine in and is totally standard. When driving it from a standing still nothing much happens until 3800rpm !!! it seems pretty flat from 900rpm (idle) to 3800rpm. I have had it checked out by a main dealer and no faults were found, i decided on a second opinion, again another garage had it for 3 days and found nothing!!!

I have been told a superchip will give 6-8bhp more but it wont really do much for the flat spot im feeling.
An induction kit apparently would make matters worse!

Does anyone have any advice of how to overcome this problem. I dont mind spending £300 on it but dont want to start going too mad. Its a shame it has this problem as its a superb car.

Looking forward to your help guys and girls

Andy

[Paul]

It's hard to comment really, if two garages have tested it all and everything checks out, who's to say what's the problem?

The Cooper engine doesn't really kick in until about the 4k rev range as you mention, basically that's where the Cooper engine is different to the MINI One, the MINI One carries on pretty much in a steady line where as the Cooper has extra "oomph" higher up the rev range.

It shouldn't feel totally flat before then, but it's not a super sports car, so maybe it's your expectations not the car that aren't quite where they should be?

The first thing I would do was to get driving at least one other example of a first generation Cooper to see how it feels back to back compared to yours. Then you'll know for sure if yours is poor or if that's just the nature of the beast.

If you want more "zip" then there's plenty you can do, but if your car is "pre facelift" (ie built before July 2004) you've got to be careful of the gearbox which is (allegedly) made mostly from straw and chewing gum.

[minimission]

thanks paul i shall try it against another cooper of the same reg. What can i do for more zip without going stupid? It may be, as you say more of my expectations as this is my girlfriends car i own something which is turbocharged so maybe i should accept it is a naturally aspirated car!?!?!

Andy

[Paul Webster]

You're experiencing a lack of torque which your turbo car will have whatever it is, weight is another thing that a lot of people assume that the Mini has a lack off but it hasn't, also depending on the extras your girlfriends car has this will add to the weight and effect the power -weight ratio.

[Paul Webster]

1

[minioneandrew]

The MINI engine has hardly any power, lower than 4k. However, this is just the way it is. Just keep it above 4k when you need the power?

[minimission]

i appreciate all your replies guys thanks i think ihave resigned myself to that fact that the mini is not so mini hahaha, so like you say its a hot of different things power, weight, revs etc etc

Cheers

[MINI-Morgan]

Get a Cooper S instead If you are still really worried about it try a rolling road to see what you power curve looks like. The Cooper however like all NA cars needs to be rev'ed to the power band before you get any real acceleration.

[minisoopercooper]

It really does make a huge difference what fuel you put in. ALWAYS go for high octane unleaded, this will help give you better pulling lower down than normal or heaven forbid cheapo supermarket fuel. Recently I have had to use the cheapo Tesco 99 ron fuel but yesterday I made a special trip to my nearest shell garage for v power - the difference was instantly noticeable - and my car has always had the higher ron petrol from new. If your girlfirends hasn't it will make a difference.

I always say that it depends how you drive the car too. After a good run and a bit of a thrashing the car always performs better - the ecu leans your driving style and adjusts accordingly. So after a few weeks of just commuter driving etc I can feel my car get slow. I take it out for a thrashing (all legal speeds of course - just keeping the revs up the high end and having a ball) and the next day the car is back to normal.

Have a go at both of those and you will get the MINI hahaha feeling

and don't believe all these S drivers - if you work a Cooper properly I have em struggling to keep up with me

[MINI-Morgan]

Ahem Tesco 99 is the best commercial petrol on the market for modified cars and nothing cheap about it. If its making your Cooper Slower than its more likely that it isnt burning the ethanol properly and higher octane doesnt always mean more power.

