MINI - Patrick C. Paternie

he writes...

"Unfortunately, both the Cooper S and Cooper share one negative aspect in engine performance. The 1.6 liter Pentagon engine has very little power to offer below 2500 rpm. Both the Cooper S and the Cooper stutter off the line unless a healthy dose of engine revs accompanies the clutch release."

he also adds...

"Downshifting is helpful when approaching a corner to maintain engine revs above 3000 rpm, or the car will bog down through the corner until the engine works back up to its power band."

So what is he saying? The stutter/stumble/bog are normal???!!!! Say it ain't so!!!!!!

 

I think he is just saying that to keep any power to the wheels, you gotta keep the revs up. I'll vouch for that! nothing worse than hitting the corners at low revs only to bog out and lose momentum.

 

Yep, I do think that's what he's saying. I read the book a few weeks back, and what it said to me was, that BMW knew about this stutter/stumble from the very start.

You do need to keep the revs up to at least 3000rpm to stay away from the Bogs.

My 03 MCS only has a stumble during a start off in first gear with a COLD engine. When it warms up to normal operating temp it runs perfect.

 

Will you go faster when the engine is revving higher, or when it is revving slower?


...When it is revving faster...

 

My MCS is quite enjoyable. Don't be afraid to drive it in higher rev range.

Some good things to do:
Get out of first gear as soon as you can get up to 2500 rpm (maybe sooner)
Use second gear especially around most turns on regular roads. Try using your brakes less and take corners quicker (as long as it is safe to do so). Keep your revs to about 3000 rpm or higher and once you get up to 4000+ rpm switch to third gear. Stay in third until you reach 4500 or higher rpm then shift. If you linger in the higher rpms before changing gears you'll tend to do very well-ample torque. If you drive around alot at under 3000 rpm in any gear it may be pretty sluggish unless you add the pulley upgrade.

 

>>So what is he saying? The stutter/stumble/bog are normal???!!!! Say it ain't so!!!!!!

All he's saying is that the stock Cooper and MCS have little low end power/torque. This can't possibly be news to anyone who's spent more than a few miles behind the wheel. Hence the popularity of various engine modifications which improve this situation.

It's worth noting that he's NOT talking about the "stutter/stumble/bog" which is an actual disruption of power - such as it is - at the low end of the spectrum. If this is still confusing, it'd probably be helpful to go back and read the stumble threads again. Not everyone has the stumble abnormality, but everyone has relatively low power at the bottom end.

 

He obviously has not driven a JCW MCS. :smile:

 

When I picked up my MCS I was ready to be slightly frustrated with power off the line. As it turns out, I felt the opposite! Granted, my MINI is the first car I've really loved and paid attention too, but my MINI takes off WAY faster then any other car I can remember driving. You can often find my flying through parking lots and bolting out of my driveway. The MINI feels like it is begging to go faster and tends to plant your head to the headrest at take off. Maybe I am subconsciously giving some extra gas in lower gears but either way I haven't felt a real lack of power.

And that is my early morning babble for today.

~Steve~

 

MINI - Patrick C. Paternie

If he knows what he is talking about, he is definately not talking about the stumble/bog/yoyo conditions - these are ALL caused by poor software programming and or a mix of programming and hardware as acknoledged by Mini USA and their myriad of software updates - some of which actually induced these conditions in some cars after updating software.

The use of the word 'bog" in Mr. Paternies text is in a different context to the deathly off the line BOG.

It is a relatively small engine however from memory my old fiat 1600cc had loads more torque from the get go in stock condition - I lust for the sound of those twin dual throat webbers - I could get a little chirp from the tires shifting into 4th gear - this was a pre emissions vintage car 1971. Having said that, the response of the mini e-pedal leaves a lot to be desired.

Contrary to popular belief grabbing a hand fullof revs off the line in a mini (3000 rpm) is what actually induces a "bog" condition. If you have experienced it you know what I'm talking about. No I can't make it happen as much as I might try but yet it has happened 3 times in 1500 miles - and NO it has nothing to do with DSC ASC or any other acronym.

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'03 S DS

 

thanks for clearing it up everyone!

i'm still waiting for my Cooper S... hopefully it'll be problem free