So, I have been looking at MCS for a while, and finally found a second one that I'm willing to pay for.

'03 MCS with sports and cold weather package, 34k miles (no sunroof).

I'm about to pull the trigger!!!... but...

Had a pre-purchase inspection performed last night, everything checks out... nothing special for a 3+ years and 30k miles, just regular wear and tear.
Scanned it for any codes, and found nothing.

During my test drive, I have found the car to be a little sluggish. I told my mechanic that (he's a performance orientated guy too), and he drove it and agreed with me. Keeping an open mind, the car does not feel as quick as it should. At lower rpm’s there isn’t much power, and than it does not pull very hard, for instance:

- 10mph roll, in second gear, the car hesitated
- The power curve is very linear; there isn’t a “kick in the butt” type of power at any specific rpm.

Here is what we have checked:
- We pulled a spark plug, and it looked fine, no discolorations of any kind.
- Scanned OBD2 codes; no codes.
- Checked to make sure that the S/C belt is there (haha).
- Oil looked fine, coolant looked fine.
- Clutch wasn’t slipping or anything.
- We went over the car pretty well, did not see anything out of the ordinary.

What could cause the car to be sluggish?

It’s been owned by a 40+ year old woman, no signs of abuse, no signs of any modifications, no CELs… I’m clueless. The only thing that I could think of is that she has been using regular gas and the timing is bumped way back. Any other suggestions as to what it could be?

I am very interested in buying this car.

Thanks!!

-Kamil

 

Ohh man she ran it with regular gas. The car runs totaly different with premium.

The MCS power doesn't kick in till about 2500 when the supercharger's boost starts to kick in.

 

Yea, I've driven a few MCS, and I clearly remember that.

So, best bet would be run it very low on gas, fill it up w/ super, replace fuel filter and spark plugs (maybe that's too much?) and somehow reset the computer, right?
(has no OBC to manually reset it, so I probably need to disconect the battery?)

I don't think that there's any long term effects I should worry about... i.e car might have been running rich for a long time cuz of low-octane gas, cat might be on its way out? (doubt it).

 

Original plugs, that would be for sure, 87 oct regular = a slug after 30k. New plugs, some 93 oct and 3 - 400 miles & it will wake right up.

 

Do a search on how to reset the computer, I don't remember the procedure right now but I've definitely read about it here. That should be your starting point and go from there. The stock "S" is (if I still remember correctly) very sluggish at take-off, even with my "typical mods" it's on the sluggish side at take-off, but you should feel a boost from the supercharger just as mdsbrain says @ 2500 or so rpm's.

I'll presume you guys checked that the air filter is not a black glob of accumulated dirt, right?

 

We did no such thing, that makes no sense at all.

Go with OEM plugs? If I was to throw a pulley on it later (of an undetermined % at this point), should consider plugs that are a step (or two) colder now? (probably not a good idea, and plugs are "cheap").

 

Is the car running the latest software upgrades? Lots of '03 MCS had stumble/yo-yo issues among other things. The owner may not have kept up w/ such things. A MINI-dealer could read software info off the key.

 

The plugs are kind of a toss up. Since the cold weather is almost here, OE plugs would be just fine IMHO. When you put a pulley, CAI & what ever else, then replace the plugs. Spend the money saved from the plug purchase on a Bentley manual, you won't be sorry.

 

No doubt, I have had one for all my BMWs.

Let's start the n00b questions:

Question, do Minis have their own ETK, or are they included on the general BMW one? (I have it, just have not installed on my PC yet)

 

...to long time driving in lower rev range and low shift points combined with low octane? Would it tend to cause the sort of characteristics you describe ? I don't know.

Is there any way you could plug in a OBD2 monitoring device and watch AF and other stuff to see if anything is wacky?

How about an obstruction in the air flow path? (seems unlikely, but just trying to throw possiblities out).

 

MINI is in the BMW ETK

 

prob just the gas...the ecu being use to low octane and protecting the engine as much...

 

To reset the computer, I believe that if you pull the EFI fuse out for like 10 minutes that will reset it.

Though I could be wrong.

Gilman.