Just weeks after I got the car someone drove it and he kind of abused it. He went over a really big pot hole going about 35 mph while accelerating hard. Now every time I take off from a start under moderate acceleration, the steering wheel pulls to one side. I don't know if it did this before he drove it because I had not had it for long enough to realize. Is this just the normal torque steer or is something wrong with the alignment?

 

Sounds like torque steer. Try loosening the grip on your wheel during steady speed and see if it pulls to one side or the other. If it does, it's alignment. If it only pulls under acceleration, it's torque steer.

 

I'd say it is an alignment issue. Granted I do not have an R56, but when my car exhibited such behavior it was due to the alignment. Now, I can pull hard from 50mph to 70mph on the interstate while not touching the wheel and go straight ahead. No torque steer from a start either.

 

Check Tire Pressure

 

Bad bushing, bent front control arms, who knows.

Take it to a professional independent mechanic or tire shop. Put the car on the lift for a visual inspection. If everything checks OK, likely the car needs to be re-aligned on the rack.

A pot hole encounter at 35 MPH is nothing to sneeze at. Make sure the tire/wheel are not bent either.


Stories such as yours is why I don't let other people (Outside of my circle of trust) drive my car.

 

Do this on a semi-empty road..... Take the car to about 45-50 MPH and let the hands off the steering wheel (On a straight piece of road). If the car tracks true and straight for about 1/4 of a mile, then you are fine. If it immediately pulls left or right, have the alignment check.

For peace of mind, have the car put on a lift and have everything visually inspected. If there is damage, I am afraid your friend is going to pony up the cost of repairs and alignment.

 

Thanks for all the input. Every time I get behind the wheel I cant help but think of the car as somehow broken. It frustrates me to drive it.

 

What kind of tires are you running? As tires wear down, certain tire tread patterns will cause more torque steer than usual. My Parada Spec IIs are notorious for this.

 

Then get an alignment. $70 or so to enjoy your car is not much.
If it is something broken or bent they will find it.
Also, just because a car tracks down the highway does not mean it is aligned. Just means it tracks down the highway.

 

I have the stock 16" runflat tires. The car only has 700 miles on it.

 

Have you ever owned another front wheeled drive car with a lot of torque? It could be you haven't experienced this kind of torque steer before. Yeah, unless you hit something big in the road, your tires should be fine. Sounds more like torque steer.

 

Bring it back to the dealer and tell them it came like that.

 

Good call !!!

 

With 700mi on the clock, I believe I'd at least check with the dealer. It may be a hassle, but probably worth it.

 

Anyone think to tell him to check his strut tower for mushrooming ?

 

No, I have not. I have mostly had rear drive or rear biased AWD. The last FWD car I had was a volvo s40 2.4i, not exactly a torquey motor.

 

His car is a second gen. He could possibly be the first, but I doubt it.

 

Yeah, it'll hit you at first. You'll get used to it.

 

My experience with torque steer is the air pressure being equal in the front tires will lessen the feel of the torque steer. It will still be there but not as pronounced. I'm talkin even down to 1/2lb of pressure will make a difference.

Another thing I noticed was that after rotating the tires the torque steer was more pronounced, something I had not expected.

But with only 700 mi I would have it checked at the dealer

 

National Tire and Battery (and I believe their affiliates Tire Kingdom and Merchants and Big O) offer a free wheel alignment check. Have 'em put it up on the alignment rack and give you the report. If it needs one, it's about $80... If it doesn't, then it's no charge for the check...

 

go the dealer and plead ignorance, esp. if there's no visible damage to the rims and tires. plus, MINI alignments are different than yr standard car care shop: all 4 wheels are aligned, and they load the seats down with dead weights. if U take yr car to a car care shop they may not know what they're doing, mess it up even worse, then the dealer can hold that against you.

My dealer charges $130 for a 4-wheel alignment.

 

yeah it took me about a thousand miles, but then I came from an un-modded R53 where TS was not an issue.

 

I dont want to go through with this if it is just normal torque steer. Here is another two things i noticed. If I step on it from a stop without touching the wheel, it definitely pulls. Also, when I go over small bumps or holes, the wheel pulls slightly back and forth (to each side), nothing major but something I noticed.

 

I think that's pretty normal. The car also pulls when there's a groove in the road too. I noticed that when I first start driving the MINI. But now I'm use to it.