It's finally gotten cold here (below freezing) and if I don't let it warm up, it runs horribly. The engine bogs down under light acceleration, and once or twice I've heard a "popping" sound. My last car was a 20 year old Toyota, and I would never let it warm up - just start and go. It had 167K miles on it, and my MC only has 49000. I always thought it best to get the car up to operating temperature fast - and that's done by driving it, not letting it idle.

Is this just how it is? Do I need to let it warm up before driving, or is a dealer visit in order? If so, what could it be?

 

my MCS did not need to be warmed up when i used it in 15F temp...so
might need to be checked. but it was never that stable or consistent
as my other j-cars so it could also be just a characteristic too.

 

Performance is just fine on my 03 MCS in cold weather. 12F yesterday and no issues.. Sounds like you need something checked out.

Gas milage absolutely sucks in this weather though with a short 5 mile in town commute. To be nice to the engine though I would baby it until it is warm and the oil / operating temperature comes up.

 

My Cooper isn't happy in the cold either. At around 15°f, it runs pretty well right from starting. Closer to 0°f, it gets grumpy. Below zero, it's definitely grumpy.

I don't let it warm up by idling beyond the normal time it takes to clear snow / ice off the windows.

I just keep the RPMs below 3k until it warms up, which doesn't take very long. Then I gradually let the RPMs go higher.

Sure, go ahead and get it checked out, especially if you're under warranty (I'm not anymore).

 

Switched brands of gas recently? I've noticed that mine is more cold-weather sensitive on certain brands than on others.

 

I've been running Shell V-power since I got it in September (It's an 03).

 

And I do have a warranty, just not sure exactly what's covered. I've got 49,000 miles so far, and I have the "certified pre-owned" 100,000 mile warranty. Does the coverage change at 50K?

 

the car is tryin to tell you to get the hell out of antartica and move to Florida where you can enjoy that little car every day.

just listen to what it's saying to you mang..."must...<pop>...move...<buck>...to...<cough >...Florida"

 

Many mornings around 20-25F here in DC, and never had any performance related issues WRT cold.

 

That's because 20-25°f isn't cold. drop another 30 degrees and then we're talking.

 

HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS LIVE ON ANOTHER PLANET!!!!

SoCal is where it's at baby. 45 degrees is FREEEEEZING here. w00t.

So I guess you guys dont drive with your windows down during winter to let some of that fresh cool breeze in...

 

Sounds very much like the problems I was having until the dealer changed my faulty bypass valve at about 49k mi. Made a huge difference. 19 here this morning and it warmed for less than 3 min and off like a rocket! SC sure does like cold!

Tim

 

I've driven my 04 Cooper in below zero and mostly in the 15 to 25 degree range. At below zero I was careful to let it warm up before accelerating past 3500 but it ran fine and warmed up within a couple of miles.

 

It's cold to my mini!!!

 

I have the same exact problem that happens below 20 degrees. I am dropping it off at the dealer tonight (it should get in the single digits and be COLD for them in the morning)

I just hope they feel the same thing. They can be blissfully ignorant sometimes.

 

Mine is just hard to shift when it's cold.

 

I'm in Denver and I have to say that my 2004 Mini Cooper is fantastic in cold weather. Everything about my car is great in the snow, except the height.