I was on the phone with a service advisor today and described my issues with my new Cooper S - namely a "dead zone" in the steering with no road feel and a bit of free play when the car is pointed straight ahead.

He said that chances are, it's just the way the car is. "Yeah, I don't like the steering in the R56 as much as the old model either."

Tried to get in there Monday (it's difficult because I live 150 miles away) but they're all booked up. He said, basically, we're more than happy to look, but there's a very good chance, it's just the way the car is.

I must say it's very frustrating to spend $32,000 on a quest for a great handling car, only to end up with one that doesn't handle as well as the $12,000 model I just sold.

 

Yes, R56 steering is different from R50, but the problem you seemed to be describing sounded quite odd. I hope they sort it out to your satisfaction. When at the dealer, I'd ask to drive a few of their other R56s around the block just to check. If you all do determine it is normal, there are threads about an R56 steering tweek that might be of interest.

 

Yes, I'm eager to compare as well.

Kind of tricky since I work during the week, and only sales is open on Saturdays, (except once a month when service is open, and the next two months are booked...)

I hate to drive all the way over just to compare, when they can't service it while I'm there.

 

Yes, that makes sense.

 

I can tell you , RedMini , I have the same car as you , and no dead spot in the steering . The only thing I have run into is under braking . The steering tends to wonder back and forth a little and this is normal for the R56 . Alta has a fix for this though .

 

Which Dealership are you going to in Atlanta? I can't remember which but one of them is open every Saturday (or they used to be). Try calling the other ATL dealership. You don't have to go to the one where you purchased

 

I'm all about the Alta fix if that's what it takes.

 

At the suggestion of several of you, I checked tire pressures.

All were at 35psi except the front right which was 38psi. I bled it down to 35 like the others.

I won't say that's fixed it, but I will say the car is considerably better behaved this morning. I'll drive it a few hundred miles and hope it settles in.