Hesitation in first gear

[tsmsoccer]

Just hoping someone could give me some advice. I have a July built 2003 6 speed manual Cooper S,
When moving off from a standing start in first gear just as the clutch is disengaged I get a flat spot and the car has a slight hop . Once off the clutch and accelerating the hesitation is gone and the car accelerates fine. There is no hesitation when changing through any of the other gears it is just after the friction point in first gear. I have driven manuals for many years now so I don’t think it is me but it will do it even if I alter the amount of accelerator when balancing the clutch.
I just cannot get the balance right between accelerator and clutch when taking off.

Any ideas would be appreciated

[marque]

Hi ya

If you try to slip the clutch on pull away or balance the car on a hill against the engine
Does the clutch sound like it rattling or vibrating does the clutch feel like it's an on off switch Does the clutch peddle feel spongy ?
Just wondering if someone has fitted a different clutch system/ flywheel or the system might need bleeding it my be worth trying to lift the revs up a litlle to pull away See what happens let us know Hope this helps a little

[tsmsoccer]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Hi ya

If you try to slip the clutch on pull away or balance the car on a hill against the engine
Does the clutch sound like it rattling or vibrating does the clutch feel like it's an on off switch Does the clutch peddle feel spongy ?
Just wondering if someone has fitted a different clutch system/ flywheel or the system might need bleeding it my be worth trying to lift the revs up a litlle to pull away See what happens let us know Hope this helps a little

Hi thanks for the response.
There are no unusual sounds from the clutch and it does not seem spongy.
The clutch bit point is about half way up the pedal.
The clutch is a little heavy but I thought it may just be a heavy duty clutch. The car has a good service history through the local BMW Mini dealership.

I have found that if you use more accelerator the hop becomes a little more pronounced. On rare occasions if you get the amount of accelerator just right it will not hop but it is a real balancing act with the clutch and accelerator pedal.
The clutch is not sliping at all thrust bearing seems fine with no noise.
Not sure what else to try

Tsmsoccer

[marque]

Hi ya

If you are on a flat road and you are stopped can you pull away with out using the throttle just lift the clutch slowly if you can do this With out the car stalling
it might be worth getting the engine mounts checked out most probarbly the lower one is a good place to start

[tsmsoccer]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Hi ya

If you are on a flat road and you are stopped can you pull away with out using the throttle just lift the clutch slowly if you can do this With out the car stalling
it might be worth getting the engine mounts checked out most probarbly the lower one is a good place to start

I followed your recommendation and yes I can pull away from a stranding start on a flat road without using the throttle and the car does not hesitate.
What I have also noticed is that the hesitation comes when the clutch is disengaged ie just at the point when you lift your foot off the clutch pedal.

Any ideas
Tsmsoccer

[D47REN]

Hi, did you ever fix this problem? I am experiencing the same thing

[tsmsoccer]

Quote: Originally Posted by D47REN (original)

Hi, did you ever fix this problem? I am experiencing the same thing

No have not identified the problem.

What I have found is that the hesitation is much more pronounced the first time you take off in first gear after the car has been turned off.
Also found that if you take off on a flat road slowly in first gear without using the accelerator the car does not hop then once your foot is off the clutch and you place your foot on the accelerator the car will suddenly hop.

I think it may be a software problem but todate no other members have been able to offer any advice.

Tsmsoccer

[GuernseyGooner]

I had clutch problems with my MCS at 18000 miles. Both the slave and master cylinders were changed and then I developed the 'hop' in first gear. All other gears were fine, no strange noises etc.

Changed the clutch in the end. Had a look when the mechanic had the old one off and the material on the clutch disk was breaking off! He said he had never seen anything like it in 40 years. No problems since. When you order a replacement clutch it is stated as being 'uprated', so I don't know if that is BMW's way of admitting there was problems.

All I know is that I had never ridden/raced my clutch so was very pi**ed off to have to change it at 18000 miles!

Not difficult to change as well, all the expense comes from having to pull the whole front end off to get to it.

[D47REN]

I have 110,000 on mine, done the flat road test today and found the car pulled away without throttle so think clutch should be reasonable!. Gonna investigate the engine mount theory as soon as I get chance.

[tsmsoccer]

Quote: Originally Posted by D47REN (original)

I have 110,000 on mine, done the flat road test today and found the car pulled away without throttle so think clutch should be reasonable!. Gonna investigate the engine mount theory as soon as I get chance.

you may be on the right track with the engine mount theory I to believe my clutch is fine as well . Let us know how you go

[tsmsoccer]

Had the mini out for a run today and discovered something I had not noticed before to do with the engine hesitation.
If you change up from any gear and do on use the accelerator just using the clutch to change once you take your foot off the clutch and then push the accelerator the car will flat spot.
I am now wondering if this whole problem could be a vacuum leak causing the car to hesitate when you first hit the gas pedal after changing gear.

Anyone have any ideas

[tsmsoccer]

Well today I took the car booked in at the nearest Mini/BMW dealer.
I dropped it off at 9.00 and told them of the problems with hesitation.
After 2 hours the tech came back and advised they there were no error codes and he could not simulate the problem. We went for a test and I was able to get it to hesitate straight away so back it went again.
They decided to do a full software update which took 2 hours to download.

When they finished the tech advised that the hesitation was still there although it was a little better. The dealer wanted to charge 4 hours labour at $150 per hour thats $600.

I refused to pay $600 and still not have the issue resolved after a heated discussion I reluctantly agreed to pay $250 and drove off never to return again.
So I now have the latest software version and still the same issue with hesitation.
Most frustrating

[st george]

hiya. me and the missus both have mini r55/r56 and both have the hop problem with pulling away in 1st gear. My man who can has driven both, and being a bmw/mini tech, he says it,s "a mini thing ". Something to do with the clutch system, will need replacing eventually, but dont they all? So i doubt you have anything that we dont. As for the hesitation, i have the same issue on my cooper. Seen some people suggest a "Blufin chip", some say makes no difference, as with a powerboost kit. Just give it some more welly in first gear(upto 2,500rpm) seems to help mine. Hope of some assistance

[Tyronegoodwill]

Hi, I am also experiencing a 1st gear problem. I have a 2002 Mini Cooper S JCW.
I am having trouble getting it into first a majority of the time, every other gear is fine.

It just seems that it does not want to go into gear. I try for second, third and try 1st and then with a little force I get 1st.

But if when I come to a stop, I can select 1st just as I have stopped, it's perfect. But sit at the traffic lights for a few mins in neutral and it gives the problem again.

Any ideas?
As I say, every other gear is perfect. I have only recently got the car so would a gear box oil change be advisable/recommended?

Cheers for any feedback.

Tyrone