[misster]

Hi !

I find our 2005 MCS a bit slow at start. It takes about a second or more from pressing down the pedal before the engine is responding. Do your's behave the same way ? Or is it typical for Norwegian cars only... There is also a bit of travel on the pedal before the revs are increasing from idle. Your's ?

If yes, can it be fixed ?

Thank's for answering

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by misster

Hi !

I find our 2005 MCS a bit slow at start. It takes about a second or more from pressing down the pedal before the engine is responding. Do your's behave the same way ? Or is it typical for Norwegian cars only... There is also a bit of travel on the pedal before the revs are increasing from idle. Your's ?

If yes, can it be fixed ?

Thank's for answering

If you mean from a dead stop and you try to get moving, then yes there is a bit of a lag.

even just revving the motor there seems to be a slight lag. Once you're up past 1500 RPM it is pretty much gone.

[misster]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

If you mean from a dead stop and you try to get moving, then yes there is a bit of a lag.

even just revving the motor there seems to be a slight lag. Once you're up past 1500 RPM it is pretty much gone.

Thank's obehave - that's exactly what I meant !
Can it be fixed ?
I find it a lot strange, because the manufacturer must know about this and it's many years since introduction...

[Spotty Dog]

I guess this is the supercharger pressurising? The same thing occurs with a turbo, but in reverse (if you see what I mean?)

[obehave]

The easy answer is to just rev to 1500 at takeoff.
After that the Vacuum Gain System works well.
Your dealer will tell you it's normal.

[badboyzbadboyz]

Isn't this delay caused by the drive-by-throttle? IMO this slow throttle response is the weakest link in my car.

[misster]

Thank's for the feedback !

I can't accept that it would be normal - MCS is supposed to be a drivers car, and that's why I find it very odd with a flaw of this magnitude. I've driven many cars with only 60-70 bhp and they have almost immense responce on the pedal...
This is a non issue on the road, but unfortenately we have to drive a lot in town too and keeping the revs over 1500 at every red light(there's plenty in Oslo !) is just ridigilous. A car of 2005 has to be able to be driven as a normal car.
Or am I wrong...?

[stephenjc]

I received my MCS in January. I now have 6,600 miles on it and I don't seem to have that problem anymore. Or at least not as much. When I did have the problem it was really only when I was driving the car for the first time in the morning each day. After the engine was all warmed up I no longer had the problem. But as I said now I don't seem to have the problem at all. Whether this is because I have more miles on it or because of the warm summer temperatures, i don't know. Do you have this problem every time you are driving? Or have you noticed that like me it is only when the car is "cold"?

[misster]

It's the same all the time, so I think it must be a design/construction flaw.
I'm asking for feedback here, because the shops here aren't the cleverest in the world...
I quess I have to take my car to Sweden, they usually are much more interested to help you out !

[Rich'sFroggy]

I know this has not much to do with what you are talking about but it looks like you have the "S lites". I bet it would be a bit quicker off the line with lighter wheels and non-runflats. It would compensate for the problem to some degree.

[misster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rich'sFroggy

I know this has not much to do with what you are talking about but it looks like you have the "S lites". I bet it would be a bit quicker off the line with lighter wheels and non-runflats. It would compensate for the problem to some degree.

Thank's for the tip Rich'sFroggy !

[neke]

I have the problem as well, but very rarely. It feels like your not giving it enough gas and let the clutch out. But thats not the case.

I read last week that its the supercharger and the pressurization associated with it. MINI is aware of it but I have not heard of a "fix". Strange, but it never happens when my wife drives the car but only when I do. I think thats because of one of the comments made previously; she hits 2000 rpm's before she lets the clutch out. Crazy MINI woman driver

I dont think it has anything to do with the temp. of the car because it happened to me last week after i was driving it for about 15 minutes.

[beken]

It was sort of disconcerting for me at the beginning also. I come from driving cars with at least a normally aspirated V6 so power is generally instant. Not so bad on a flat or starting pointed downhill but rather nervous on a steep uphill incline.

I guess it comes with learning to drive the car. After awhile, you'll know exactly how much you need to rev before letting the clutch go. At the beginning, after a few stalls, I would overgas the car and spin my wheels until the traction control grabbed it. Doesn't happen as much anymore I also realized it's not a big deal if the car rolls back an inch or two before it moves forward. Just make sure the car behind you knows enough to give you some space (I tend to let my car roll backward just a we bit as the following car approaches my tail). Bottom line is practice. You'll get it.


I agree with others on this thread. You need to build a bit of boost before power comes on. I suspect turbo charged cars could be worse.

