Hi, First time mini owner (12 countryman non s) first time tread posting. Ive heard that when you stop at a light or anywhere, the car goes to neutral for safety reasons. is it true? ive noticed the lack of acceleration or hesitation coming off a stop. if it is true is there a way to make it not do that?

 

The reason is to limit wear to the throw out bearing, a very expensive and un-necessary repair and replace item. ANY time your foot is touching the clutch pedal there is hydraulic pressure on the TOB which is not that much different from foolishly riding the brakes. At a stop, go to neutral and get your foot off the clutch. Simple as that.

 

sorry i didnt include that this is an automatic

 

Can't think of why one would need to with an automatic. Can't say I have ever put an automatic in neutral at a stoplight.

Nik

 

Most likely is that standard engine is not powerful enough for the weight of the car + automatic transmission does not make it any better.
Non S Countryman is really lethargic.

 

Disregard everything I posted except that about riding the brakes. Also, don't be lulled into the modern myth about MINIs taking care of themselves. Check the fluid levels regularly (weekly at least) and change the oil and filter much sooner than recommended. Most won't argue with every 5K miles regardless of what manufacturers say.

 

We have noticed the same hesitation and asked about it at the one year service. They test drove the car and deemed that it was normal.
That being said I have noticed it more when the car has not come to a complete stop. Allowing a complete stop and the tranny to fully shift down to 1st seems to eliminate most of the lag. Putting the accelerator down aggressively wipes out any lag but also makes for a jackrabbit start. I've been able to anticipate the stumble and smooth it out using the gas pedal.

 

I think with auto, when you stop the car starts in 2nd and not in first. With the non-s the engine is under power.

 

It seems like that is true, I drive my automatic nearly 100% of the time in paddle-shifter mode.

So when you stop, put it all the way down to first gear, and always drive with the "sport" button on. That helps eliminate most lag.

 

Many modern auto transmissions are programmed to switch to neutral when stopped to save a small amount of fuel. Idle in neutral takes less fuel than idle in gear with load on the torque converter.

 

I remember reading somewhere (MotoringFile?) that MINI had implemented this new thing on 2011+ auto models where the the transmission would go into neutral when stopped to save some fuel. We have 4 MINIs in the family, 2 pre-2011 and 2 post-2011 all automatics and having driven all them I can definitely tell a difference. Mine is a 2011 CMS and if I pay attention I can feel it going into neutral after 2~3 seconds after stopping while in drive. I can also attest that if you're in sport/manual mode it doesn't do it. I kinda like it because you get less vibration trough the steering wheel when stopped, and when you don't want it to happen you just put it in Sport and its all better.

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

I have a 2012 Countryman with the auto trans. I would think that if it went into neutral at a stop, when you took your foot off the brake, the car would stay in place (or roll like with a manual trans when on an incline). If I take my foot off the brake, the car will creep forward, just like with any other auto when in gear.

 

Taking your foot off the brake may trigger a shift back into 1st so the car is ready to accelerate away from a stop.

 

i never drive around in sport mode, ill have to try that and see if that makes a difference. This forum is great...