I recently purchase a ‘09 Cooper S sight unseen and I’m having some interesting issues.

The car was quick when purchased but in a very raw way. Big, sudden boost, aggressive torque steer, loud, etc. The car came to me with an Alta intake, Racechip tuner, unknown performance exhaust, HR lowering springs and what appears to be a Cardone stock replacement turbo? It also had vacuum leaks, exhaust leaks, oil leaks, pcv leaks and poor assembly general and a bunch of codes.

I’ve spent the last week sorting it out, trying to whip into shape for its intended purpose of my wife’s winter drive. I’ve resolved most of the leaks and figured I’d also pull the performance parts hoping that they were to problem or at least Id get to the heart of the issue. Well, no real luck. Pulling the tune and replacing the Alta intake with stock air box has made the car more drivable, much more linear power delivery but I think it is now faster than it was.

That car routinely breaks the tires loose, as boost rolls on, in 2nd and 3rd gears. It does run a bit rich at idle and I feel that it may be leaning during boost but is no longer throwing any codes other an aging 2nd O2 sensor. Idle is smooth and dead on. Plugs are clean, no real evidence or rich / lean issues.

Any suggestions on where to look next? I’m starting to wonder if that turbo is not stock or if it may have had a flash tune.

I’d really like to tame it down a bit. It’s a hand full in the snow!

For reference;

It has been cooler here, about -5 C and I do have winter tires on but they are beefy 245 - 17. Test roads were bare and dry.

We previously had an 02 JCW with some mods. This car is substantially faster.

My wife’s summer car is a ‘12 Audi TTRS. And I have had a number of modded BMW 3 series. No, it’s not this fast but we do know big turbo, std trans cars.

Thank you.

 

interesting post, i didnt read about any issues, lol. Sounds like the car is fun!

 

Sounds like a change in driving habits is required --- shift before boost gets too high. Also, a good tune should smooth out the performance --- remove any peaks / valleys in torque curve. If you're not interested in high performance, have your local dealer put the OEM map back in --- should be OK without a tune, if you remove the serious performance parts.

 

Drive with the ASC on all the time. That should tame it a bit.