Power Loss/Poor Suspension Control

[nicolaip]

Wonder if anyone can confirm what I am experiencing...

Basically I have had my 2002 MCS since last October. When I bought it, the engine seemed much smoother and more powerful than it is now. At idle it can sound almost diesel-like and clatters away. The supercharger doesnt seem to make the same noise either.. it is like the whine has been drowned out by the general rough engine noise.

The car has 15K on it and has had its oil service so surely shouldnt sound so rough?

Second problem relates to the suspension. The car seems to clatter and bump off every type of road surface. It used to feel firm but was always well tied down and secure. Now it feels like the tyres have been replaced with wooden treads! Could this be down to tyre wear and the impact of the extra stiff walls of the run flats?

I would be interested to hear any comments cos the warrenty will run out soon....

Thanks in advance!

[Rakey]

there is going to be some wear experienced on the feel and running of the car, but there is also going to be a bit of you are used to your MINI now.

Of course a brand new MINI will feel a lot tighter, but a run in MINI should also move a lot better.

My last MCS was an 03 and when I traded her in she had 43000 on her, but still felt great, but then moving to a new MCSC was a different driving experience again. But I didn't think that with all those miles on that the old MCS felt or sounded worn.

A lot of how your car feels also depends on how you drive it, as it will settle for that type of driving, the ECU is a learning piece of software, so if you most commonly drive short town trips and keep the revs low then its not going to feel like a MCS that has been driven with high revs and long hi speed journeys The same can be said for the handling I guess, if you get the car used to cornering hard you and the car get more used to this together.

[nicolaip]

Yeah I agree and realise that me getting used to the car is probably a bit factor... guess I need to drive it a little harder and hope the ECU learns to give me 110%

As for the general 'roughness' of the engine, this is definately something that has got a lot worse. The clatter is quite loud now so I think I am going to brace myself for the usual indifference and try and book it back in to the dealer. They normally look at me like I am asking for a pint of blood from the nearest stone so dont hold out much hope...

Thanks for your comments

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by nicolaip

Yeah I agree and realise that me getting used to the car is probably a bit factor... guess I need to drive it a little harder and hope the ECU learns to give me 110%

As for the general 'roughness' of the engine, this is definately something that has got a lot worse. The clatter is quite loud now so I think I am going to brace myself for the usual indifference and try and book it back in to the dealer. They normally look at me like I am asking for a pint of blood from the nearest stone so dont hold out much hope...

Thanks for your comments

if they can't find anything wrong with it, perhaps look at getting an intake or performance exhaust, these will add a more sporty note to the engine and drown out any dullness