Hi Folks,

I was unable to get a definitive answer to this is searching the forums so, at the risk of some eye-rolling, I'd like to pose the question again:

My MC, now about 1100 miles old, occasionally hesitates when I accelerate hard in first gear. Since I'm still within the break-in period, I'm careful not to let it go over 4500, but I get close. I've read two things about this -- 1) that it goes away after a few more K-miles and 2) that there is a software upgrade that addresses the problem. Can someone enlighten me?

Thanks in advance,

Mark of Pemburnia

 

A lot of the discussion that has centered on this has also discussed that replacing the stock wheels/tire combo with lighter equipment lessens the hesitation. I think I agree with that answer seeing how the MINI isn't exactly light for it's size, and would have a hard time achieving liftoff from a dead stop when it has to move all that weight, plus that rotational mass at the corners. Hope that helps.

But, I think it also does get better with more miles, and if your MINI was built after about August, you should already have that upgrade.

 

Thanks. Hmm -- are we really talking about the same thing, though? I'm using the term "hesitation" to refer to a momentary power loss. My MINI will kick hard off the line then balk for a split second before resuming its acceleration. Is this consistent with what other folks have experienced?

 

My mini did the same thing, I have the light little 15'' 7 hole wheels and it sill did it. I now have an intake and exhaust, it still does it but not as much.

 

In my test drive, (the test car had about 5000 miles on it) the car definately hesitated in first gear. I thought it was just poor driving on my part, but it may be something with the car. This was a 2002 model, however, so I'm not sure about the software end of it. Hope that helps

 

My 2002 MC does the same thing, I have noticed, it depends on who is driving it.

My wife, drives it perfectly, my son and I experience hesitation.

Go figure.

 

Maybe this isn't it, but maybe the DSC is kicking in? I know that when I accelerate from a standstill around a corner, the DSC kicks in and it feels like the engine bogs till the car straightens out and then you get the power back.

This is under harder acceleration so perhaps you're talking of something else. Turn the DSC off and see if that maybe has something to do with it.

:smile:

 

I get the same thing with my '03 MCS, If you have the DSC turn it off arround town. This has worked for me, cuts it in half anyway.

 

is this an MC specific thing?

 

Perhaps I'll experiment with turning the DSC off for a couple of starts and see if the phenomenon tracks to it's use. I'll report back.

 

I have 3000 miles on my '03 Cooper "S". My car does the same thing in first gear. So far it hasn't
gotten any better with added miles. I have tried turning off the ASC---no difference. Since it only
does this on initial acceleration and not while driving (or accelerating in any other gear) I'm guessing it
has to do with my clutch technique. Though I have owned over thirty cars and motorcycles and only one has been an automatic trans, my conclusion is a little hard even for myself to believe. On occation I can avoid the "lurch" though I have not a clue as to how I achieve this. I will experiment with clutch technique
next week when the ice storm has abated.

 

I just put on lighter rims and have not had any hesitation off the line like before. 03 MCS has nearly stalled in first gear even with the DSC off. I have also heard of the software upgrade that changes how the Computer handles 1st gear makes some improvement. I have yet to actually hear of anyone with that "updated software"

 

I have a MCS with 11,800 miles on it. I just had upgraded software installed to address hard starting when cold. I now noticed that it hesitates on acceleration in first gear, more after the upgrade than before and more it I am hard on the throttle vs easy. It seems to be worst when it's wet out and only does it when it's not fully warmed up. The new program also seemed to increase the HP/Torque noticeably