Yes my March 03 build does it. Only in first - hard or soft throttle, DSC on or off, hot or cold. Usualy aroung 1900 rpm. I called Global (Atlanta dealer), They have one in there now with the same problem. They promised to call me if they solve it. There are at least two long threads about this on Mini2 search for go-stutter-go or hiccup. Seems to be most prevelant in Feb and March builds (03) or in earlier models that have been update to 32.x or 33.x. I am hopeing 34.x fixes it whenver it comes out.

Wes

 

Mine's a January build with 32.0 software. There is absolutely no problem in 2nd or reverse but no way to avoid the lurching in 1st. I'm tempted to rip open the transmission and disconnect the first gear sensor so that the computer won't know when I'm in first.

 

The lurching in first -- also known as the "yo-yo effect" is one of the things supposedly cured with the version 33 software. Over on thread about that there's been some concern voiced that one version of 33 (33.1) causes OTHER problems with cold starting, but from what I can tell from the MINI2 thread on this, the new software should cure the lurching, surging, yo-yo, whatever you want to call it.

My personal experience is that I have never really had what I'd call a "lurch" in first on my 8/02 build MCS. Nevertheless, I've had the software upgraded twice and each time it improved (slightly each time) the smoothness of the car at launch. Maybe I'm just less discriminating than some of you and what I've experienced as slight hesitation is what you call a lurch...I don't know...but try the software upgrade and see if it helps.

Just to be on the safe side, you should see if your service dept has version 33.2 (that's TWO) and not just 33.1 (ONE) which I may have had installed. Davbert reports that 33.1 caused him some bad cold start problems. I don't know if I had 33.1 or 33.2 installed, although I've not had any cold start problems since then.

Hope this helps.

 

>>I had the same issue also - until this morning, when I put in the BMP intake. It disappeared. Much smoother at lower rpm's - and of course sounds a lot better when the rpm's get high also - much more of the supercharger zing.
>>
>>Altogether, a great upgrade with no downside at all (as opposed to the pulley)
>>
>>Phil

Phil:

Can you PM me on the cost of the BMP intake and where to get it, as well as the difficulty of installation?
Thanks
Scott

 

To add my $0.02 here, 33.X has been worse than 32.X. I barely had any lurch/yo-yo in 32.X but now have a significant problem with 33.1 and 33.2. Both are giving me a distinct issue. And to top it off, the cold start has been TERRIBLE!!! I almost always now have to start the car twice to get it running. UNACCEPIBLE for a NEW car. Fleuck!

R

 

Yeah, mine has to be started twice every time too. I was planning on getting the software upgraded in two weeks in hopes of fixing that.

Is this really the surging/yo-yo thing? That's certianly not how I would describe it. The car just does one *very* quick slam and then is fine. Feels like you let the clutch out too fast.

 

My S has never had to be restarted when it is cold, of course it has never been really cold. It has never experienced a ambient temp below 50 F. So I am hopeing that I have neither the lurch, nor the cold start problem...

I have killed it on launch at least 2 times, but it was from a lack of throttle or distracted and was in 3rd... oops. Too much automatic that last few years...

Of course the worst is when you have the stupid dsc on and you are on a hill and there is some gravel or moisture and you spin on launch... then you get the flat tire sensor and dsc sensor lights on... Then I have to stop and read the manual on how to get that garbage happy again. I have done that 2 times as well.

I also, have zero idea what version software is loaded on my car... is there any way to know this without visiting the dealer 200 miles away?

jc

 

OK, so what's the long term feedback on the 1st gear lurch & yo-yo. My MCS w/ DSC lurch used to be only on the first start of the day now it's almost all the time. I say almost because sometimes it doesn't happen. I can't peg it, hot / cold, it doesn't seem to be predictable. Same with the surging. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Surging hasn't changed since I've had the car (it's an early May '03 build) but lurching has gotten worse.

