Engine Drivetrain 2nd Gen S How does your Mini idle??

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by Tominizer, Apr 11, 2012.

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  1. Tominizer

    Tominizer New Member

    Dec 5, 2009
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    For the most part, my Mini Clubman S idles ok. But there have been times when it's off. It's very slightly a farty idle like an old car. Tach moves slightly. I can t seem to figure this one out, the dealership has no clue, and so I'm at a loss. Just for the record, the head was pulled by mini and completely rebuilt to resolve the carbon issue, new valve cover, new fuel pumps, plugs all replaced, smoked tested for leaks, etc. No warning lights come on, no codes thrown. But it's just an annoyance and I'm picky. :incazzato: We've been chasing this one for over a year and a half now. Maybe time to go visit an independent shop?!?!

    If anyone has any thoughts, I'd appreciate your comments.
     
  2. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    May 6, 2009
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    You have an "S", so this may not apply at all, but my justa does that. Idles between 720 & 650 up and down. Always has and never really been a problem. It got a bit worse around 36K miles and I found the plugs were shot. Got 58K on her now and she runs fine.

    Jim
     
  3. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Sep 1, 2009
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    How many miles km does the car have on it? How is it driven...all city, all highway or a mixture? Maybe it just needs an Italian tune-up!
     
  4. Blainestang

    Blainestang New Member

    Jan 16, 2010
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    My Cooper has done this since it was new, too.
     
  5. mendez

    mendez New Member

    Jan 12, 2012
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    MCS 2011- Idle hunting on cold start, but usually goes away when it warms up after some "italian" running. :wink: I consider it a MINI quirk.
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
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    Babs R55 justaclubman has a stable idle.
     
  7. grodenglaive

    grodenglaive New Member

    Apr 3, 2010
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    Ottawa, Ontario
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    not as stable as a year ago after the carbon was first blasted off, but not bad. It just has a little hiccup every few seconds.
     
  8. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    Nov 28, 2009
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    Port Orchard, Washington
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    My 2011 MCS R56 does this too, but will be fine after 30 seconds of idle and then pulling up the hill of my driveway (short but steep).

    For some reason it has gotten better after the FMIC install...
     
  9. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    Jan 5, 2010
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    :cornut: My Margi( 08 R56 MCS/JCWm) has done this since the day that I got her 4yrs ago. A good spirited/Italian hwy run(after 'Seafoaming' her) and she purrs like a kitten. It's a Mini, no 2 are alike and none of them are like those other 'lesser cars.' All of them also have their very own little tiny 'glitch' which they may or may not share with other MINIs.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  10. Mononoke

    Mononoke New Member

    Mar 16, 2012
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    My MINI does have a pulsating idle from time to time. When that happens, I just give it a small amount of throttle to stabilize the idle. After a few seconds, the idle returns to 'normal.' I've got about 2800 miles now.
     
  11. Friskie

    Friskie Well-Known Member

    Jul 20, 2009
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    My MINI has an impatient idle.
     
  12. rckrzy1

    rckrzy1 Member

    Jul 14, 2015
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    My 2013 S does the same thing, seems the idle is chasing itself some times.
    I have 13K miles, plugs are one step colder ( so that may be part of it ) and I Italian tune up daily.
     
  13. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    Nov 28, 2009
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    Port Orchard, Washington
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    After having this R-56 for a few years I believe it is the changing from summer to winter fuels and the ECU taking time to catch up to the changes.

    Now that summer fuels have been running through it for a couple of months the rough idle has disappeared.
     
  14. vetsvette

    vetsvette MINI Alliance Ambassador

    Nov 9, 2013
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    I think mine is just lazy. Won't look for a job. Just hangs around the garage idling away his time.


    :postcount
     
  15. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    Oct 23, 2010
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    Don't fret the small stuff!

    It's freakin' computer driven, what do you expect!? Mine has a erratic idle at times, but it never lasts. Heck, once it warms up it runs like a swiss watch.
     

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