My "new " 04 Cooper with 53K miles has a tendency to do a little drivetrain jerk or lurch when I go slightly on and off the throttle at low speeds. To passengers it seems as if I am just learning to drive a stick. Very hard to modulate the throttle.

Before I spend hundreds of dollars replacing all the engine and tranny mounts I want to make sure it's not a drive by wire throttle/software issue. I don't remember my old 03 MCS doing this.

Any thoughts and comments will be appreciated.

 

Do you have a Cooper now or a Cooper S ?

 

04 Non-S Cooper.

 

CVT?

 

No, 5-speed. It's been suggested that I take a look at the TSW upper engine mount. Any thoughts?

 

You may be feeling the idle fuel cutoff. On my S, it occurs at about 1500 rpm during off-throttle deceleration while in gear - a small but pronounced little "jerk" as the engine goes from supplying no decel fuel (to decrease emissions and increase fuel economy) to adding enough fuel so the engine won't stall.

I use the clutch more at low speeds than I would otherwise to smooth things out.

Engine mount problems are pretty easily diagnosed if the mechanic is experienced enough to know what to look for.

- Mark

 

The symptoms you described sound very much like slack in the engine mount, and the TSW mount should help. I have the TSW, and it makes the clutch engagement much nicer.

Another one to consider is the VIP stabilizer (http://www.vipcustomparts.com/minicooperparts.htm). I really like this design but it wasn't available yet when I got the TSW.