This is the 07 MCS test sheet of the Car and Driver editor.

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/d...comparo_ts.pdf

 

I think it's actually electronically-limited to 139MPH, but 140MPH is close enough for jazz.

 

There are a number of pics and video out there with R56 speedos reading over 140. Check out MINI2 and some of those autobahn-burners over there.

 

Well, I can't say for certain that the electronic limiter is present is all markets, or that someone hasn't figured out a way to raise/disable it, but I can say that car speedometers are a little bit "optimistic", and that by the time you're up in the 140MPH range, they can be downright comical. Most are off by 5-6MPH by the time you're travelling 80MPH, and the error only increases from there.

I haven't seen any reports of speeds higher than ~140MPH where the speed data is coming from independent sources (i.e. GPS, inertial navigation, or a "fifth wheel" attached to the car's body).

 

Check here. Plenty of info to suggest it's not limited in any way:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-m...top-speed.html

I also asked the same question as above... there's an answer there. Bottom line: without modding the ECU in any way there are Euro car owners who have pushed beyond 140MPH. I'll try and re-trace my history and find the pic of 144MPH I saw.

 

Well, after reading that thread, there are only two solid claims of exceeding ~140MPH. One guy said his GPS was reading 144, and another that claimed the GPS was reading 158!?!?! after modifying the exhaust. All of the other reports in that thread of speedometer-indicated speeds of 140-150MPH are in line with a vehicle speed of ~140, plus the typical speedometer error.

Like I said, the limiter may not be present in all markets, but the magazines don't seem to be getting more than 140MPH out of them.

 

You can believe what you want, but I know that mine (using GPS) does 225kph, which translates to 139.8 mph. That was a sustained run on a long straight stretch of Autobahn 6. The digital speedo indicated 232 and the analog was showing ~146.

I believe the GPS, which concidentally matches BMW's spec.

 

I hope it's not true. I've done that in my R53.....

 

This is what I could do. It would go more if there wouldn't be a truck travelling in the middle lane in front.

 

Really...& did it show elevation? Wonder how high he was...

 

Well there you have it. 240KPH comes to 149 MPH (if my math it right).

Factoring in the speedo error we've seen (which at worst it between 5-6%)... that would be about 142 MPH. So it appears marybe it was the journalists that wire limites to 139MPH for some reason. Or more likley they were just reprinting MINI understated performance figures (0-60 in 6.7 seconds!?! Yeah, right!).

 

If anything, IMO, C&D overstates everything. They usually always have the fastest accelerations times, for example = bragging rights. Other mags are more conservative in abuse of the car (or so its been discussed), If C&D observes 140, its probably a liberal interpretation. I would trust them, even so, far more than anybody youtube looking for their 15 mins of fame as I would hope they had some journalistic integrity.

 

Are you saying it's faster?

 

Car and Driver writer got 6.2 sec. I believe it.

 

Actually, 5-6% error at that indicated speed would put the actual speed between 140 and 141.5, and there are speedometers out there that are off by more than 6%. Regardless, 140-141.5 is close enough to the advertised limiter speed that we have to start looking at other things, like actual tire diameter versus calculated tire diameter. If his actual tire diameter is smaller than the calculated value, either by using non-standard size tires, underinflation, or simple tread wear, we could still be looking at an actual vehicle speed of 139MPH or even lower.

 

MINI gives a top speed of 144 MPH for the 2007 MCS. I would not place much reliance on photographs of speedo readings.

cheers,


Joe

 

 

And I would not want to rely on a driver who is taking photos of his speedo while going around 140 mph.

 

I'm quickly starting to believe that even if you had video proof, backed by GPS and a RADAR SMD reading that you would find some way to discount what you are seeing/being told. So fine... you win. The R56 is electronicly limited to 139MPH. I'm personally am crushed. My ego is now pretty much shot now that I know my MINI will only do such a piddly speed. Thank god the speedo will at least fool me into thinking I'm going much-much faster... that is, if I ever found the place where I could legally go 139MPH...

 

Call it the engineer/skeptic in me, but none of the examples I've seen are far enough over 139MPH, considering the known sources of error, for me to believe that there's not a limiter, especially considering:

1) The earlier MINIs had a limiter, why not the R56?
2) The trend is for *more* cars to have them, not fewer, and
3) MINI themselves say the 'S' is electronically-limited to 139 MPH:

 

A respected journalist/racer posted a 5.7 sec avg 0-60 w/ runflats on sticky asphalt on a car w/ less than 1000 mi. Wouldn't want to buy that particular car used after the drivetrain lashing, but I think the car's capable. As noted, many get low 6s.

ymmv

 

Installed tires are 205/40/18 which are 0.19 larger in diameter than stock 205/45/17 tires. So this set up reflects the speed lower to the speedometer which is 0.775% slower.
I`m pretty sure that the car would make 155 mph on the speedo easily if there wouldn`t be a truck in front.

 

those bonnet stripes do wonders!

 

+1

 

Here is a new vid I took today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0gK-EQnM_I