Handling characteristics on R56

[Hodge007]

Hi just recently purchased a R56 cooper s. Love the car but just curious on how these cars are supposed to handle or whether something might be slightly amiss somewhere.

Just feel like sometimes that the car feels like it wants to veer of to the left or right on its own sometimes. Also sometimes on braking (not all the time) the back end is wanting to come out and you have to quickly snatch steer to correct it.

Also on dual carrigeways the steering can feel alittle loose, but putting it in sports does eliminate this for the most part.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[creedR56]

Sounds like you have run flat tyres in which case what u are experiencing is, unfortunately, normal. Due to the solid sidewalls of the tyres they tend to "tramline" when there is any kind of groove in the road, which is probably what ur experiencing when it veers right or left. I also noticed the back trying to step out under heavy straight-line braking but the car's electronics seem to correct this, although it can lead to a bit of a panic moment, when not sure if better to snatch the steering or let the car right itself!

I only drive with the sport button on because I much prefer the tighter steering and more responsive accelerator pedal.

[alpha2one]

Quote: Originally Posted by creedR56 (original)

Sounds like you have run flat tyres in which case what u are experiencing is, unfortunately, normal.

However, it also depends if the correct tyre pressures are in the tyres.
As, if they are run-flats, they don't show when the pressure drops like a normal tyre. (bulging at the ground)

Also, if they are the Pirelli tyre, then are they the matched tyre for the Mini? This can be checked by looking for a star on the sidewall of the tyre, which means that they have made for BMW and not just a generic tyre from Pirelli.

Hope this is of some help

[Hodge007]

Hi thanks for the replies.

I ditched the runflats last week and went for standard tyres. Went for maxxis pro R1 which do make the ride alot nicer on the bumpy roads and have plenty of grip in wet and dry.

Took it out for spin today and when breaking down from 50-60 just feels like its snaking still on breaking.

Read that the front wishbone rear bushes can cause play on the front wheels which can lead to unstable braking. Is this true and worth getting looked at?

[The Nun]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hodge007 (original)

Read that the front wishbone rear bushes can cause play on the front wheels which can lead to unstable braking. Is this true and worth getting looked at?

Could well do yes, and you could replace the standard rubber type with poly bushes to stiffen it all up, but there will be more road noise transmitted into the car because of it.

[Ryanjdover]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hodge007 (original)

Hi thanks for the replies.

I ditched the runflats last week and went for standard tyres. Went for maxxis pro R1 which do make the ride alot nicer on the bumpy roads and have plenty of grip in wet and dry.

Took it out for spin today and when breaking down from 50-60 just feels like its snaking still on breaking.

Read that the front wishbone rear bushes can cause play on the front wheels which can lead to unstable braking. Is this true and worth getting looked at?

My rear wishbone bushes are gone and it feels very unstable at present is about 180 quid job though


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[Hodge007]

any chance of going into alittle more detail what you experiencing ryan so i can see if its same as what im experiencing? With being so new to minis, and having a car with stiff suspension which im not acustomed to, not sure if its the norm or not.

thanks