I've got a problem..appearently the local dealer says they can't fix it. I have a very steep hill I have to climb before entering heavy traffic in the mornings. A continued problem with poor cold throttle response (acts like a choke is stuck open when cold-in a carborated engine) ..as a result I have to rev the engine and slip the clutch at an abnormal high RPM inorder for the car to move or the car will stall out under normal throttle response.

I've had the car in at the local dealer (Otto's BMW,West Chester,Pa.) and now the service adviser says that they can't fix it.. Is this a response that all of you would accept? They originally said they down loaded ver.38 and after several phone calls to them..they admitted that ver.38 isn't available and that they reloaded ver. 36 back in. Obviously they never checked the following morning that the problem(poor starting and cpoor cold throttle response) was fixed..they just hande it over to me..works fine with a warmed up car.

I find this unacceptable as far as the service that was performed or lack there of and the answers that I was given.

Opinions and thoughts would be most appreciated. FYI..I have emailed my concern to MINIUSA

 

"Can't fix it" is never an acceptable reply for a car that's still under warranty. You could try another dealer if you have one within driving distance. A second option might be to check out the regulations for your states lemon law (if there is one). Here, if the car's not fixed after the 4th attempt it can be lemoned out.

 

Would the car work better if you let it idle for a couple of minutes before
you enter that hill? At least for the time being?

 

You should certainly get V38 as soon as it's available. The word on the street is "June."

I also agree that finding a different dealer to service your MINI would be a good idea, if it's possible. The quality of service seems to vary widely from dealer to dealer.

 

Doesn't sound to me like there is a problem.
Very steep hill + car with little low RPM torque = big clutch slip to get it up the hill.

Do you have an MCS; how about a 19% pulley?

 

yeah, from what I've heard, these cars need a lot of coaxing on steep hills. Even those editors from motortrend said they stalled their long term MCS a couple of times when starting up on some hills. I assume they are great drivers, since they work for motortrend

Ryan

 

if by coaxing you mean keeping the RPMs high, the so be it. its more fun that way anyway!

 

The problem is that clutch wear will be higher than normal.

 

Starting from a dead stop on a steep hill, I rev the engine to at least 2k and gradually ease off the handbrake. See if that works, if you haven't tried it already.

 

I know this is still a large debate but try installing the M7 "Device". It worked for me on the low RPM start ups.

 

This is a known issue appearently..and ver37/38 is suppose to fix this issue of poor starting and cold engine throttle response(acts like a choke is stuck open in a carburated engine)..but my dealer says they don't have this version(s) to fix this issue.

That is what I'm referring to and to overcome this problem ..I have to rev the engine much higher to over come poor response at the lower RPMs to prevent any stalling/stumble..apearently from what I'm hearing it's a result of the change over from our winter gas to summer gas in this region of the N.E.