The torque steer is so incredibly bad on S MINIs that I simply MUST get the 2011 software upgrade that helps with it. Will it work on a 2010 Clubman S with manual transmission? After recently buying a classic '88 Porsche 911 I'm realizing how far superior RWD is for a performance-oriented car! So, if I can help minimize the atrocious torque steer of my Clubbie S I'll do it, even if I have to pay for it (it SHOULD be free for owners of older MINIs, simply due to the safety factor...but knowing MINI I bet it isn't).

I hope the answer to this is: YES.

 

I inquired about it at my dealer. They won't flash it unless there is a need for it regarding some other issue. I have a 2008 Clubman S and I had the original software version from 2008....

I went in for repair of my sunroof shortly after that. It was sticking (common in high heat environments) so they replaced the motor(s) for the sunroof. Having done that, they needed to reflash my car to recalibrate the motor(s), so in turn I received the update and am current on the version.

Maybe your dealer will be different and offer it to you. Or maybe there is a way to "make them" reflash your car due to some "issue" that has come up.

-z

 

I had the anti-torque steer sw upgrade done on both my '09 JCW Cabrio and my '10 JCW Clubbie. It makes a huge difference. My dealer had no problem whatsoever in agreeing to do it. I think I paid a little over $100 for each. Best $ 100 upgrade you can do to a pre '11 IMO.

 

I have it on my '09 MCSa and it makes a huge difference.

 

Playing the devil's advocate here; really, you can't just man-handle (or woman-handle sa my wife does) the steering wheel?
In all fairness, having power reduced simply because the car may walk without a tug on the wheel seems a little overbearing.
Dealing with FWD all of my driving career, the MINI has some torque steer, but it's nothing compared to say a MazdaSpeed3.

But, as far as a safety item, I would lean to disagree as for example a throttle oversteer on a RWD can be driver induced, and other companies aren't writing necessity programs to lessen burnouts or slide-drifts.

- Erik

 

The torque steer reprogram doesn't reduce power. It uses the ABS system to selectively apply the brakes side to side to keep the car going straight. When the brake is applied to one side, the power going to that wheel is diverted through the differential to the other wheel, it's what differentials gears do, there is no net loss in power delivered to the road.

I think it is a pretty elegant solution.

Dave

 

I installed the NM Engineering engine torque arm bushings and it practically eliminated all the torque steer.

 

A more "elegant solution" is the proper basic set up of the steering/hub/suspension geometry without needing artificial attempts at masking torque steer with ABS. SAAB and Citroen have known how to do this for the last 50 + years... why not BMW / Mini now?

 

I'm a little confused.....

You guys a getting your S's toned down because of torque steer?
...Really?

 

Toned down, how? The torque steer program doesn't tone anything down!

And yes, Saabs and Citroens have torque steer, all front wheel drive cars do, to some extent.

Dave

 

Dave, I have collected and restored virtually every Citroen model produced over the last 50 years. They mechanically engineered torque steer OUT of the front geometry and driveline without resorting to electronic band-aids.

Not only are you factually inaccurate, I'm guessing you've never driven one to any appreciable degree....

 

It just the nature of the beast, all front wheel drive cars have torque steer, some more noticeable than others

It can be minimized with good mechanical design, but if you put enough power through the drive train, torque steer will rear its head.

An electronic solution through the ABS is not a bandaid, it is just a different approach to eliminating torque steer, one that could be retrofitted to many other front wheel drive cars.

I think it is a very good solution to the problem.

Dave

 

I finally had it done to my Clubman S. It makes a subtle but noticeable difference, though it's still a twitchy car when accelerating hard. I'll never be able to hammer the accelerator like I can with a RWD car like my '88 Carrera; I just need to accept that fact about MINIs.