My daughter inherited her grandmothers MINI (see title) and I've noticed that when in drive the car constantly wants to lurch forward as if the gas pedal is being pushed slightly. When you do push the pedal the car lurches and is very jumpy. There's essentially no smooth way to go from a stop to moving without the car feeling skittish.

Has anyone else experienced this in an automatic transmission MINI? I've owned 2 other MINIs and they're nothing like this. I'm hoping an ECU flash from the dealership can fix the issue. It's as if the car is idling to high except its not if that makes sense.

 

I have an 09 as well and mine seems to like to go as well. I don't think it is idling high at all but I have been able to get used to it and move of the line smoothly.

 

Yes this sounds pretty much like my situation. Car idles normally but if you move the throttle, even smoothly, it just wants to go. Unlike any other MINI I've driven. Hoping to hear more similar stories here but I guess the fact I haven't may be good.

Gonna see if MINI can change the mapping or something to fix it.

 

Any chance it's in Sport mode? Mine does that when I turn it on..

 

No but good call. I thought that might be the case. It feels similar but more jumpy.

 

I have a 2013 and it does NOT do that at all. Maybe they changed something but I'd get it looked at especially if your daughter is a younger driver.

 

My 08 S was like that. The best way that I can describe it was that there is a significant delay in the response of the throttle pedal. You push lightly, but nothing happens, then you push harder, and you start to get moving, but it is not smooth.

Talk with the dealer, there may be an ECU update to help. I'm running an accessport, which reduces the lag (among other things). When I uninstall the AP for yearly emissions tests, I feel like I forgot how to drive. They also sell sprintboosters, which is also supposed to reduce the delay.

I remember reading a while ago threads on this, and someone coined the phrase 'lag and lurch'. I don't remember a definitive solution, other than the aftermarket parts.

Sorry I can't help more,

Mike

 

Don't be sorry. That's good stuff. Lag and lurch is spot on. I called my MINI dealer and I'm going to take it in to see if they can flash it. Definitely feels throttle related and since these cars are drive by wire when it comes to the throttle its got to be in the mapping. At least it would seem. The car is driveable. Heck, my mother in law, in her 70's, drove it since '09. Guess she was used to it and probably never thought to take it in to MINI which is surprising since its noticeably "not normal"! We love the car though but were a MINI family and a bit biased

 

Lag and lurch really is spot on. For myself sport mode gives the response I was expecting. I have been reading about the sprint boosters and may have to invest in one of those. Good thread TV at least I am not the only one who has this

 

Best to drive it in manual mode, that's what I do.

 

Thanks man. Agreed. Sport reacts pretty much as I expect from other MINIs but non sport not so much.

As for manual mode. It's never really in neutral though is it. Ie. it'll still be jumpy I imagine though I will give it a try. Regardless, I don't think she should have to adapt to a bad flash. There should be a fix somewhere.

 

Classic "LAG AND LURCH". Around town, I'm almost always in Sport and Manual mode.

 

Depending on how your daughter handles a car, get an accessport. I've got a nice stage 1 tune that is smooth and the pedal delay is gone. There were some issues with rough shifting on the AP, so don't get distraught if you buy one and it shifts like crap.

If she will get in trouble with the extra power, then maybe that is not a great option. Sure makes the car more fun to drive....

Mike

 

I have an '09 S also, and in my first few months of driving it it was very jumpy. However, trust me when I say that you'll learn how to control it.. Sometimes, once the light turns green, the turbo lags, and sometimes the gear changes at some questionable points, but you'll learn to get used to it. If it gets too annoying, just use the paddle shifters. Since there's no clutch, it's easy to operate, and it's also one of the last Cooper S' that still has paddle shifters. I hope this response helps #letsmotor

 

The 'lag & lurch' describes the problem perfectly. I noticed it on my Auto '08 MCS when I first test drove it but was able to adjust quickly. The Sport Mode definitely helps and so does the paddle shifting.

Initially, I thought it was the carbon build-up so I had the walnut blasting done and it didn't help at all with that issue but my gas mileage improved a lot. Then I changed the spark plugs and air filter and did other induction and injectors clean up and the hesitation never improved.

So the problem is most likely an ECU software mapping to reprogram the fly-by-wire accelerator.

TerminalVelocity, keep us posted as to what the dealer might do the to remedy this 'hesitation / jumpyness' and good luck.

 

Thanks ekh2000! I'm taking the car in next week to see if they can do anything about it on their end.

 

Sorry to dig up an older thread, but did you have any joy with the ECU update TerminalVelocity? I'm having the same issues in an 07 MCS+JCW Kit...

 

The best solutions are either the sprint booster or an aftermarket tune (i have an Accessport). These change the response rate of the throttle to the accelerator pedal. If you think about the pedal as having a delay, it is easier to understand. When you press lightly on the pedal, nothing happens for a 1/2 second or so. Then you press harder on the pedal, and the car starts to respond to the initial input, which now is stronger.....

It is more consistent in sport mode, but sometimes that isn't a good option either (depending on driver preference).

Have fun,
Mike

 

Lag and Lurch! I have the 09' S I agree was awful at first but I did get used to it. I never get out of sport Mode I use the paddle shifters all the time...Sprint Booster I thought that was a myth waist of money.. I may give that a go.. If it helps.

 

In my 2008 MCS, it is difficult to set off smoothly in first gear. If you drive it in manual mode, setting off in 2nd gear is pretty smooth.

 

Just get a tune and have them adjust throttle for you compared to having to deal with the Sprint Booster which is a complete waste on a auto.

 

Thanks for the tips all - it's in for a service tomorrow, so I'll ask about the throttle response rate.

Strange that it wouldn't be set to 'immediate' from the factory? The old cable based throttles wouldn't have had a delay, so i'm confused as to why they would artificially add one in the fly by wire flavour...