Just took delivery on my new JCW car. Handels great so far but have not pushed it in any way yet, just 200 miles and it took 80 to get it home from the dealer.

I do not hear any of the sounds I heard in the dealer demo and I see people talking about here. With or without the "sports" button engaged. Did Mini fix their valve time software, did I just get one that makes none of those noises? I must addmit that I am mildly disappointed. Only mildly..........

 

Mini is much more pronounced in "Sport" mode. I do hear it when the sports mode is off, but it's more muted and not as many "pops"

 

Mine didn't start becoming more vocal until about 800 miles or so.

 

Do you hear this more just setting in the driveway or on deceleration? I expected to hear the sounds with the engine just turning over, say 800 to 1000 RPM. Maybe a few more miles will make a difference.

 

I usually hear it between shifts when the car is coming out of boost. Otherwise, I haven't noticed it much at all.

 

Mine's only on deceleration, between shifts or just letting up on the gas pedal

 

my exhaust noise got much more pronounced after 1000 miles.

 

I've been getting some "pinging" type noises when the engine is turned off right after I park the car.

 

Mine is only on deceleration or on a fast upshift sometimes. Only have about 800 miles so far, undoubtedly it will be more pronounced as revs rise and the exhaust system gets more "broken in."

 

Sweet. I was just telling my fiancé last night, that I wish the exhaust had just a tad bit more volume. Maybe at 1k mi. it'll be just right.

 

Drive with with a bit more attitude and you'll hear it. Let her go to the 4000 rpm range and let off the gas, that should produce a pop!! Just watch the rpm's and the speedo, it'll get you into ticket range quickly if your not careful! Mine started popping almost from the beginning, also you can use the sport button during breakin as long as your within the limits.

 

Yeah, that's been my only concern with running the RPM's that high. The car only has 400mi. on it.

 

JimmyC... where are you from in KY?

 

It's okay as long as you don't go past 4000, the JCW is built to take the rpm's and when I bought our's - MINI told me not to exceed 4500 rpms and keep her under 90 mph. Change up your driving, the engine needs to experience different ranges to break in. Just don't rag it out, drive it nimbly and enjoy the corners!

 

MoxieMini I am just north of Lexington in Georgetown. Our Mini club has pretty much disappeared here. I may show up at some of the Louisville functions this year.

On the noise, it seemed that the dealer demo would snap and pop just setting in the parking lot at 800 RPM. This I really liked to hear and is the focus of my "mild disappointment". Had the sound of a tuned G Production SCCA race car........ or almost. I hope with miles it may start to do this. The demo cars must see a lot of different driving styles over the first few miles.

 

Yep, they do!! Just do some spirited driving within reason and yours will be popping and burbling in no time at all!

 

Only have 400 miles on mine too, but have found that if you lower back seats and keep windows up and sunroof closed and in sport mode you will hear more burble and pop. I have not exceeded 4500 rpm, but on a few spirited upshifts from 2-3 at about 4000rpm there is definetely some good sound!!

 

Mine was the opposite; was pronounced driving home from the dealership, and became less so as I was keeping the RPMs low while breaking it in. Hardly ever get it if sport mode isn't on. I hate the peddle feel w/o it anyway; I like the car to move the second I touch the peddle, plus shifts are perfect in sport mode, while 'jerky' with it off.

 

Yeah, my MA told me the same thing. Thanks Sika!

 

Yeah, we've never even had a MINI club here in Bowling Green. I've been thinking about going to L'ville or Nashvegas. More than likely the latter. Have you thought about a Cincinnati club? They're closer than L'ville aren't they?

On the exhaust stuff... would having different tips help with the sound at all?

 

Moxie, I could go to Cincinnati but have not. The Lexington and Louisville groups had joint events to start with and I am in touch with a few in Lexington yet. The events just stopped…….

I would think the right tips might make a difference but replaceing parts of the exhaust system should make a bigger difference. I moved from a twin turbo 300ZX to Mini’s. I had replaced what they called a down pipe on the Z. I do not know if a Mini has a down pipe but on the Z it changed the sound and increased HP.

 

That sounds like what's happened with the Middle TN group. Granted, as a grad student I don't have time to go to all the events of any group, but it'd be nice to actually get to meet and hang out with other MINI owners.

Yeah, increasing the down pipe size on any turbocharged car is going to up the power and the sound. I really kind of want to stay clear from a performance exhaust so that I don't have to listen to a Hanson concert coming from behind me on the interstate. (I did that to one of my previous cars, and it annoyed the hell out of me, thus why I was thinking just tips.) Basically, I want to get a little more volume/resonance without overdoing it.

 

I'd recommend the Alta downpipe...I've never had any drone, and it sounds simply AMAZING!!

 

The pop became a little more proniunced as I put on the miles..have about 3,700 and I hear it most between shifts...sounds great.

 

I decided to try the "seating the piston rings" method of break-in. My car was popping and burbling nicely from the moment I left the dealer for the first time. :D