Ours is a '04 S Mini Cooper w/45k miles, and recently it has developed an odd problem. The first crank in the AM doesn't cut it. It takes a tap on the throttle and two cranks to get her going.

Secondly, I've noticed an ever-so-slight hesitance on take-off.

Needs new fuel filter? That's my first guess.

We bought the car about 5 months ago from a dealer, and supposedly they replaced all kinds of 35k mile needed items, but who knows.

thanks for any suggestions,

Chuck
near Boston, MA

 

Most of ours do that and it has been attributed to a bunch of things but I think it is the fuel. Particularly ethanol in the fuel. And that is why it seems to come and go at different times of the year. What fuel are you using? Artoo has only ever seen Shell 93 in his life and again, periodically this happens.

The bottom line is that it is nothing to worry about and it is unlikely the fuel filter particularly at 45k unless you use some nasty tank bottom fuels.

Rich

 

We've always used the 93 octane. I've noticed in recent weeks that our MPG's have improved, avg up from 27 to around 30 mpg, so I'm sure the formulation changed.

 

I have this happen to me in the winter. A lot of cars are effected by this, in fact that there is a sticky on it. Here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44204

It starts off talking about stalling, but it also goes into what you are talking about.