hello all

I just noticed something strange in my '03 Cooper S, and I'm wondering if it is normal or not.

If I park the vehicle facing upward on anything around a 10˚ slope or more, and leave it in first gear but with no e-brake, the car will slowly roll backwards in a slow-motion "chug-a-lug" fashion, i.e. with engine rotation & compression etc.

I've never had a manual-transmissioned car do this, and I can't help but wonder if this is because of the lower compression ratio associated with a supercharged engine?

At any rate, obviously any car should never be parked without the e-brake on, especially on a hill, but I'd like to know if this is normal or not.

regards

greg v.

 

If its spinning the motor the clutch is fine. Everything sounds fine and I have seen this happen before and with the 03 I think 1 and 2 are a higher gear then the newer ones which would make the motor turn alittle more easy on a hill.

 

I agree, I tried to take off in 3rd and 5th and could not get any clutch slip whatsoever, and the clutch feels great.

So I guess the combination of a low gear and a lower than normal compression ratio could produce this condition; I had my brother try this on his '02 Cooper, and his wouldn't "creep" in any gear....

cheers

greg v.

 

The MCS will creep when parked in gear with the e-brake released on shockingly level grades. I witnessed my own performing an unmanned off-road excursion which included a 1' drop off of a short stone wall. It thankfully came to rest unharmed other than a slightly bent exhaust heat shield.

 

Yikes.

Glad to hear the damage was minimal, but watching it happen could not have been fun...

greg v.

 

Resolution: Do not park on any hills. HAHAHA

 

I heard it before I saw it (bottoming out on the wall). It was perpendicular to a very steep nearby hill, and would have been in the Atlantic had it been pointed in the wrong direction.

 

Better resolution: use handbrake

I can't say that I stick to this resolution though. Seeing as though the biggest hills we have in my part of FL are speedbumps, I almost always leave the car in first or second when parked.