Hey just wandering if anyone has experienced this before.. first this problem i have is on a r56 with only 10000KM on it.. when in idle, say for example at a red light does your mini ever shake.. like the engine is choking abit as if it was just about to shut down and then goes back to normal idle?? this has happened few times to me but didnt think much of it.. one thing i did notice was that when it happened i would have about 4 ticks of gas left.. say around 1/4 tank.. could it happen because the car was low on fuel?

 

Have you been using the same type of gas? and has it happened with multiple tanks of gas?

 

yup ive always been using same gas.. Shell Premium.. i only remember twice when it happened tank about about 1/4 full or a bit less.. sound normal? i hear its not good to drive with low fuel.. but it didnt even hit the red zone yet.. i also have noticed it shake when in the redzone before

 

Yes, I've noted the same "surging" at idle. Particularly noticeable since I have MCS automatic.

 

R56 automatic, smooth as silk on Shell .
Ran bad once when my wife used BP fuel.

 

Yup... I started noticing this same behavior last month. I also have an auto MCS with almost 4K miles. Going to have the dealer check it out.

 

I noticed this behavior before its warmed up on a cold day. Its only happened after they updated the MINIs computer, but its much better than the stalling it did before. It seems like they have a pretty poor algorithm written for the idle schedule. Probably just trying to push the idle efficiency a bit too much.

 

I also have this problem. Doesn't matter what brand of gas I use, still happens randomly. Started noticing about a month ago but haven't taken it in yet...maybe I should. MCS auto, 8k miles.

 

I have the same problem. I just picked up my car from the dealer today (they had to replace the thermostat in my 07 MCS with 7K on it). The service manager said he knows what I am talking about and that they "all do that" and there has been no feedback from Mini how to fix the problem and I should just ignore it.

 

sad, but true. US R<56 owners have known about this type of support for a while....

Matt

 

Ok... So I brough precious MCS in to have this idle this checked out. Tech "updated" the ECU and guess what.... It runs worse!! The tech noticed it was still idling rough and ordered a throttle body. Saga continues.....

 

I also have an auto 07 MCS and have noticed 'rough' idle issues since about 1000 miles (now have about 3k). It happens sporadically under normal driving conditions but never when the engine is cold.

I'm not sure if this is something to be concerned about....but the other day I was stopped at the light and it really just SURGED. I had my foot on the brake but for a second I felt like the car was just going to take off and this 'idle'/surge was so rough that the tach fluctuated a much larger amount than normal (or expected while stopped!).

Is this something to worry about?

 

I don't have a MCS yet but will be ordering one soon. The MCS that I took for a test drive had this same "problem". To me this seems to be a "problem" that is systematic with cars that run turbos. I could be wrong but it seems like ever car I have driven with a turbo has a shake and a rough idle. It could also be a number of other things from throttle body, to spark plugs.

 

My idle isn't rough, but it does surge. I had it running (in N - parking brake) for a while the other day inflating mom's flat tyres and charging her battery (British cars look out for each other - stupid Jag) and it was vrOOM vrOOM the whole time.

 

Mine surges slightly, but it's hardly noticeable. However, pulling away from a complete stop, if I don't position my foot just right on the gas pedal & apply the right amount of pressure, it acts like it was to hesitate or stall slightly.

I just changed from the 89 octane grade of shell to top grade, and my performance and mileage is better. I tried to save money by using the middle grade but it did make much sense for a car I only get gas for every 3 weeks!

I've also installed Mini Mania's air filter (larger intake area), and a Borla Sport exhaust system. My mileage increased again. 32 mpg with the Cooper S auto.

 

That slight hesitation is normal on all R56 minis, since it is a drive by wire system, it takes a fraction of a second for the computer to analyze the input and set the output parameters. BTY the OBC is a 4GB computer. You will get used to it and will forget that it is there.

 

I've had my '02 MCS for 4 years now and I noticed the same things. sporadic idle surge and "chugging" where the car feels like it is going to stall while in N. I've also taken my MCS to the dealer to have this problem diagnosed, but to no avail. and since then I have done a number of mods to my car. I still have the same problems. I've changed the throttle body (dinan), the spark plugs (denso), the thermostat has also been changed out...sorry to say people but the problem is here to stay.

 

Reviving this thread: On my used 2010 MCS with 27K miles, a dealer SA told me it was the exhaust recirculation system causing the surging/rough idle and that it was perfectly normal. I suspect this isn't the case as I can't find anything about this anywhere. Is it the carbon issue? Was he referring to a system that goes by a different name? Was anyone else told this or have any input?

 

Well I just came across this thread because I have noticed the same thing on my 2011 MCS manual. At first I thought my foot grazed the gas. Then the second time I was just sitting at a light with both feet away from the pedals. Ive had the car over a year and never had this happen. Ive had a cai on there since like 2 mos after getting the car and always use 93 octane.