I have heard that the cooper s runs rich however for a while now i have noticed when i start my car it really smells bad very very rich. Also lots of carbon deposits on the exhaust so bad infact that it spits and i get it on the bumper.

Anyone have any ideas.

 

I think its time to get the ecu reflashed to fix your a/f mixture. It'll definately make the car run smoother.

 

your car will always run rich at start up. once it reaches proper temp the fuel system goes into closed loop and will make the proper adjustments between lean and rich according to throttle position and engine load.

 

so this is normal then. there is a lot of carbon coming out. spitting on the bumper.

 

dealer told me that there is not a update flash for my build date.

 

Same problem here; dealer reflashed mine (wiping out the GIAC flash) and no change. Smells like **** in the morning, tailpipes black after one drive to work and no help. I am beginning to believe (OK, I already believe) that the dealers have no clue how to fix these cars. If the ECU doesn't tell them what's wrong, their only solution is a reflash. Bull****! Why doesn't MINI train the service people to handle problems?

 

I've never noticed the smell, but yeah it does run rich most of the time. Never asked a the dealer, figured they know about as much as I do. I know automotive systems, all I need from them is the details.

 

anyone else?

 

Try searching for chadtoolio he is a tech at Mini of Charleston. He works on Brad Davis MINI racer.


Art

 

I had this same problem until I removed the pre-cat from the exhaust manifold, now my tail pipes just have very light coat of carbon. In fact, so light that you can barely see it on your finger after a swipe inside the pipe.

 

when u removed the precat did the exhuast get much loader

 

I didn't notice an increase in sound after removing it, but I did notice that the car felt different. It felt a lot better, definitely smoother running with a small increase in power.


The pre-cat is intended to decrease cold start emissions, after the cold start it's pretty much a restriction.
This is what's inside the pre-cat...

...it's amazing the car runs at all with this in there. Image courtesy of willy69.

 

does it pass emissions

 

I haven't had to get an actual emissions test done yet, but i'm sure it will be fine. The main/primary cat is still in place and that's the one that matters.

 

Where do I find this thing and how do I remove it?

 

In this pic, with the stock header on the bottom, the pre-cat is right after the flex joint...

...I had the whole section removed right up to the smooth bend. My exhaust guy put the O2 sensor bung right where the old one was.

 

and removing this made the carbon deposit get better?

 

From my post above...

 

Keep in mind, removing the pre-cat worked on my car, your results may vary.