So both my wife and I have noticed this with our 2004 Mini Cooper S. When at highway speed going over some uneven freeway pavement, there is this kind of steering "oscillation" where it almost feels like a flat tire. The steering pulls from one side to another, seemingly very quickly like it will go out of control any moment. Slow down a bit, change lanes and it goes away.

I had thought perhaps it was related to the DSC feature going haywire at highway speed?

It isn't fun driving when this happens. I'm curious if it sounds familiar to anyone?

Thanks,

Chuck

 

If it's bad, you should take it in for inspection.
Off hand, it could be wheel balance, alignment, and hopefully not worn or loose components. Too much "toe-out" will give you that darty feel - nice for autocross, not for street.

 

What sort of uneven pavement is this happening.

Is it lateral uneveness paralell with the roadway or uneven from left side of highway to breakdown lane ?

 

How many miles are on the MINI? Could be front control arm bushings if over 60K or ball joints going bad.

 

OUr mini has about 53k miles. Seems early for bushings?

It happened to me in the center lane of I95 coming out of Boston. I wouldn't call it radically uneven, just not smooth pavement. It really felt like the vehicle was playing some kind of sudden pull to the left, and then pull to the right. I honestly first thought I had a flat in the front. It was pretty hair raising at highway speed in traffic.

Thanks, folks. Unfortunately our dealer is about an hour drive, but we may have to make it soon. I wasn't sure if the DSC was involved, but perhaps not?

 

I don't know where you live, but you must have a lot of smooth pavement.
Up here heavily traveled roads are quickly rutted, or grooved by the studded tires and maybe soft asphalt compound. Was going to get a pic, forgot the camera. What we have is two wheel tracks in a lane, like you might see on a jeep trail. Get filled with water when it rains. 2-3-4" or more, deep. All cars with wide tires get pulled side to side in these ruts. A lot! Wider the tire, the worse it is.
My new to me Mini is by far the worst I have ever driven in regards to this. Feels like it's going to change lanes RIGHT NOW. They do steer quick, don't they?

I know that I have read about this tendency for Mini's to be very susceptible to this somewhere, before I even bought the car. The 70 mile round trip in the rain and dark the other night was quite the experience. Both hands on the wheel all the way.
From what I read, and from experience, I believe that it is one of those- "They all do that"- things.
My Mini only has 32K & change on it. I've had it 5 weeks, only run through 1.5 tanks of gas so far. Rather ride my motorcycles while there is no snow/ice on the roads. Drives straight, drives good. If I can stay out of the ruts.
I don't think it's an alignment problem. It's just the way it is. Short wheelbase, wide tires, quick steering.

 

Worth taking in for an inspection, or doing an inspection of your own.
Could be anything from worn bushings, to a bad alignment, worn tires, or just a poor job of 'channeling' the roadway with grooves to reduce hydroplaning (they do that here in CA.)

Is this a new phenomenon on the same stretch of roadway that you've travelled, but haven't felt before?

MINI's do have relatively wide tires (if you've got the 205/45-17), and some are more prone to 'tracking' (following grooves in the road) than others.
If it goes away when changing lanes or speeds, then it sounds like more of a tire/road interface issue. Still, those can be exacerbated by alignment or bushing wear. The front bushings of the MINI have been known to go out in the 50-60K mile range.

 

I had 175/65/R15 tires and no problem with pulling left/right. Recently i bought some 17'' rims and had 225/45/R17. It was a nightmare on bad roads. Now I have the standard 205/45/R17 and it got better. I think because the tire is very wide, it covers more ground and it has under it smooth and bad road. Think its normal this behavior.

 

Yeah, with the wide run flats I definitely notice the "tracking" - especially as the treads wear down. When they're new, virtually no tracking on the same stretch of highway I travel every day.

 

I agree with you. RT 2 from Boston in area of I-495 same problem......The Roadway there is so uneven like the back of a double hump camel - making the MINI track side to side in ruts made by vehicles with MUCH wider wheel base.......

With the exception of those roads on Cape Cod where no frost heaves happen, New England roadways make MINI very prone to this sort of two fisted driving.

 

Just a follow up here. After a winter with Blizzak's on, I have to say it is much easier handling with the higher profile snow tires. I just put the Pirelli's back on and we're back to being *somewhat* jerky. I say somewhat... because my "scary" report before was, as it turns out, that the front tire was worn on the inside corner. Perhaps an alignment issue is more obvious on the high perf tires.

I'm thinking about eventually putting 16" rims/tires on it, just because of the less jerky/bumpy handling. Other thoughts?

Thanks,

Chuck

 

With MINIs 17s and 18s wheel with run-flats tend to do that over rough surfaces. If you have the Pirelli euphorias, suggest that as soon as they wear, replace with non-runflats.

 

That's an interesting consideration, and I've thought of that. However, what about the whole idea behind them, that you want to be able to "hobble" to a tire shop or whatever if you get a flat b/c the MINI doesn't have a spare?

Having said that, my wife (who drives it) drove all winter on Blizzaks... non-runflat, of course.

 

It's called tramlining. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

You'll get used to it or change to less performance oriented tires. I constantly experience it with certain tire brands/types.

 

Cewyattjr - Not sure if you even still check here, but I am glad you posted this. I have been experiencing this issue with my 2015 Paceman and was concerned that there was a more serious issue. As soon as I have the extra cash I'm gonna switch to non-runflats.