This morning was the second time since I've owned my Mini that the throttle lag almost killed us. I live on a road that gets heavy rush-hour traffic, and you often have to accelerate quickly to jump into a gap, because if you wait for the traffic to stop completely, you'll be waiting til noon. I've been doing this for the 6 years I've lived here, and I've never had a close call before getting the Mini.

This morning I was waiting to make my right turn into traffic, when a large dump truck gave me a flash. I hit the gas and drop the clutch, and nothing. The car just dies, but unfortunately lurches out into the road enough to be in the way of the dump truck. He can't stop in time, but fortunately no one is coming the other way, so he is able to swing around us, sparing my wife and I from possible flattening.

This is the second time that I've had the throttle lag almost cause and accident, and the umpteenth time the car's fallen on its face when I've gone to accelerate quickly.

I need options. I've thought about raising the idle speed. Has anyone tried this, or is it even possible? I know some people will tell me to drive it differently, because there always has to be someone, but I'd like to know if there is a solution that works at all.

My wife wants to sell the car because she thinks it's not safe, and I want to keep my Mini.

 

This sounds like a simple case of the traction control engaging. A very common complaint about the MINI. Try turning off the DSC or ASC and see if that helps.

 

Never thought of that. Thanks.

 

I've noticed that I am more lax on the accellerator in the morning compared to other times. Unlike an automatic, people are different in the morning and other times of the day creating a unique combination. My fears of exactly what you experienced drives me to concentrate just a little more on getting the RPMs up before jumping out there. I also agree turning off the DSC helps a little.

My other problem is when I have one or more passengers and get involved in conversation and lose track of the gear I'm in. Not quite the same as walking and chewing gum at the same time.

 

I am glad you both are OK. I had a very simular thing happen to me on the way home from the dealer. IMO that traction control is dangerous.

Here's your fix....It's an Ian Cull auto-up circuit with track mode. The track mode disables the traction control.

 

Strange to read this, because I have no problem with this at all. I have ASC, not DSC, and never turn it off. When I jump out into traffic, I "get rubber" in 1st & 2nd. When I first got the car, I did notice a lag, but now I rev it a bit in preparation, maybe from the 800 idle speed up to about 1000-1200 (it is more of a tap than just mashing it down). Makes me wonder if my ASC is not working, and maybe about how to keep it broke. I am not a "expert" or trained driver, but I have been driving standards for all but two of the last 35 years.

 

Exactly what I was going to say.

Note, it is also incredibaly embarassing when you leave it on at the track, and the car dies in first gear fpr seemingly no reason at all.

 

Those with an '02 or '03 may notice this more than those with newer models. My '02s first gear is a dog. I leased an '05 last year for a week and was always breaking traction from a start. They are definitely different.

 

I vote more HP....and turning off DSC. I leave mine on...but never really get any lag. It does happen when I go around turns, and if I hit the gas pedal really hard, NOTHING happends! It's HORRIBLE and I can see why that would be a danger.

Get some go-fast parts and turn DSC off.

-Cody

 

Just to verify, we aren't talking about a Cooper CVT, right? While DSC can impact those as well, more often than not one needs to learn that transmission.

Since your sig shows an MCS, I'm assuming that is what we're talking about - but is it an auto or a manual? While I tend to agree with the others that DSC/ASC is likely your culprit, we need some specifics to more accurately assess the situation.

 

Maybe it's due to the fact the Mini has a small 1.6 liter motor (low torque) or maybe it's due to the electronic throttle.....but you definitely have to press the accellerator, wait for the engine revs (I think this "wait" is the problem) and then let out the clutch. This is different than the other Japanese cars we own (Miata, Protege).

I wish there was a fix for this. True, after a while driving the Mini, it will become a reflex and the "problem" will go away....but that's not really a "fix". Here's the thread I've started elsewhere about the same issue:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=80723

 

i never turn my DSC off and i never had this problem. I think im use to the lag and unconsiously rev it up ever so slightly when letting the clutch out for first gear.

 

This is a perfect example of why i don't have DSC.... Yeah, others swear by it and that it MAY save your life once in a blue moon if you get into that kind of situation, however, it appears it has a higher chance of killing you due to it kicking in inappropriately.

I have no problem with acceleration, even with AC on, and I have a MC... So if you are having that problem in a MCS, then that is BAAAAADDDDDD....

 

My '03 MCS stumbled out of first gear and the traction control often made it worse. If I'd rev it a little, but engage the clutch too quickly, the DSC would kick in and stumble the car yet for a second time within a second or two... a fatal flaw if you are trying to jump into traffic quickly. I hated this problem.
Fortunately, this does not exist in my 2006 JCW MCS. Since there are several updates between the '03 MCS and an '06 w/JCW kit, I cannot be certain which upgrade corrected the problem.