[minimission]

MINISOOPERCOOPER i just went to fill my GF cooper up at shell using vpower... YOU WERE RIGHT, im never using the supermarket stuff again!! the car does seem a lil more responsive lower down.
MINI MORGAN: my father runs a chain of garages and has 40+ years experience nothing faulty found at all, mechanically or electronically full ecu test and software update!! It also went on a piece of tuning equipment too, checking various things plus had it on the rollers!! again nothing. Having put vpower petrol in my girlfriends car im seriously satisfied with what the mini is doing now, dont get me wrong its not in yer face but it has certtainly helped rid the car of the flat spot somewhat!! I was told by a reputable mini dealer that changing up to the cooper s will give me more ooomf but with only 167bhp its still not mind blowing like a supercharged car should be then again its only for my gf to pootle around in, it does 2000 miles a year really!!! Only time it gets used is when i get in it and thrash it a lil hahaha

Cheers guys

[minisoopercooper]

glad to be of help

thrash it a bit more and you'll be impressed even more

[Hugo]

Had a Cooper the power band is between 4 - 6.5k RPM. There is a falt spot around 3.5 from what I can remember.

Get a 'Works sound kit' from a dealer. Takes out flat spots and raises the limiter to 7,200Rpm.
Consists of exhaust, new air intake (filter, pipe and box) and a remap for around £650. Plus keeps your warranty which is important as I found out. OR get a S

Check air filter incase its dirty, and new spark plug. Cheaper alternative

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

Ahem Tesco 99 is the best commercial petrol on the market for modified cars and nothing cheap about it. If its making your Cooper Slower than its more likely that it isnt burning the ethanol properly and higher octane doesnt always mean more power.

Agree there Dave... mine runs better on Tesco 99 than it does on Shell V-Power - so i'll keep my 5p per litre thank you!

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hugo (original)

Had a Cooper the power band is between 4 - 6.5k RPM. There is a falt spot around 3.5 from what I can remember.

Get a 'Works sound kit' from a dealer. Takes out flat spots and raises the limiter to 7,200Rpm.
Consists of exhaust, new air intake (filter, pipe and box) and a remap for around £650. Plus keeps your warranty which is important as I found out. OR get a S

Check air filter incase its dirty, and new spark plug. Cheaper alternative

Best to point out that the sound kit doesn't give any more power (realistically you may achieve 3bhp more with it on), but as you say it does iron out the flat spots with the remap

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by minimission (original)

MINISOOPERCOOPER i just went to fill my GF cooper up at shell using vpower... YOU WERE RIGHT, im never using the supermarket stuff again!! the car does seem a lil more responsive lower down.
MINI MORGAN: my father runs a chain of garages and has 40+ years experience nothing faulty found at all, mechanically or electronically full ecu test and software update!! It also went on a piece of tuning equipment too, checking various things plus had it on the rollers!! again nothing. Having put vpower petrol in my girlfriends car im seriously satisfied with what the mini is doing now, dont get me wrong its not in yer face but it has certtainly helped rid the car of the flat spot somewhat!! I was told by a reputable mini dealer that changing up to the cooper s will give me more ooomf but with only 167bhp its still not mind blowing like a supercharged car should be then again its only for my gf to pootle around in, it does 2000 miles a year really!!! Only time it gets used is when i get in it and thrash it a lil hahaha

Cheers guys

I didnt mention faulty? Nothing has to be wrong for it to perform less.....

If you only count hp then you missed the point of the supercharger altogether.

At the end of the day enjoying what you drive and having fun is whats most important really

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Agree there Dave... mine runs better on Tesco 99 than it does on Shell V-Power - so i'll keep my 5p per litre thank you!

You better run Shell more often Jon, the MINX is fast enough as it is! Remember the days trying to keep up with it even in an S.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

Remember the days trying to keep up with it even in an S.

....and folks still do try in vain

[minimission]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

I didnt mention faulty? Nothing has to be wrong for it to perform less.....

If you only count hp then you missed the point of the supercharger altogether.

At the end of the day enjoying what you drive and having fun is whats most important really

The last bit i agree with totally hence why i drive a veedub golf mk4 289.2bhp and 327lbsft and its a diesel no smoke !! Im staying with the v power on her mini as she is very happy with how it feels now, personally i think she is just agreeing with me. But it has made a difference so for 5p per litre more i get a too lol cheers for all your help guys