Upcoming Stories on MotoringFile
We’ve got a few big stories coming in the next week or two on MF we thought you might want to know about. Some of these have been in the works for months:
– New site launch (today)
– Full factory JCW details (tomorrow)
– R56 Cold Start Issue Expose
– Chicago Auto Show in pictures
– R55 Clubman Review
– BMW 1 Series Review
– BMW M3 Review
– Plus a few other surprises…
The fun starts in an hour…
Full factory JCW details on Thursday then Gabe?
Make that in an hour?
So, does that mean we’re NOT having fun now?
Glad to hear your bringing up the ‘cold’ start issue!
Do you need help from owners or do you have an answer for us all ???
>Full factory JCW details on Thursday then Gabe?
No, tomorrow.
>Glad to hear your bringing up the ‘cold’ start issue! Do you need help from owners or do you have an answer for us all ???
The story will be written by an owner who has been through it all. We’ll also be featuring some youtube videos of the issue so people can clearly see and hear what we’re referring to. I’ll be following up the story with one of my own after speaking with MINI representatives next week at the Clubman launch.
JCW Factory details WOO HOOO!!!! can’t wait for this. Will dealers know at the same time Gabe or is that a silly question :p
>JCW Factory details WOO HOOO!!!! can’t wait for this. Will dealers know at the same time Gabe or is that a silly question :p
I can’t imagine dealers will know anything for at least another 3-4 weeks.
Thanks for your up coming article on the cold start issue!! I really appreciate it and hope to learn more about it soon!!
Really looking forward to this weeks info, the Factory car will be interesting to hear about. Looking forward to reading about the Chicago auto show, and lots of new flicker shots too I hope heh.
All in all very fun.
here you are!
260km/h e.g equivalant miles speedo, 4 optimized pistons, optimized gearbox, optimized transmission, full catback exhaust, optimized turbocharger, 4-piston brake kit – these will be the main factory works features
Curious about this cold start issue. My car is a 2007 March Build and I haven’t had any issues with cold starts in temps as cold as 12 degrees that I’ve seen so far this winter. It is a Cooper S with JCW Tuning kit.
>Curious about this cold start issue. My car is a 2007 March Build and I haven’t had any issues with cold starts in temps as cold as 12 degrees that I’ve seen so far this winter. It is a Cooper S with JCW Tuning kit.
I’ve started my car at -4F and had no issues either. However the problem is real for some cars.
The problem is real, but not really linked to temperature, though cold weather can seem to make the situation more likely to occur in some cases. The noise occurs when the car hasn’t be used for a while on mine, between 24 and 48 hours. Others have reported problems when moving the car short distances, eg to clear access on a driveway then starting from cold later on….
My car did the cold start death rattle only one time 6 months ago and it made me start thinking about dumping the car ever since !I cant imagine if it was an on going issue . Thanks Gabe
Whoa! I had no idea that this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRINvbMz3h8 " rel="nofollow">existed.</a> It sounds like a Diesel!
The cold start issue is discussed in finite detail on <a href="http://www.Mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.Mini2.com</a>, <a href="http://www.Miniusa.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.Miniusa.com</a> and www. Northamericanmotoring.com
In spite of my defection to the R53 I am very interested in hearing about the factory JCW. Hey, I gotta get one SOME day when the wheels fall off the ’05.
I hear this diesel rattle at low temperatures too, but I assume it is some plastic part rattling. The car always starts, but the noise was unsettling at first. However, it has not caused any problem, as far as I know. I look forward to this expose.
come on…. let the cat out of the bag on the JCW already, will you?!
I am very interested in many of these upcoming stories. However now the Woofcast has me longing to hear about 09 lol.
I really want to see what MINIUSA has to say about the rattling sound of the R56 turbocharged engine when it is cold. This situation is of great interest to me as I am about to take delivery of a Clubman S equipped with the same motor.
For what I have read and hear… The problem appears to be a humongous hot potato at MINI and neither the dealer network nor corporate headquarters have any clear idea as to how to attack the issue. People are getting parts replaced left and right and the noise is still there. Now engines are being swapped for brand new units.
I doubt MINI will admit liability if indeed the problem is as serious and widespread as one would be lead to believe in the forums. But no matter from which side of the fence you are on, the problem is very much a source of concern.
Thanks for initiating an inquiry into this.
I’m glad to see that the cold start issue is being looked into, I feel a lot better knowing this 🙂
Thanks Motoring File!!!
I want to more about the JCW car, come on Gabe let it out. and about the ratting sound I would like know wants causingit and I bet all of us want to know lot more about it.
<blockquote>I want to more about the JCW car, come on Gabe let it out. and about the ratting sound I would like know wants causingit and I bet all of us want to know lot more about it.</blockquote>
as posted above:
260km/h e.g equivalant miles speedo, 4 optimized pistons, optimized gearbox, optimized transmission, full catback exhaust, optimized turbocharger, 4-piston brake kit and 17″ wheel – these will be the main factory works features
The Cold Start Rattle is definitely an important issue. My R56 MCS (July 07 delivery) does it every now and then. It sounds like the engine is going hoarse. As it warms up, this rough noise disappears.
There is one other issue that has extensively been reported in countless forums: the Clutch Tapping Noise. My R56 also does this. It seems it started at around 500 miles. The car has now 4400 miles on it and is still doing it. MINI of Boston tells me is normal, that these engines are just “noisy”. When I press on the clutch, the tapping disappears. If the clutch is released slowly, the tapping becomes imperceptible. I’m a mechanical engineer and this smells fishy to me.
It is true that many MINI owners are having parts replaced, like the clutch. It appears this is more likely to happen in Europe. In the USA, dealers are more reluctant to attack these issues seriously.
MINI/BMW should get serious on this and have their customers informed. After all, it might be all normal….
Who knows, there might be a recall “cooking”….
Cheers
My MCS R56 (July 07 delivery) does this hoarse noise every now and then. This rough noise tends to disappear as it warms up.
Also, there are many forums around reporting another issue: the Clutch Tapping Noise. My car started doing it at ~500 miles. Many owners are having their clutch and/or flywheel replaced in Europe. Dealers in the USA seem to be more reluctant alleging “these cars are just noisy”.
I’d like to know what MINI/BMW have to say about that.
Cheers.