Is it possible that under hard acceleration there is less torque steer with the JCW engine kit than without it? Does that make sense since the kit offers more torque? That seems to be my experience but I do not understand why that would be. It's still there, but it appears to be milder and more controlled.

 

i understand that torque steer is a result of excessive power torque, isn't it?

 

You will only have more torque steer with the JCW kit. The only real way to lessen this is to have a LSD. I have an LSD in my MCS and there is minimal torque steer. My opinion of minimal may be bias because my last car was a front wheel drive 1.8t big turbo Jetta with 275whp

 

My assumption was that the torque steer would be stronger but it appears to be less severe than before the kit was installed. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but that's what I'm feeling. I was just curious if any other JCW kit owners have experienced this.

 

I have LSD as well and get torque steer like symptoms at full power. However, if I turn off the traction control it disapears. Looks like the TC is working overtime to keep grip on the road

 

Although it does sound odd, i have the same experience with my R56 Works, and noticed it on the demo when comparing before and after the kit was fitted.

I have the LSD, and believe it to be far better than the version fitted to my last R53MCS.

 

Less torque steer, true. I too have the Works kit. The overall effect of the Works kit is more linear turbo boost, better modulated throttle response & a very flat torque curve. These things contribute to the smoother launches, faster throttle drop off, faster & smoother shitfing (1st,2nd 3rd) and less apparent torque steer. I think we can say the steering feels better, the car feels more stable & the driving experience seems improved.
I actually mentioned this in my "post-JCW install" remarks last month on NAM.
The Works package still scores well w/ me after 1200k miles of driving.

 

i have jcw and no lsd and it jumps around like a wild horse when i goose it...i don't know what to do...feels like the whole front end is sliding on ice....any ideas? is it really worth paying for lsd to try a fix? i have bigger tires coming tomorrow and worry that it may only exacerbate the problem.

 

I only have one theory: The torque stear may not be as obvious post JCW as the powerband itself has been smoothed out off idel.

The stock S had a real dip around 3000 RPM with power kicking in again hard around 3500-3700. There was a noticable dip in power, then a real snap when it came back on. Almost felt like old-school turbo lag... but since the turbo spools up fully at 1700, it wasn't that.

With the smoother delivery of the JCW kitted engine, that "dip & kick" has disappeared. Still quite a bit of torque stear during hard WOT. Thankfully, none in the straight away (try a Mazdaspeed 3 if you want to see some nasty STRAIGHT LINE torque steer. It's AWFUL!)

 

IIRC, the factory dyno charts showed lower levels of torque in the lower RPMs with the JCW kit. The gains were all in the high RPMs. That could account for some reduction in torque steer.

 

I remember reading your post-install comments buy I don't recall the torque steer mention. Anyway, it's good to know others have seen the same effect. It's one more way that the JCW kit makes the R56 simply a better all-around car to drive. I'm as enthusiastic as marksmith about the JCW. Smoother launches, smoother shifting, less torque steer, more pull on the highway -- worth every painful, hard-earned penny. Once Alta and the others come out with comparable products it will be interesting to see what they do to the characteristics of the car beyond hp and 0-60 times. I've already made my choice, but I still hope they can match what the JCW kit does to make the car all-around more pleasurable.

 

I didn't check the torque steer box when configuring my MCS online, but somehow it was included in the package. Do you think Mini just slipped up and gave it to me anyway

 

I am used to it now. It doesn't surprise me when it happens or it doesn't even bother me anymore. I think of it as my own bad breath in the morning. It's there but I am used to it.