Speed Limiter

[TheFlyingBrick]

I thought I read somewhere that the MCS was limited to 135mph. Has anyone else seen that information? Why do they do that?

[Bilbo Baggins]

I'm reasonably sure that it has to do with insurance. IMHO

Easy enough to get around with an aftermarket chip.

[moorlockx]

I'm actually surprised they set it that high. You can probably name all the roads in the world that you can legally do more than 75 on one hand (and maybe a few extra fingers )

[Mr Grean]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFlyingBrick

I thought I read somewhere that the MCS was limited to 135mph. Has anyone else seen that information? Why do they do that?

That speed equates to just under red line in 5th gear...or about 220kmh or so 6th still to go.....don't ask how I know this

[TheFlyingBrick]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr Grean

That speed equates to just under red line in 5th gear...or about 220kmh or so 6th still to go.....don't ask how I know this

Whoa, major geeking here. Still it's nice to know.

What I thought I read was that the MCS was electronically limited to 135. Obviously something in the computer chip. Is this correct?

[kapps]

It's electronically limited to 135 but it's aerodynamically limited as well. I don't think the Cd of the Cooper S will allow much more than 135. 6th gear at 100 is exactly 4000 rpm (don't ask how I know that either) so beyond that, the torque will decrease and aerodynamics will slow the car down until it can't accelerate any more. I'd be willing to bet that 5th gear redlined is probably the fastest you can go in a MCS. 6th is too long for very high speed without more HP.

[TheFlyingBrick]

Thanks for all the info. I had my bmw 5er up to 145 on the German Autobahns and that was white-knuckle territory. I'm not ever going to need 135 on the poor excuse for roads here in the States, I'm not that crazy. Still it's nice to know why.

[Dutchy]

I've had my MCS up to 220km/hr in 6th. Although it was on the down side of a slight crest, but a genuine 210-215 on the clock on the straight and level. There was no sign of limiting at 220. By the way, this is legal where I live, so don't try this where there are speed limits and the ever watch-full police.

[MINIGT50]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFlyingBrick

I thought I read somewhere that the MCS was limited to 135mph. Has anyone else seen that information? Why do they do that?

Most of the time manufacturers limit the top speeds of their cars because of the speed rating of the tires that go on them. This way, nothing leaves the factory being capable of going faster than the speed rating of it's tires, and therefore no possible lawsuit issues pertaining to this.

[Lee Bradshaw]

I think you'll find that they fit tyres with a speed rating of above whatever the car is capable. You can retrofit whatever tyres you want, so it'd be pointless letting that govern the speed of the car.

I can't wait to get my MCS up to it's top end when it turns up in March. My Cooper does it's 125mph quite easily, i've seen 130 on the cooper but not entirely believing the speedo.

I'm not sure the MCS is governed anyway is it? I wouldn't think you could rev it hard enough to go much faster in standard trim could you? Besides, it's not how fast it is, it's how fast it gets there and how it corners on the way!

I've had my bike up to 176mph but while it's a lot of fun, i'd sooner be scraping my knee at 45mph!

[kapps]

It's definitely how well it corners the way there. That, you will not be disappointed with. I've done emergency maneuvers at speeds and conditions that would send other cars sideways. I've taken corners easily that my friend with a MK1 MR2 looses the rear end. Here in the States, it seems that speed is everything but I disagree.

A guy on my Baseball team says that he could crush my MINI. I told him that he'd have to catch me 1st...he thinks his Jeep can catch me! He was only thinking about a drag race. He was wondering why I mentioned corners. The funny thing is that I can not only edge him out on a straight line but run circles around his (overturned) Jeep in the corners.

[fdnypd]

Tires are the key, all cars at least in the states, are governed to the max speed of base tires. In case of an S, it's the 16 inch Dunlops. In case of Cooper it's 125 for a 5 speed, and 115 for the Cooper CVT, because CVTs redline at 5,500 RPMs.

[MINIS2003]

i had my S at 143 on a flat road here. it increased from 135 after i added a header, 15% pully with ECU and free flow exhaust. i think 130-135 is limited do to the HP of the car
to much air to move out of the way

[kapps]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIS2003

i had my S at 143 on a flat road here. it increased from 135 after i added a header, 15% pully with ECU and free flow exhaust. i think 130-135 is limited do to the HP of the car
to much air to move out of the way

Doesn't the Works kit for the S increase the top speed? I thought it was somewhere in the low 140's. If that's the case, then it might just be the Cd that's limiting the top speed.

[MINIS2003]

yes i think the more HP you have the higher the speed limit you will have