Hi Guys

Question for you guys.
My 2013 R58 JCW exhibits a small amount of Torque steer which can be easily handled by a few steering corrections.

Do you guys have this minor issue on a Cooper S or regular Cooper or is it just HP related.

Sport mode is on and Traction control on as well ?

I ask because I was going to buy one as a gift for someone and they are a new driver and this could be an issue.

Ian

 

Depends what you mean by "torque steer". I think strictly defined torque steer means that when the car is going straight on level road and you accelerate it wanders left or right of center. What most people refer to is what happens when you accelerate during a turn ("steer") and the car gets a little squirrelly. The latter is normal behavior, HP related as you state, because the wheels spin different speeds as opposed to straight ahead. The former can be due to alignment. Some cars do it naturally. Sometimes the road is not as level as you think, or there's some wind, etc.

 

Level Road straightforward just full power when car hits torque it will pull left.

Only will do this under full power from 3 to 5k RPM

Its definitely Torque Steer and my question is does the lower HP R58 models or R56 have this issue?

Ian

 

It is a common occurrence with any front wheel drive vehicle. LSD will mitigate it to a degree. You got one wheel, under power, pulling harder than the other - that's where the rest of the iron will follow. This issue has been hashed over on the forum many times.

 

There is even more of this torque steer with the JB+ and sport mode on.

It may become tricky at full power in lower gears with MT depending of some driving conditions as humid or wet pavement but certainly more fun and more under control than with the AT.

 

Thanks Guys I dont think the R58 would be a good 1st kids car based on your answers.

Ian

 

It's only an issue under aggressive low gear acceleration and if it does start to drift off line a quick throttle back will put an end to it. Lots of cars are front wheel drive so a kid's gotta learn some time.
How many kids got tossed into the pond for their first swimming lesson?

 

If I recall correctly these engine torque mount inserts helped with the torque steer.

http://www.nm-eng.com/294/11/0/1456/...rm-insert.html

Cheap and easy to install.

 

Guys your allmissing the point here.

I have no issues for myself with the Torque Steer its fine.

But I was asking if a base model R58 or any Mini had Torque steer?
Since it seems they have a small amount I would rather buy a different vehicle for a new driver.

Ian

 

Not knowing what your experience with this thing is, I really think you're making more of it than there really is. It certainly isn't going to turn the car 90° and put it in the next lane or in the ditch. I experience it once in a while at intersections mainly from a rare breakdown in pedal coordination, but a quick lift off the throttle stops it and I keep on going. The mis-direction is very minimal, no more than a few inches off course. If you're getting it for a kid, a little one on one getting used to the clutch/throttle dance should mitigate any uncomfortable notions.

 

From reading the threads and watching shows like Wheeler Dealers, all front wheel drive cars are prone to torque steer caused by one drive axle being shorter than the other. Special mounts can limit it, but it's the nature of FWD.

I firmly believe a new driver should learn on a crappy POS and not a performance vehicle. You want them to first learn speed and turns are dangerous, not that they are fun. One of my kids learned to drive in a tippy Jeep Liberty, the other in my old Mini R53. Guess which one is the safer driver.