I've not seen this issue posted, so hopefully this will elicit some response. My Mini seems to have a very unpredictable throttle-when it is cold and I am unable to strongly accelerate (parking garage, for example), the car bucks forward violently over and over. The car also occasionally stalls when warm and it seems impossible to find that perfect combination of friction point and accelerator so i can drive away smoothly from a stop. Anyone riding with me would assume it was my first time driving a manual transmission It is as if the throttle is not responding consistently to my input. Anyone else with this problem?

My car also idles erratically at times and the dealer has told me that it is normal, but I suspect all related to my driveability issues. All of this is made worse by using the a/c, and I live in the desert, so please don't tell me to drive without it. I will die!

 

This sound very much like the following threads. It is a common occurrence during cold cold weather.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ower-loss.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...available.html

There are also other threads on this issue thru out the forums

 

Hello-
to clarify, when I say cold, I mean the car has sat for several hours and is "room temperature". The coldest it has been in Phoenix this winter is 34 degrees, and the problem has occurred even in the summer when it is well over 100 degrees. So there isn't much chance that freezing is occurring in my throttle body and causing this trouble. I'm still stumped.

The dealer is replacing my tranny this week and then will tackle the driveability issue--I hope they find a solution.

 

Our MCa works fine in Tucson.

 

dealers have been replacing quite a few Getrag trannys this year. sounds like a programming issue perhaps? if yr tranny is an auto then Id say adaptations. Nammer had this happen like U describe (lurching, etc) with his automatic and reprogramming fixed it.

drivetrain issues are a pain, my R53 was full of them. Let us know how it works out.

 

I have had a similar problem. Not as bad as yours but very similar. When car has not warmed up all the way the idle hunts and the car surges bad under acceleration. I just went to the dealer they could not find anything wrong. I asked to reset adaptation so they did. So far it has run much much better. I am also running a can of BG44k just incase it could be part of the carbon problem. I guess time will tell.

 

Estudebaker,

Did you ever find out what it was? I'm having the same exact problem with a 2009 MCSa.

 

The mini does not have a idle controller, it uses the throttle to control idle~ Try reset the throttle adaption: Switch on ignition without starting the engine(when you can see the fuel gauge light up), wait 15 secs, turn off, wait 10 secs then start engine immediately. This will reset the adaption.

 

Hi folks-
Mini is back w/a new manual transmission.
My dealer found that all of my spark plugs were cruddy and loaded with carbon deposits, and one (#3 cylinder) was cracked. All of this at 10k miles and 11 months of service. They replaced the plugs, did a fuel injection service and the car idles and accelerates smoothly.
When I asked what could cause this I was told I should always use Top Tier 91 octane fuel. Of course I always use Top Tier 91 octane fuel, so I told the SA this and he just shrugged. Very frustrating.
At least my car doesn't run like $h!t any more.

 

Is this true? Any one know for sure?

 

Yes my friend, this is true and has been the same deal from BMWs.

Resetting adaption will help curing this issue, albeit the first couple hundred miles you may feel a little vibration at idle, which is totally normal. Once adaption builds up it will return to normal.

Good luck~

 

Thanks! I don't think I have a problem, just seems my auto trans is a little too jerky . Probably normal huh? I'll give it a try anyway.

 

Estudebaker: Does this only happen when cold or left for 8--10 hours? Does it return to normal after 5 or less minutes of running? If so shine a flashlight on your high pressure fuel pump (drivers side of top of cylinder head, driven off of camshaft closest to firewall), look for leakage, if it is leaking then your high pressure fuel pump may be the problem, if your car is like mine was. After the dealer changed the pump under warranty is was back to it's old self, start up anytime by just pushing the start button without touching the gas pedal. Perhaps it may be worth taking a look for leakage. I understand the direct injection system pressure created by the high pressure pump is 144 bar (144 X 14.3 psi/bar) or about 2050 psi.....significant. If that pressure leaks down over extended periods of sitting it takes a little while for the low pressure pump in the tank to "prime" the high pressure pump and get the operating pressure back up to what it is supposed to be.

 

I didn't see any difference, guess I don't have a problem to begin with...

 

benibiker,

I suggest you go to your dealer and test drive a similar model with automatic. Mine is smooth as silk, the only exception being starting from standstill, in which case it is difficult to make a smooth start without punching the gas. Shifting up and down between gears has never had any jerkiness (using automatic, that is...I don't use manual shift or paddles).

 

Well it's not jerky while shifting up in gears or even when shifting down, it's more like when I'm coming to red light, I'm slowing down and then then it changes green, as I step on the gas it'll jerk into gear.

 

Again, I've never noticed that and I drive almost exclusively in town. It might be hard to demonstrate, but if it is happening consistently, I think I'd talk to the service department.

 

Guess I'll do that, thanks!

 

I got this same "bucking/jerking" recently(just had my 30,000 service), its not consistent. Only seems to happen in first and second gears(starting from a traffic light) although last night it happen accelerating on to the highway(NOT a good feeling)Frankly its taken the FUN out of driving the Mini...........I was thinking perhaps "bad" gas, Just filled up with 93 octane. Guess I'll stop and ask the dealer next week, problem is, is not a constant issues.........

 

I've had a similar issue with my R55 and aren't quite sure if its the same problem or not. I've noticed that when I start my car and "drive off at a moderate pace" (as instructed by manual) I get a nasty lurching at about 1700 and 2500-3000 rpm in 1st gear. This happens in the mornings when the car has sat for >6hrs as well as after sitting for as little as 1hr. It drives off fine if I baby it and shift out of first around 2k rpm, and doesn't seem to repeat the lurching once I'm in second gear (at least, not that I can recall offhand). Its quite annoying.

Granted, I've taught myself to drive a 6spd on this vehicle, I picked it up real quick, and have never smelled burning clutch or had problems shifting within other gears (though, as mentioned in another thread, the 4-5 shift rev drop is pretty quick and never seems butter smooth), and have just under 9k miles on the car....this is pretty concerning. I've pretty much used exclusively 91 octane gas w/o any ethanol in it.

Any thoughts? I haven't taken it into the dealer about it yet, and was going to have it checked out at the service appt....which by the way, is showing up as necessary at 10k miles fwiw.