[misster]

Thank's for your responce guys !
I'm aware of the fact that with every new car you have to adapt a new driving style. I've been driving numerous cars from hefty americans to tiny italians so that's not a problem and not the point.
I'm just amazed how you guys accept such a flaw in a car with is really meant to be a drivers car and certainly is not cheap !
I'm sure that if many enough people had complained to the manufacturer, they've fixed the issue for a long time ago...
I'm attend to get it fixed; it takes away much of the thrills of driving the car. I want instant responce when pressing the pedal. As it is now, it's more like a car with a turbo from 70' s Even my 1997 MB V-Class has better pedal action as our brand new Mini !
And V-Class is certainly NOT a drivers car

[Blusox]

The supercharger on the S, as with any other supercharged car, requires power directly from the engine to work. I'm not sure about the mini specific superchargers but some can use upto 40bhp or more in order to work. In effect, untill your engine starts producing enough power you may as well be driving a regular cooper. At start off the car is dividing power between moving the car from a stationary position and powering the supercharger. However get above the 1500rpm mark and the supercharger is starting to provide its own power and you're ready for take off!!!

[neke]

Quote: Originally Posted by misster

Thank's for your responce guys !
I'm aware of the fact that with every new car you have to adapt a new driving style. I've been driving numerous cars from hefty americans to tiny italians so that's not a problem and not the point.
I'm just amazed how you guys accept such a flaw in a car with is really meant to be a drivers car and certainly is not cheap !
I'm sure that if many enough people had complained to the manufacturer, they've fixed the issue for a long time ago...
I'm attend to get it fixed; it takes away much of the thrills of driving the car. I want instant responce when pressing the pedal. As it is now, it's more like a car with a turbo from 70' s Even my 1997 MB V-Class has better pedal action as our brand new Mini !
And V-Class is certainly NOT a drivers car

Misster: are you having the problem every time you start off from a stand still? If so, i cant speak for the rest of the viewers here, but it sure seems odd. I've my MINI since April and it has only acted this way 3 times in 4700 miles. I asked my wife last night and she said she has experienced as well. Regarding your statement about accepting the design flaw, the rest of the cars enjoyment overshadows this minimal issue. I accepted it after I realized what the issue was. I love my MINI and its little tantrums at stop signs on occasion are an acceptable part of its personality

[stephenjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by neke

Misster: are you having the problem every time you start off from a stand still? If so, i cant speak for the rest of the viewers here, but it sure seems odd. I've my MINI since April and it has only acted this way 3 times in 4700 miles. I asked my wife last night and she said she has experienced as well. Regarding your statement about accepting the design flaw, the rest of the cars enjoyment overshadows this minimal issue. I accepted it after I realized what the issue was. I love my MINI and its little tantrums at stop signs on occasion are an acceptable part of its personality

I'll second that.

Like MINI owners are the only one who live with some flaws. i'll take my MINI and its few flaws and its great resale value, pure fun and unmatched style over any Chevy, Ford, Dodge. etc and their many flaws.

So what car especially in the MINI price range (or any price range for that matter) is absolutely perfect?

[misster]

Interesting replies guys !

I do love our Mini Too ! A lot !! That doensn't mean that I can accept a flaw of that magnitude in a car costing far beond 400.000,- NOK ! ( about 62.000 $...).
Mini is a drivers car just like any Aston, Porsche, Lotus etc(handling, not the raw power...). I'd like to see some Porsche owner to wait 2-3 sec for the engine to respond after pressing the pedal...
The flaw can't have anything to do with the supercharger or amount of torque. It must be something as simple as calibrating the connection between the pedal and the engine.
I'm going to get this sorted out, and then I'll let you guys know !
Maybe your driving experience can be increased too

[snaproll]

I'm not sure what you're complaining about. There is always a lag in a car with a supercharger or turbo. The supercharger kicks in above a certain RPM, so anything under that will feel underpowered. The only real way to remedy the lag is with bi-turbos, ala 2000-2002 Audi S4, but even my S4 had a slight lag. Heck, even my wife's supercharged 2005 Mercedes has lag. Like the old saying goes, there is no replacement for displacement. Now if you have a big block V8 and a supercharger (mustang cobra for example) you wouldn't be complaining. Punching the throttle would make you go from fast before the supercharger kicked in, to oh **** fast once the supercharger kicked in.

[misster]

With all due respect - please read the thread before responding !
I'm not complaining about anything, I'm asking if there is the same flaw in other Mini's or is it specific for Norwegian cars ! In Norway, the authorities have many fantastic laws and regulations... f.ex. all safety items witch are not standard, are target for 100% tax from the govm. !
And if you take time to read, I've specificly noted that it's the time from pressing the pedal to responce from the engine I'm talking about. Not the lack of cui or torgue.
When this kind of flaw doesn't exist in a average car, why would we accept it in a Mini ?

Regards

Misster - who likes to drive a responsive car