Does anyone exerience a wandering feeling when getting feedback from the steering wheel? I get this mostly on the highway when accelerating. The car just seems to wander back and forth just a little bit.

I had the JCW suspension installed on the car just a short while after taking ownership, so I really can't say how it felt before the suspension upgrade.

However, compared to my '03 MCS, it does not feel like the sterring reponse is as precise. I also get the same wandering feeling when braking from high speeds.

I'm running Yokahama Advan Sports in 215/45 ZR17 trim. These are the third set of tires I have tried, (original run flats, all-seaons, and now summer only) and they are the best at reducing the wandering feeling and getting the car to track better.

I also seem to notice that if I have the car in sport mode and the wandering feeling starts to happen, it goes away when I take it out of sport mode. This leads me to believe that the electronic steering assist is what is causing the problem.

I'm taking the car into the dealer for an alignment, but I'm not sure this is going to fix the issue.

Any thoughts???

 

Did you get an alignment after installing the JCW suspension?

 

Yep, part of the cost of getting the JCW suspension installed at the dealer is 4 wheel laser alignment.

I've been reading some other posts that say the problem is due to the soft rubber used in the front control arm busings. Alta Performance has a replacement part which they say takes out the play.

Here's the link: http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...esponse-System

 

If your car is a 2003 and has not had the front A arm bushings replaced this could cause a numb feel in the steering wheel and some wandering. Its very easy for a shop to test these bushings the vehicle is on a hoist. Usually the rubber falls apart anyways and then they will need to be replaced.

 

I think he is talking about his 2009 JCW with the new JCW suspension.

 

Well, I did a little research and believe it may be related to the electronics in the steering system. MINI has changed the programming that controls the steering on the new 2011 JCW models.

They may offer this as a dealer retrofit (software upgrade) for the 2008-2010 JCW cars. Here is the link to the article.

[FONT=Arial]http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/08/24/mini-may-offer-torque-steer-elimination-retrofit-poll/#more-12978[/FONT]

 

I just got a 4 wheel laser alignment at the MINI dealer and the steering issue is resolved.

It was so out and pulliing to the right, that I constantly needed to pull the wheel to the left to correct it.

I would highly reccommend an alignment at least once a year or whenever you put new tires on.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, aren't those Pennsylvania roads wonderful...? On this end of the state, we drive in the potholes and avoid the chunks of road...!