 

Wow this is great. You've revived a STUMBLE variant yet again. Please read the threads with the term "Stumble" in them. I believe there is the most current one in the Performance Modifications Forum, but there's definitely one in Mini Talk as well as Beneath the Bonnet. We are very close to a breakthrough on this one. Follow McKinneyMini's posts on the 9 page "STUMBLE" thread in Performance Mods.

_________________

 

This seems to me a supercharger and software issue since the MC without the supercharger does not have this issue. The supercharger with this pentagon engine seems to be an afterthought for BMW to get more performance for a MCS version which is not in that as big a demand in Europe as here in the states.... after the reg 1.6 pentagon engine was settled on since none of the neons or cruisers in europe use a supercharger, but so far they haven't figured out how to match the supercharger to the 1.6 reg mini engine and software to eliminate the stumble.....appears the pulley mod helps which is a supercharger mod...hard to believe after a year bimmer hasn't figured it out with all the tech excellence they have at bimmer.....so it's a bimmer bummer....sorry about that...lol...why not just make all the factory MCS come with the pulley reduction if that is the solution...seems like a cheap solution and one everyone here in the states would welcome on their new MCS...cheers

 

My belief is that the flywheel in the MCS is unusually heavy so that the car doesn't jerk from throttle response and it has a more driveable feel overall.

I have had the same issue on my MCS (build 03/02) and the only reasonable explanation is the heavy weight of the flywheel and the fact that a 1.6L takes a little time to get that heavy hunk of metal spinning that fast after slowing it down to match the drive gear speed.

I have gotten used it, but it took a considerable amount of time. A flywheel change is not quite as drastic as I want to go right now for a negotiable issue.

I have accepted this as part of MCS ownership. Remember a 1.6L is a small quirky motor. Just chirp it if you really need to get out of the hole fast.

Kesh

 

>>This seems to me a supercharger and software issue since the MC without the supercharger does not have this issue. The supercharger with this pentagon engine seems to be an afterthought for BMW to get more performance for a MCS version which is not in that as big a demand in Europe as here in the states.... after the reg 1.6 pentagon engine was settled on since none of the neons or cruisers in europe use a supercharger, but so far they haven't figured out how to match the supercharger to the 1.6 reg mini engine and software to eliminate the stumble.....appears the pulley mod helps which is a supercharger mod...hard to believe after a year bimmer hasn't figured it out with all the tech excellence they have at bimmer.....so it's a bimmer bummer....sorry about that...lol...why not just make all the factory MCS come with the pulley reduction if that is the solution...seems like a cheap solution and one everyone here in the states would welcome on their new MCS...cheers


I drive my MCS very very hard & fast and I'm on my 2nd supercharger (25K mi). My dealer tells me that there are about 6 or 7 other drivers that have had SC's changed out and they drive their cars very hard and fast like me according to the on-board maintenance computer. BMW / Mini can tell how stressed the car gets from the on board computer that calculates the oil change interval and driving characteristics of the vehicle. I would install the pulley but this will void any chance of warranty service if you drive like I do. I have had issues getting wty work due to guage and madness intake install.

Kesh

 

I have an 8/02 MCS build. Installed a green filter this morning and the stumble/lurch has mostly disappeared. Performance is smoother. I learned today from Mini of the Main Line that they now have the 34.0 fix and made an appointment to have it done on July 29. They say it does the job completely.

 

>>I drive my MCS very very hard & fast and I'm on my 2nd supercharger (25K mi). My dealer tells me that there are about 6 or 7 other drivers that have had SC's changed out and they drive their cars very hard and fast like me according to the on-board maintenance computer. BMW / Mini can tell how stressed the car gets from the on board computer that calculates the oil change interval and driving characteristics of the vehicle. I would install the pulley but this will void any chance of warranty service if you drive like I do. I have had issues getting wty work due to guage and madness intake install.

Kesh

My supercharger went out and was replaced in the first 2000 miles, so wondering if this is a real driving issue or just isolated defective superchargers...just curious why were you getting a hard time for warranty work because of the intake??