Mini Cooper, not a smooth power delivery

[steve_bmw]

We bought a Mini Cooper last month and its a nice car apart from the non linear torque curve, it honestly feels like its been mapped by a 2 year old, it's just horrible to drive, if feels like it accelerates in stages with flat spots all over the rev range.
My brother had a cooper s years ago and I think this was the same but it was a while ago.

Can anyone recommend a company that can remap the car to make it smooth as it should be?

Steve

[Mastodon2]

The old supercharged ones have a bit of a pick up low in the rev range and remain fairly powerful for a few thousand rpm but tail off towards the redline. I would not be surprised if a remapped turbo one has had the boost up, giving it a flat feel under the boost threshold, with a big surge of power and again, running out of puff towards the redline as so many forced induction cars do.

[steve_bmw]

Should have added its a 2002 cooper N/A.

[ArsE92]

Mastodon2 said:

The old supercharged ones have a bit of a pick up low in the rev range and remain fairly powerful for a few thousand rpm but tail off towards the redline. I would not be surprised if a remapped turbo one has had the boost up, giving it a flat feel under the boost threshold, with a big surge of power and again, running out of puff towards the redline as so many forced induction cars do.

However, OP has a Cooper which is neither.

[SebastienClement]

Might be worth checking for things like spark plugs, leads, coil packs?

Doesn't sound like it's right tbh.

[Defcon5]

Instantly thought it would be the supercharger bypass valve, but clearly not!

Servicing all up to date - plugs etc? The servicing intervals are quite long in th Mini iirc.

Coil pack may be worth a shout

[steve_bmw]

Everything seems ok, it's not misfiring, my wife's sister is coming over in her mini now, ill ask her if I can take it for a spin to see if that's the same, ill report back.

[SebastienClement]

steve_bmw said:

Everything seems ok, it's not misfiring, my wife's sister is coming over in her mini now, ill ask her if I can take it for a spin to see if that's the same, ill report back.

It doesn't need to be misfiring! It really is worth changing everything to be sure. Ignition components aren't expensive or a big job.

[Remagel2507]

Before you look at mapping I would suggest getting the codes read and see if there's anything that could point to the problem. If not I would agree with the above suggestions of checking serviceable items such as filters and plugs, also have a look at the throttle body and see if its sticking. I had some trouble with the one on our Mini and a good clean helped it a lot

[steve_bmw]

I will go and read the codes now, I am not sure if the plugs have been done recently as we only just bought it but it does have a full dealer history. Give me 30 mins and after I have driven another and read codes I may have a better idea what might be up with it.

[oj121]

If its that awful really why did you buy it?

[steve_bmw]

oj121 said:

If its that awful really why did you buy it?

Ill comment on that once I have driven another one in a few mins!

[steve_bmw]

I just drove another mini, it's identical to ours, same route same flat spots, same throttle response maybe it's just a mini thing and I'm expecting too much as I have always driven 6 cylinder BMW's and there super smooth.
The comment above, it's not awful as in its fked it just a bit underwhelming and I was expecting more.

[VinceFox]

switch the traction off.

[steve_bmw]

VinceFox said:

switch the traction off.

It does feel like traction control cutting in actually lol, like driving my z4 on snowey roads, holding back and surging the power.
How do I Turn it off?

[VinceFox]

steve_bmw said:

VinceFox said:

switch the traction off.

It does feel like traction control cutting in actually lol, like driving my z4 on snowey roads, holding back and surging the power.
How do I Turn it off?

i only mention this as i just did some work on a supercharged one and road tested it. it felt a bit on/off until i twigged the low exterior temp was probly causing the wheels to feedback poor traction info. turned it off and it was fine. i used to have an e36 328i that was the same.

[steve_bmw]

I don't think it's got traction control, there are no switches and no lights on the dash indicating asc or dtc.
Ill not worry about it, the wife hasn't noticed anything unusual, but she wouldn't know any difference anyway lol.
I think it's just me being hyper critical......

[VinceFox]

my first step would be to get it plugged in and read.

[steve_bmw]

Thanks for your advice guys, ill be doing a service on it soon and I will replace the plugs, leads and coil pack as a matter of course.
I just scanned it for codes and nothing has come up.

[steve_bmw]

[quote=A lex

Mine can be a bit hesitant when cold, not a mis-fire, just hesitant through certain spots of the rev range. Ive done the plugs and leads, coil pack next.
[/quote]
Our is exactly the same pal