Ok, So What's With the Popping Sound?
 

Just got my first Mini (MCSc), and have now experienced the "Popping Sound" that the car makes, usually when gearing down. I understand that it's SUPPOSED to do that. It is rather satisfying, like something significant is going on. So, what makes that sound? Why is that supposed to be good? Does it serve a purpose? Or is this just another example of the weird world of Mini? :razz:

It is supposed to sound aggressive and sporty. "Burble and pop" is what it is frequently called. I personally didn't care for it in the loaner I drove.

I believe that it will do that less if you leave it out of "sport" mode.

It is intended to sound like the backfire of an old style sports or race car when lifting off of the accelerator. In the MINI it is artificial because it doesn't occur naturally in normal operation of the engine, but the computer was programmed to make it happen artificially. It serves no functional purpose. Like the fake non-functional hood scoop, it is there to enhance a "sporty" character.

"Pop and burble"... Often sounds like a single backfire sound. I HATE it and wish it could be tuned off.

Mine is switchable, Sport=On, pop & burble; Sport=off, none.

I find it amusing; actually, my old-time background is in air-cooled VWs, and we'd work hard to make sure our cars *didn't* do that. If we heard pop/burble, we'd go looking for an exhaust leak (common, particularly around one of the head flanges, or the heat riser) or some jetting issue.

I'm not sure what's actually being done to air/fuel/ignition mapping to cause the MINI to emit pop/burble noises.

my 2012 jcw must be defective LOL as ive only had it pop and burble maybe 2-3x in sport mode. i can almost never make it pop or burble.... weird.

Its a magnificent sound :grin:
A little bit of fuel into the hot exhaust and thats all it takes :thumbsup:

I've actually noted when watching my ultra gauge when I let off the trottle the short term fuel trim spikes when I hear a good pop.

:confused: I thought the hood scoop was there to help direct cool air to the diffuser and thru the intercooler?? is that not a functional purpose ?

The hood scoop is only functional on the R52/53 since they have the top mount I/C. The turbo models have a small FMIC making the hood scoop virtually pointless. If I recall correctly, MINI blocked off the hood scoop on the R56 leaving it there merely for aesthetic purposes.

"Functional" is probably too strong a term, but the scoop on my MCS is full o' holes to flow some air. Maybe it helps dust the valve cover... :-)

A vented scoop on the R56 may have helped those who had the melting scoop issue. I've stared at that false scoop a few times considering trimming it out and opening the air flow. Just haven't had the time or nerve yet.

My first car was a 71 Orange Super Beetle. Now I remember those exhaust leaks too. Lol

Back in the day, it was common for carbonated engines to do that. Heck, you could get your mom's Oldsmobile to do it if you put the right mufflers on it.

With the advent of fuel injection, it became very easy to stop squirting any fuel into the intake port when the throttle was lifted. This could not be done with carburation. Any time air was flowing through the carb, some fuel got sucked in to the engine. And if the engine was spinning fast and you suddenly lifted the throttle, cutting airflow dramatically, it would then suck in more fuel than it normally would. The extra would go out the exhaust and get burned there in pops and burbles. Frankly, I've always loved that sound as it's traditionally associated with performance motors and hot rods.

Mini simply programmed the injection computer to continue squirting fuel in for a couple seconds before shutting it off. It's one of my favorite things about the car. It's not loud and adds and extra ambiance to driving. My car's an 06 JCW cab and does not have the 2nd gen's sport/standard modes. So, I get the burble all the time when lifting the throttle and I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, I wouldn't mind the option to extend the time it does that. MPG be damned!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Carbonated? :lol:

:lol: I missed that when I read that post :lol: :lol: Maybe I could have said it better :roll:

I have a 2010 MCS and I haven't noticed any pop and burble, and I always have it in sport mode. I had a r59 as a loner car a few weeks back, and definitely heard it then. Is it a '11 and up thing? It was a little annoying mostly because I knew it was fake. Modified engine? Pop away. Stock? Under 400 bhp? Not so much.

I believe MINI brought it back in '11. Its not fake, although it is ECU controlled. It adds to the overall driving experience and is a nod back to the racing heritage that gave the Mini brand such a cult following and allowed MINI to make such a grand entrance. I, for one, can't get enough of the pops. When I'm engine braking downhill, I'll give the accelerator a little tap just to get some of those pops :grin:

I'm really glad that my 2010 doesn't pop and burble, it would drive me nuts!

The plastic grill in the turbo's hood scoop can be removed, it took me about ten minutes to take it out.

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Dave

I think what it is about the pops is that are so consistent. Same crackle every time. And at any rpm! I've driven a couple beastly cars in my time, and there wasn't any exhaust crackles when you let off the gas at 1200 rpm. 4200, hell yes. that's what bothers me about it. The computer says "He lifted! Give it a POPop p p!" It's like the guy at work who can"t get over 'that's what she said' jokes.

That must be in the 2nd gen. My R53 makes pops at random when I let off. Sometimes it makes none at all...when its cold itll continuously make them when I let off. Sometimes it makes some burbling other times it sounds like a gunshot. I can see how the same thing could get annoying to people.

Darn spell checker..........

Interesting--maybe it's the predictability that makes me so strongly dislike it. Or that it sounds like either a) a basketball has gotten into the hatch and is bashing around back there or b) somebody is firing weapons at my tail end trying to kill the person stuffed into the boot who is clamoring to get out. Yours is a more informed answer, I think I'll use it when ridiculed about not liking it. Shhhh.

2013 S Coupe.
POP! POP! POP! (always 3 of them)

Methinks there's likely a difference between the sound made by a 1st gen car and the sound made by a 2nd gen car. My 1st gen 06 sounds exactly like it should were it a carburated high performance motor and is never obtrusive nor does it sound like basket balls or make single loud pops. It fairly well muffled and I've had to point it out to others before. It's perfect and the only complaint I have is that I'd like to have the option for it to go on just a bit longer.

IMHO the "burble & pop" is part of the character of a first-gen car. (I know, 2011+ cars got it back but it's part of the DNA of the R53 that was reborn.)

Some call it annoying or fake, I call it music to the ears. That, along with the supercharger whine, is the auditory part of the driving experience that helped nudge me towards my R53. And I don't need no steenkin' sport button :wink: