anyone having issues with a sudden and pronounced downshift jerk with slight engine backfire (letting off the gas) around 25 miles per hour going from either 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st in automatic sport mode?

my 2013 countryman cooper s is brand new with less than 1K miles on it.

this only occurs in the sport mode?

 

I thought this behavior was intentional? The automatic transmissions tend to be aggressive/jerky in lower gears, at least that's my experience in both Minis and BMWs. The backfire or "pop" is purposely programmed for a fully-warmed up engine in sport mode.

 

interesting...i get the explanation of the inherent characteristic of the engine and the random backfire/pop noise that I occasionally get, but in all it seems a bit annoying to me and too abrupt in my opinion to be considered an issue?

So, am I too assume this engine behavior is deemed as NORMAL?

 

Funny - I was just searching on this same behavior too. Mine does the same - but not all of the time.

I have a '13 All4 (5k miles) coming from a '12 base. The base was horrible in both up and down shifting - but attributed that to the under power engine.

 

Coming from a family of Japanese cars with sequential options on the auto tranny (Acura TL, Acura CL Type S), the first time I used the SMG on my friend's BMW 525 in sport mode definitely felt very "lurchy." Even my first 2004 Justa with a CVT seemed to have a jerkiness at low speeds.

My current CMS's behavior in sport mode shifting is certainly more "lurchy" than Japanese cars, but feels pretty normal when compared to the BMW/Mini feel.

 

nope, my sisters 09/2011 build 2012 cms all4 shifts great in all modes ... not as well as my 03/2012 cms all4 manual, but that's another debate

i suggest a visit to the dealer ... maybe drive another car

scott

 

well some real helpful advise here. Thanks a lot. I'm thinking I may have something more than normal going on here. Hopefully some others may chime in with there experiences to balance out my thinking. Right now that jerk while de accelerating from 3rd to 2nd (I think) is just too much to ignore.....

 

I too have that jerking when decelerating but being new to Mini can't give you any help on whether it's normal. Any experienced owners want to chime in?

 

just to be clear...what I'm describing is pretty abrupt and distinct (with pop) only at one specific time of the de acceleration process and when sport mode is switched on.

 

Next time it happens, take note of what is the "was" RPM prior to shift and the "is" RPM after the shift. That may shed some light on how much engine compression contributes to the "lurch" you're feeling. Are you used to driving a manual? Would you compare the lurch to spinning up to high RPM in low gear and jumping off the accelerator? My guess is that the downshift is occurring and spinning the engine to higher RPMs resulting in more a pronounced braking effect.

Without additional info, it's one of many hypotheses. If it's only in sport, I wouldn't worry as much. But as bmwr606 said, bring it up with the dealer. They've got the means to get more data from your car than we've got here.

 

Sounds normal to me. Did you not test drive the car and try sport mode?

 

RPM at jerk point is consistently at or about 2000, Although this car is an automatic, I do one how to drive a manual. Have not had a chance to try your other point of spinning up RPM in low gear and jump off accelerator....will give that one a try and update.

I did however try the sport mode with paddle shift this morning and noticed ONlY a slight "pop" / backfire at the 2000 RPM number with NO jerking....obviously because I'm in manual sport mode. Therefore, "jerkiness" and pop is only in full auto sport mode de accelerating down at 2000RPM.

 

Unfortunately, I Did not test drive the car in sport mode before driving off lot....

 

My 12 All4S has 22k and this is normal. Ive driven several and in sport mode the up and downshifting is a bit harsh but is intended to keep the engine in the power band and ready to take off. I like the gurgle. Compared to my wifes 06 S its about the same.

 

Good to know....appreciate the feedback.

 

I can tell you this is completely normal.

My 2013 CM has just over 1000 miles on it and it does exactly this and only in sports mode. The jerkiness is kinda lame and I don't really care for it but the pop and backfire is awesome, especially if you have an aftermarket exhaust.

I have a magnaflow exhaust and have removed the 2nd cat and resonator and when it pops it sounds like a muscle car.

I've read other posts that say they got rid of the pop in 2011-12 models and it appears they have brought it back.

 

I too have that jerking when decelerating. I feel the jerk only in sports mode slowing from 30 mph to 22 mph i feel the jerk.

 

Ditto! It seems as if this is something close to it most if not all owners are experiencing.!

 

That pop and gurgle on a downshift in Sport mode is NORMAL. Most people put it in sport mode for just that reason.

 

Does the auto box in the minis have the auto-blip to rev match the rpms? If it blipped the throttle, would it get rid of the jerky motion?

What about those PDK, DSG, 7G-tronics? do they auto blip?

Would the newer F56 have the auto blip heel and toe? thanks

 

Count me in that club!