I can’t keep my Cooper S in a straight line!

[CJ1]

Hello Everyone,
I’ve just picked up a 2014 Mini Cooper S F56 in from the dealer in Southampton. Absolutely love the car but have one slight issue. During the 1 hour m27 journey back home I physically could not keep the car in lane! I was cruising at a steady 70mph and if I moved the steering wheel an inch I would be veering off towards oncoming traffic!

I’ve just let my dad have a go who’s driven many new cars in his time and says this isn’t normal how “darty” it is.... he pulled over midway to let me finish the drive as he didn’t feel confident. My previous car a 2011 VW Polo was nothing like this...

Is this just a Mini trait that I will eventually get used to has time goes on? Or maybe an issue with a steering component?

Thanks
Cj

[steve-5snwi]

Check the tyre pressures .... and while your their check to see if they are runflats .....

[eybic]

Were you in the inside lane? Not stuck in the tramlines created by trucks were you?

[CJ1]

steve-5snwi said:

Check the tyre pressures .... and while your their check to see if they are runflats .....

They are indeed brand new Falken Runflats, will check the tyre pressures now.

[sad61t]

I've driven an R56 on run-flat 17s and that did like to tramline, but that's moving direction depending on the road surface. Substantial over-inflation can cause instability over bumps.

1. Is it darty in both directions, or only to the right?

2. Does the steering weight change if you select Sport mode?

3. Does it self-steer if you don't keeps hands on the wheel?
(If space, try braking and see if it veers off centre. Be prepared to grab the wheel.)

The F56 is decidedly stable in comparison with the R53/R56, and neither of those (even in GP1 form) were as twitchy as yours sounds.

[CJ1]

It’s Darty in both directions, it’s quite stable under hard acceleration, and stays dead straight if i take my hands off the wheel. It’s only when I’m doing 60mph+ that it becomes dangerously accurate/twitchy. I have kept the car in MID mode and sport mode doesn’t really make a difference.

As I said previously il get the pressures checked, and if they are normal I guess it’s just me!

[MrC986]

As has been recommended....check the tyre pressures first and then consider a 4 wheel alignment check (it could be that the tyres weren't wearing evenly and that's why it's got new tyres!) if that doesn't sort it.. A small change in alignment can screw the drive-ability quite well.

[DelicaL400]

CJ1 said:

As I said previously il get the pressures checked, and if they are normal I guess it’s just me!

Don't F56 Cooper S's have tyre pressures on the central display and a warning if they drop?

[CJ1]

DelicaL400 said:

Don't F56 Cooper S's have tyre pressures on the central display and a warning if they drop?

It does indeed I’ve just found this after fiddling with the screen. 2.1bar front and 2.3 bar rear.

[Dr Interceptor]

CJ1 said:

It does indeed I’ve just found this after fiddling with the screen. 2.1bar front and 2.3 bar rear.

...and what should they be? The rears are usually a couple of spots lower than the fronts.

[Jonny_gti]

Go to a specialist who's got a good rep at doing 4 wheel alignment and setting cars up he will pin point your issue. Had this on my megane rs and it had a number of issues when sorted it was great again.

[TheAlastair34]

they are very pointy cars, i was surprised by my R56 to start with, although the only F56 ive driven has been far tamer than mine.

Worth getting it checked out geo wise

[sad61t]

Under 100 mph (i.e. UK):


Over 100 mph (i.e autobahn):


Source: Mini USA User Manual
https://www.miniusa.com/content/dam/mini/PDF/archi...

[jimmy156]

If you are not exaggerating and the car behaves as you describe i.e "physically cannot keep it in a straight line" and "move the steering wheel an inch and it veers towards oncoming traffic" then obviously its broken.

MINI are mainstreams cars sold to hundreds of thousands of people, they will drive, by and large, in a similar fashion to every other car out there.

[CJ1]

Thanks Guys, I have done nearly 500 Miles now. The tyre pressures seem fine. I think it’s a mix of myself not being used to the minis driving characteristics and the runflat tyres which bounce the car around a lot.

Apart from that I am beyond impressed with the Mini. Hasn’t dropped below 43mpg and it’s spent most of its time in Sports Mode! Even saw 53mpg yesterday, Which is better than my old 1.6tdi Polo!

[R53rider]

If you haven't already, try getting an alignment, on a Hunter system. I believe Halfords are equipped with Hunters but the operative needs to know how to use it. And Halfords can be a bit hit and miss in that repect.
If it is out at all, it can make a MINI very darty and tram-liney.

[Hammy98]

My F56 S had the alignment done twice to resolve this, there was a big improvement but it was still a bit 'wandery' at motorway speeds as if there was a deadzone in the steering rack.

Ditching the runflats pretty much sorted it.

[CJ1]

Hammy98 said:

My F56 S had the alignment done twice to resolve this, there was a big improvement but it was still a bit 'wandery' at motorway speeds as if there was a deadzone in the steering rack.

Ditching the runflats pretty much sorted it.

I think you are right, the runflats are an absolute nightmare. I don’t mind the firm ride it’s just impossible to put any power down as you’re bouncing around everywhere, never mind the wandering on the motorways.

Been offered a set of new Dunlop Sport Maxx’s for £150 so that’s what il do!

[andrew]

exactly what tyres are you running ?

[Dickie-D]

You've already had good advice, and I'm late to this thread, but I'll tell you my experience with my long term R53 Cooper S for what it's worth.

When I first bought it with 17" wheels and run flat tyres it was very tiresome at motorway speeds because of the constant concentration required to keep it in a straight line. Bump steer and tramlining at low speed was also bloody awful. (It has the standard sport suspension, not the extra stiffened sport suspension plus.)

Switching to lighter 16" wheels (with a slightly widened track) and normal tyres with a bit more sidewall height made a huge difference. No more bump steer/tramlining, a far more relaxed and stable motorway experience, better ride quality, less punctures, no more skipping all over the place on broken surfaces, and better traction.

I use low rolling resistance Dunlop Sport Blueresponse 205/50 on mine. Some people (EVO) say low rolling resistance equals poor grip, but I don't take the car on track days and they have worked very well for me.