So I just picked up my R56 and had some R99s installed while I was waiting, and after I had left the dealer I noticed that when I accelerate the car pulls hard to the left. After I let up on the gas it straightens back out. Is this a mounting issue? Is it just severely misaligned? Could it be an issue with the LSD? On top of that they messed up something with swapping the TPMS because its constantly going off.

The dealer is 2 hours away and I'd much rather go to a local body shop to have it fixed.

What a way to start off with a brand new car

 

sounds like alignment, but try your stock wheels/tires on there and
see. process of elimination.

 

Torque Steer

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=torque+steer

 

I really don't think its torque steer. For one, I've test driven 3 R56s before I picked mine up (a Cooper S, JCW and a Cooper), none of which had this issue. Secondly, I've got LSD so that should at least somewhat eliminate this. Thirdly, its a constant pull to the left if the car is given any gas, not just accelerating hard.

If you're just cruising on the interstate, you should be able to take your hands off the wheel and not have it careen across two lanes of traffic and into a ditch, right?

 

It's definitely torque steer. Pulling hard to the left while accelerating has nothing to do with the alignment. If it pulls to the left while you are driving, then that's a different story. I have LSD so I don't notice the torque steer as much.

Good luck with the TPMS issue. My car was at the dealer for 2 1/2 weeks because of a TPMS issue. They finally figured out that the antenna on the control module, under the hood, was broken. They replaced it and everything is working fine now.

 

I guess we'll see, I'm going to test some different things out today to try to narrow it down, but last night even on interstate driving it was still pulling.

Its probably a combination of both to be honest, and I'm just feeling the torque steer a lot more now because its already misaligned.

 

Yeah, at first you said it was pulling when you accelerated, so that's why I said torque steer. If it's pulling while your driving on the interstate, then that's an alignment issue. Something could be wrong with one of the wheels also. If you bought them from the dealer and they installed everything, I would definitely take it back to them and tell them to fix it. They'll give you a loaner so you won't be without a car. Plus, I would have them fix the TPMS issue while you are there. Keep us posted.

 

Will do. Unfortunately the service guys don't work on the weekends very often so I'll be dealing with this till next Saturday unless I get it fixed locally. And it was my fault for not clarifying in the first post. I admit I didn't know about the torque steer, but I felt like I was fighting to keep the car straight on the entire trip home (95% interstate driving).

I'm going to put the stock rims on this weekend when I paint the brake calipers to see if that helps.

 

Glad I don't have any torque steer. +1 for 1st gen MINI

 

It takes power to have torque steer.

 

I drove the R56 for several hours at the Minitober event on the track and it does not exhibit torque steer. It was a great car to drive and I will be keeping my first gen and eventually getting a R56 as a new daily driver.

 

VicSkimmr, since your having tpms issues make sure your tire pressure is balanced on both front wheels. If your a pound or two low on the left front that will cause some pull.

Not having the new tpms, does your alarm flash only or is it flash plus audible?

I suspect the alignment and tire pressure could combine to make your problem.

Did you have torque steer prior to the new R99s with the stock wheels or did you even get the opportunity to try your MINI with the stock wheels. It would give you a good baseline.

Good luck, let us know what you find out.

 

The new rims were installed before I drove it for the first time.

I think I may have solved the all-elusive problem... flat tire. LOL. Its in the shop now but the driver's side front tire was extremely low when I went out to lunch.

 

Yeah, that would do it. Hopefully it'll fix both problems.

 

Its amazing that something could cause the car to pull left and make the TPMS go off. Who would've thought?

 

Turns out that the o-ring cracked when the dealer swapped the sensors from one rim to the other. Somehow that doesn't surprise me. I even handed them swap kits to cover each sensor, which had an extra o-ring in them. Oh well.

 

I havnt read through this whole thing.. but I did read everyones claiming torque steer... what I will say if your running say a 40series tire I noticed it likes to run with the road a lot. Taking the interstate to school its alittle slanted (as all of them are for drainage) and my car would pull the the slant. Only under acceleration (didnt matter how hard). so im curious, did you try going back the other way?

 

the last R56 that i test drove spirtedly had no torque steer that would
pull the car to the point i had to compensate steering.

i think it's alignment or the wheels/tires.