Okay, okay, I know that our 2006 MCS has an electronic throttle....but while driving, it sure feels like there is slack in the throttle cable. While I'm leaving from a stop, it feels like there's a dead spot before the rpm's actually start to rise so I can let the clutch out.

Is there an adjustment anywhere for this? (it's a minor issue)

 

I have always felt the same way, like there is a 1/2 second delay between when I hit the gas and when the engine responds... so I'd be interested to hear what others say as well...

 

This sounds like the throttle delay that most folks usually add a CAI to help with. Also a supercharger pulley helps to get going from a stop.

 

Part of the delay is in the e-gas itself. Intakes can help but not eliminate the problem.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure I understand why either of those would really help. It's not that I don't have torque to get going, it seems as though it take a second to get the "go" command. Once it starts to respond, it's responsive, even if making less power without a pulley. I feel like it's a fuel delivery delay. This is the first car I've had with electronic throttle and the only one that I've ever had with this problem.

 

No throttle cable. MINI uses "drive by wire", and it's supposed to eliminate delay. Unfortunately, some cars have a delay. When I had my old Cooper, a software upgrade from the dealer helped, then adding a CAI helped a little bit more. But it's just not us MINI owners, other people experience the same thing. I have a friend with a Scion TC and he gets a delay from his "throttle by wire" system in his car.

 

The slow throttle response is one of the things many of the ECU tuners attack. Since I got my ECU flashed (Fireballed) last week, the delay between dropping my foot and the push in the back is almost completely gone.

 

but most of it has to do with the volume in the intake path. There's a lot of distance and gas volume between the TB and the intake ports, and the inertia of the system take time to respond. CAIs eliminate some of the path, the HAI eliminates even more! One of the claims to fame of the AGS is faster throttle response.

FWIW, drive by wire systems can be FASTER than a cable. They can see how fast your starting to press the e-gas pedal and open the throttle to full if it thinks you are in the process of flooring it. I thought I'd read the Mini system uses this, but I can't remember where I read that so take it as a rumor and not a fact.

FWIW, lots of the brake by wire systems use this technique to detect emergency braking, and they respond faster than you can as well!

Matt

 

I've had the HAI on for well over a year (probably closer to 2 by now) and the ECU reflash made a noticible difference in throttle response in the week since I got it done.
I'm not disagreeing with you Matt, in fact, I think I'm agreeing, but just wanted to point out that the ECU most certainly CAN impact throttle response in a very positive way.

 

CAI = Cold Air Intake
HAI = ????
AGS = ????
ECU Reflash = By the dealer or MTH?

(sorry I can't keep track of all this stuff)

 

HAI = Hot Air Intake (long long thread about this one)
AGS = M7 Air Gain System

 

What he said. HAI is where you clamp a K&N air filter directly to the throttle body. No air mass to move at all.
The ECU flash I'm talking about it the MTH/Fireballed/Unichip/Powerchip... upgrade, not a dealer flash. Dr Obnxs has detailed articles about chip upgrades in the current and immediately prior issues of MC2 magazine. Very helpful for the non-long term tuner who needs an intro.

 

A Detroit Tuned bypass valve also helps with throttle response.

 

Nothing helps throttle response like taking out the 29lb flywheel and replacing it with a 10lb unit

 

While I agree that these are nice features, I would still prefer a direct link. I would seriously hate to make a quick jab at the brake pedal and the computer think I want maximum braking effort. I think my parents Prius is like this; the brakes are the worst I've ever seen. You can't feel anything through the pedal. The same thing goes for the accelerator; I still find it hard to shift smooth in the MINI because the power seems to come back on differently every time.

 

Good point! That's another problem that results from what I'm talking about.

So because I'm running the car in Solo 2 G-stock, I can't make any changes to the engine. :(

I was hoping there would be a factory adjustment that would help.

Thanks for all the great advice!