 

Sorry, it's an '06 MCS 6-sp manual. It seems like when I try a quick take-off in 1st gear, the throttle lag makes it as if I'm dumping the clutch without hitting the gas at all, so the car just sits there (or stalls). It just seems so odd to have the throttle on the floor and a stalled engine. I've only ever had big V8s before this, so maybe it's something I need to adjust to, but it's such a huge lag (and not always a consistent one) that I'm having trouble adjusting.

I feel like I need to keep the edge of my foot on the gas to keep the revs up, so this is why I'm wondering about raising the idle speed, since it would have a similar effect.

 

Idle speed is a good idea, but I don't know how to do it.

Just for the record, our car doesn't have DSC, only ASC, and we have the same problem. But personally, I don't think DSC or ASC has anything to do with the problem we're talking about. (but I've been wrong before!)

 

You are actually pressing the throttle at the TOP and not trying to mash the bottom of the pedal - where the hinge is - into the carpet ?

I dislike the hinged pedal idea, I have always prefered suspended pedals and found this the most difficult thing to convert to.

Also the DSC/ASC/whatever reacts at the same rate as me in controlling wheelspin - I dislike it, but nowadays I either drive through it, or turn it off and let my brain do the traction management function...

 

You know, I have the same problem on my '06 MCS... I thought it was just me! My lag appears to be very random. Very odd... some days I get pushed back in my seat; other days, the car darn near dies on me (hasn't died yet though). Of course, this appears to happen more often than not in heavy traffic.

The lag does appear to occur more frequently with the A/C on, but it also occurs with the A/C off... I have had the car checked at the dealer twice now. They can't duplicate the problem (figures), and the car isn't logging any faults...

I wonder if this could be a computer problem? When it happens to me, it almost seems as if the engine is flooding... Has anyone else seen this???

 

This may be a dumb answer, but are you giving it enough gas? Rev to about 2-3K and let it go and there should be no problem!

 

My '03 Cooper had a pronounced stumbling problem when I first got it (new). I brought it in for a software upgrade on the advice of others here, and that took care of it. Maybe the '06s have a similar problem?

BTW I always have the DSC on -- it just doesn't occur to me to turn it off -- and it doesn't seem to cause any problems. The air conditioner, on the other hand... let's just say I know to turn it off if I want a fast start from a stoplight!

 

I leave the DSC off most of the time. I just rev it an extra bit for 1st gear.

 

I have a '06 MCS 6-sp manual - but a JCW - and it takes off like a missile from any standing start. I have been trying to tone down showing off at every red light but the acceleration is addictive.

I have noticed, though, that the real tire chirping acceleration always comes from second gear - so I try to spend only a nanosecond or two in first, get it to second as soon as I can, and then peal out from there. Certainly the JCW power helps with this - but our transmissions are the same so it may be that second gear is a better place from which to apply your forward thrust.

Just a suggestion.... Good luck !

Bill

 

That's weird. Mine's an '06 six-speed and I have DSC, never turn it off and have no problem. I don't notice a lag. In fact mine usually takes right off and I've even chirped the wheels in first.

 

I've also noticed this although I don't have JCW.

I've only really felt lag twice in Winnie (MCSm) both times making a left turn at a light, i assumed it was caused beacuse i didn't give it enough gas...

 

'05 MCS 6MT here with ASC and no problems whatsoever on take offs. My car is a 100% bone stock pocket rocket.

I never turn off the ASC.

I think your driving technique may be contributing to the problem. It sound slike you are not giving the car enough gas, or your "let clutch out, press gas in" coordination is not appropiate. It is hard to tell. I would have to be there to see it and then drive the car myself to "experience" the problem, if there is a problem in fact.

I used to own a 2004 MCS with the old tall gearing and just ASC and that car was a "dog" from standstill. There are many driving situations that I handle , no sweat, in my '05 MCS that were cause for anxiety in my '04 MCS.

When MINI changed the gearing (Made 1,2 and 3 gears substantially shorter than before) in 2005, they totally and completely transformed the car. I don't miss my '04 MCS at all, with the exception of the better audio/cruise control buttons of the old 2-spoke sport steering wheel.

Like some have said, try turning off DSC and see if that helps and practice take offs in an empty parking lot until you get it right. Don't be afraid to give the car more gas than usual and re-visit your clutch launching technique that appears to be at the heart of your problems.

I am not saying that you don't know how to drive a manual, rather than your launch technique maybe partly responsible for the "bog down" when you are attempting to merge into traffic. Picture this, you are tense, traffic flow is intense and then in your anxiety you try to merge in and therefore you are not doing it properly.

Best of luck and practice, practice until you feel CONFIDENT about your MCS's take off ability.