I'm just curious whether the S will have valvetronic. I thought I read something about the turbo in relation to the Valvetronic and that it wouldn't justify the extra expense on the S, but I can't seem to find what I read about it.
Thanks,
John

Edit: Restated question

 

"Topping the new MINI range will be two engines pumping out around 120 and 175 bhp (the latter belonging to the new turbocharged Cooper S). All versions of the new engine include variable valve timing, composite camshafts, and an `on-demand’ water and oil pumps. The engine will be lower and wider but will weigh in at a respectable 120kg (in Turbo form). The 175bhp versions will include a twin-scroll exhaust turbocharger that will virtually eliminate turbo lag. The long rumored 140hp MINI looks to be just that, a rumor."

Maybe things have changed... but that was one of Mini's initial sanctioned release articles.

"Displacing 1.6 litres, the four-cylinder turbocharged power unit of the MINI Cooper S now develops an even more impressive 128 kW/175 hp, the right kind of power to turn the MINI Cooper S into a truly outstanding experience in motoring fun. The engine is boosted in power by means of a twin-scroll turbocharger driven by the separate emission flow from two cylinders at a time. As a result, the turbocharger serves to boost engine power significantly from low engine speeds, providing a truly impressive effect: The 1.6-litre four-cylinder featured in the MINI Cooper S accelerates the car with the kind of power and performance otherwise to be found only in much larger normal-aspiration models.The MINI Cooper also boasts a 1.6-litre power unit, this time, however, with normal aspiration and maximum output of 88 kW/120 hp. Intake valve control featuring the BMW Group’s unique VALVETRONIC technology is fully variable, valve stroke and opening times being adjusted infinitely and with electronic management to the respective power requirements. This innovative valve control ensures not only a particularly high standard of responsiveness and superior motoring refinement, but also superior fuel economy and optimised emission management."


But then again, you could read into the official press relase above. Since it wasn't pointed out that the S has the variable valves... I guess you could assume that it does not. Hmmm... I'd be interested in the defininitve answer as well.

 

Sounds like the S has variable valves to me.

 

Hmm. Other people I've talked (read: rumor mill) to have mentioned the lack of Valvetronic on the MCS, and the press release doesn't seem to disagree with that. To me, it seems counterintuitive that it wouldn't have it, but the ambiguity of the press relase doesn't help. I'll admit I'm often wrong and would hate to start any rumors.

I restated my above post to avoid any rumors, but does anyone know for sure? Gabe?

 

I'd read the press release as above.

Of course I might be wrong .

 

More stuff from MINI press release:

Fuel is supplied to the four-cylinder by direct gasoline injection, with intake air being pre-compressed by a twin-scroll turbocharger complete with intercooler. With this new technology, the ducts of two cylinders at a time are separated from one another in the exhaust gas manifold and in the turbocharger itself.

This particular configuration enhances turbocharger response and almost completely eliminates the usual “turbo gap” when accelerating so typical in the past. Indeed, the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is very similar in its response and behaviour to a much larger normal-aspiration power unit.

This superiority in performance is also ensured by sophisticated and highly advanced valve management, the four valves per cylinder being operated by two overhead camshafts. The camshaft on the intake side comes with infinitely variable phase adjustment setting valve timing to current power requirements and optimising both engine output and torque on minimum fuel consumption and emissions. The outlet valves, in turn, are filled with sodium in order to set off the higher temperature loads typical of a turbocharged engine.

 

Got it. Looks like it's pretty well confirmed.
Edit: Or not... See below...

 

This Press release (see about 1/2 down) has sections on the Cooper and MCS and makes it clear that Valvetronic (Variable valve lift and timing) is not present on the MCS. The MCS has variable intake valve timing and sodium filled exhaust valves. Likely the addition of Valvetronic was not added to the MCS due to complexity and cost exceeding the benifits. It already has enough torque and milage is less important on the MCS being it is more performance oriented. The variable lift is really only helpful in part throttle and off peak situations. There may be issue with not matching well with the turbo also. The new BMW 335i does not have Valvetronic either. Car & Driver Article

Just found this also:

Direct injection (DI) is another thing the MCS has that the Cooper does not. The same source said that DI left no room for Valvetronic. Here is the source.

Conclusion is that we are getting the best BMW can give us, for now.

 

Thanks, it sounds like variable valve timing and 'Valvetronic" are two different things.

I'd get a Cooper anyway cause gas mileage is more important to me than 0-60 time..................never thought I'd say that.

Another quote from BMW stuff on this subject:

"Speaking of which, Valvetronic will initially be absent from DI-equipped I6 engines, although the marriage of the two technologies is viewed as a "very good thing" by Dr. Hans Rathgeber, senior vice president of Vehicle Concepts and Integration."

Sounds like "Valvetronic" will be available on DI engines as soon as possible.

The intial press release wasn't all that clear to me. Clear would have been, "The MCS does not have Valvetronic valve lift control." I guess using the words "does not have" in a press release is a no-no?

Clear for now......

 

The link from Peugots website about the engines shows that the turbo engine has variable timing on the intake cam but NOT Valvetronic which is variable timing and LIFT. Only the normally asparated engine has Valvetronic.

 

Well, I guess my credibility is completely shot now.

 

another interesting tidbit is that while the Cooper doesn't need a throttle body, it will be there, but fully open during normal operation. It's just a diagnostic!

On the S it's used in the more conventional way...

Matt

and yes, variable valve timing and variable lift are two different things.....

 

WTF are "sodium filled exhaust valves"

Edit: nevermind, looked it up. Couldn't believe it. They're hollow valves filled with sodium, which melts in the heat, and splashes around transferring heat.

But there's nothing preventing variable timing or lift on those valves.

 

Except maybe high cost/benefit ratio.

That's interesting about the sodium filled valves.

Thanks, all, for the info, BTW. It answered my question and then some.

 

Nah, not in my book. The press release was awkwardly written and you made a very believable case for your interpretation. There's nothing harmful with you being wrong once in a while since you're obviously willing to adapt to new info as it comes.

 

Seriously? I haven't read that anywhere. It certainly seems plausible, though.

 

These are the question we sent the dealer, does any one have a thought on this. Thanks.

What causes the Valvetronic shift sensor to go bad? is this common with this motor? When I checked the internet they said that an error should show, but we did not get the error message. Why did it not show the message? It also stated that the BMW 325i has this type of problem which is the result of no oil. They stated that the Valvetronic sensor was cleaned and reset which solved that problem. Why could you not do that? We had oil in our vehicle and the vehicle sensor did not indicate any issue with the oil or need to change it. Your records should show that we brought in the vehicle in 2012 for a check-up, but they did not do anything with the oil.